Yesterday Lavaman, Tomorrow, Lavacamp!!

What a way to start the season!! Lavaman Triathlon :)

The race is growing fast with 650 competitors last year to 800 this year. Chris McCormack, previous IM Championship winner in attendance as will as last years winner James Cotter.

Last years female winner Bree Wee http://breeweehawaii.blogspot.com/2009/03/macca-only-beat-me-by-16-minutes.html, Olympian Lisa Mensink, IM winner Heather Golnick, many time top 5 IM finisher Katya Meyers and many more I am sure I did not mention. Karlyn Pipes Neilsen on a relay team who is a multi world record holder.

The transition area in the morning was a buzz of activity with people getting race gear layed out. I had saw that C. Sean Cuningham who had helped out with our tri club was going to be at the race and would you believe he was 2 bikes over in the transition!!! I met some other people from the Island and Bert from Comox. What a great place to come and meet your neighbours!!



Down to the beach and see the nice ocean water was not swells like the previous evening. I thought they may have to turn the race into a duathlon, but the morning water was awesome. Kona tradition maybe??? the race started by blowing a big ocean shell. The pros and relay swimmers are off, and I have 6 minutes left. Of course that is enough time for one more potty break. I would feel guilty otherwise ;)

Ok, time for my age group start, bonk, swim, bonk, how do I get away from this guy?? 30 seconds later one of my goggles was off, so at least after it is back on, the fellow beside me is no longer hitting me!! That was worse than IM Canada, but I calmed down and enjoyed the view and had a swim I will remember for a long time. It is so pretty, it is almost not like a race,,, to me. Maybe I should have tried harder to make it more like a race??

Trying to work on my transitions is easier here as it is nice and warm, so no need to towel off and dress for rain, sleet or snow. One K later it is onto the Queen K Highway heading south towards Kona. I start to pass some of the gals in the pink swim caps that started the swim way behind me but swam by. I am not fast on the bike, but it felt like I was gaining ground. Soon I see Macca go by the other way so the pros are coming, a few more go by and I spot Bree Wee and cheer, I cheer for lots of people but do not recognize them all. There is a steady stream of bikes and we look like a train on the side of the highway. After the turnaround it is sort of downhill back, but those of us that are slower get to face the wind that has picked up. It is nasty and blowing from front and side.

Off the bike and into the run. Lava field right away, interesting, and hard to navigate. Onto some pavement for the nest 3 miles. Into the Hilton Resort area and paths. This resort has a train or boat take you to your building, but we were not allowed to use it in the race ;(

There is some running through trails on lava and beach and I am sure it is beautiful if you have time to look. You can see the finish line ahead which is a nice thing, hoping it is not around the next beach.

Not far from the finish line is massage and Kona Brewery, Lavaman Beer, both are very good!!



For those of you that know Sean he had a great race, 29/800 overall and 3rd in our age group!! Way to go. check this out or more on Sean http://simonwhitfield.blogspot.com/2009/03/guest-race-report-derek-hopkins.html

If I was about 30 minutes faster I would have been close to Sean, but at 2:43:16 I was still happy with 157/800 and 16/47 in our age group. Being the 31st swimmer I have plenty of room to improve, but managed 18th on the bike and 10th on the run. The one I am most happy with is T2 as I was 7th, and normally I am more like 17th!!!!



Today I had a nice swim at the Pier and easy ride to limber up for Lavacamp tomorrow where we ride from Waikoloa to Hawi and back. Sometimes life is too good to be true!!!!!

Caps OFF to Kona Brewery

One thing that is important to us Canucks is beer, eh? Well, I found a great beer in Kona and it is made right here, in Kona!! I think now that I have found Kona beer, if I could only find a job here I would be set. Early morning swims before work, not a problem at the Pier or pool. A ride or run after work, then a rewarding Kona Brewery beer before dinner. Sounds like a perfect life. Luckily for me, it has been my life, without the going to work part :) Good things have to end, and in just over a week, my fantasy will be over. I am going to make the best of the next week though, swimming, biking, running and a race Sunday. Ok, a few more Kona Beers to eh :*}

Monday was a rest day so I went with my parents to the other side of the Island to Hilo. My sister was actually there also, but we did not see her. We went to the Hawaii Botanical Gardens and spent the afternoon looking at some of the plants that had been brought over from many places in the world. Columbia, Thailand, Belize and many others. The property went down to the ocean and in the late 1800s was used for shipping sugar. The photos barely resemble what is now there.

On the way back, we stopped at Hapuna Beach just off the Queen K (recommended by Queen Claire) and found a nice sandy beach and witnessed whales out in the ocean. That was actually the 3rd time that day, all in different locations.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was out swimming again at the Pier, getting some instruction from Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, and a bit of running and riding. With the race coming up I booked a massage, and it was awesome. I guess people that massage the likes of Chris Lieto, Nattasha Badman, Michellie Jones and Lisa Bentley have to be good. I hope I can get in again Monday!!!

4 more sleeps until Lavaman!!!!

Two Great Places To Swim

One of my tough decisions that I have to make is where to swim. The Kona Aquatic Center is the nicest pool I have been in. Then there is the Kona Pier, the start of the World Championship for Ironman. Most of my swims so far have been at the pool, then last Thursday seems as the pool was closed I thought I should get in the ocean. The water was so nice and warm (compared to the Pacific in BC) and the sea life was incredible. No need for a snorkel, while you are getting in your workout you can enjoy the abundance of sea creatures. Don't forget to breath though!!! Friday found me back at the Pier, and as I was at a buoy to turn around and go back, I chat to a few ladies, it turns out it is Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen. Wow, pro athletes at the pool and World Record Holders swimming at the Pier, Kona, what a place!!! Our tri club coach back home said to say hello to Karlyn if I happened to see her, what a coincidence. She was nice enough to explain the markers and her mother "chaperoned" me out to the next bouy and back to shore. What nice people you can meet here in Kona :)

Saturday was a group ride where I found out how fast the riders in Kona are. And they are fast!! Female pro Bree Wee in attendance as well as a male pro, and just a bunch of other fast people. Grant from Bike Works organized the ride and also helped out at the previous week Time Trial. Now I know I am going to have to ride my heart out in Lavaman to barely keep up. That is after I drag my butt out of the water and try to find my GURU with 800 other bikes. Well, the group ride was an eye opener.

Today I was back to the Pier and swam out to the 3/4 mile turn around. More things to distract me while I was trying to breath. I saw some different fish I had not seen previously. Ok, I need to concentrate on my stroke. Phew, Karlyn is going to help me out on Tuesday :)

Out of the water and a visit with friends Brian and Barb from Campbell River, then off to the market for fruit,,, yummy papayas and mangos, a finger of bananas and a few avacados. Awesome.

The afternoon was a short bike ride and I happened to come across Coach Dan from Lifesport as there were some goats up on a lava bluff. I dont know how I am ever going to get a taper for Lavaman with so much to see and enjoy. Luckily tomorrow is off to Hilo with my parents and will be a day off excercise in Kona.

I am going to miss it!!!

Life is a Highway

Tuesday morning was spent at the Kona Aquatic Center for a swim. Well, not the whole morning but an hour. That was enough. I had planned on riding out on the Queen K Highway to where the start of the Lavaman Triathlon is, but the weather was not good and was rainy. It was warm though:) By the time I finally got things ready it was starting to get lighter out and the rain was now a drizzle. Good enough for me as I know friends back home on Vancouver Island were not just battling rain, but cold and wind.

No toque under the helmet required in Kona and no booties or gloves. The drizzle was enough to keep me cool as the first 5km I rode were up hill. Then a nice downhill section into town and through the stoplights past Palani Rd. After that there are less lights and fairly level with a nice wide shoulder. Wide enough to share the shoulder but I did not see one bike out that day. At the airport I saw one plane coming in for a landing, probably full with eager tourists like me.

A few km past the airport is where the bike time trial ended on the weekend. This time I got to ride it in reverse so started with a nice downhill, knowing I would be coming back up it later at a slower speed than I did the time trial in. Out at Waikaloa, I checked my water supply and was sure I had enough to get back to the condo so had another Power Gel for the road. I had 52 km on my computer so knew I would have over 100km by the time I was done. The weather stayed about the same and the wind was calm, which made me glad as I did not want to battle it again.

Wednesday morning I was at the pool again before a run. I was hoping to run for 90 minutes, but is was so hot (28C at 6pm) I was not sure how far I would get. I put on some sunscreen, had a salt tab and filled up 3 Fuel Belt bottles, 24oz total. I ran north on Ali'i Drive into town for 30 minutes and turned around. I was back at the condo in 60 minutes, wondering if I should stop. I was trying to time my pace with the mile markers but had a hard time finding enough of them. Finally I thought I was just under 9 minute mile. Even a gel could not speed me up. I went past snorkel beach and knew that there was a hill ahead if I went to the stoplight. I thought I ran up it, but others watching probably figured I was going to fall over. I reached the top of the hill and was happy to feel a bit of breeze when I turned around and headed down the short hill. I do not like downhill running, but sure did at that point. I made it back to the condo and then did a cool down (is that possible in this heat) for 5 minutes to give me a 90 minute run. Phew, I did it, it was maybe the hardest 90 minute run I have done. I still feel it today!!!

BUT!!! Being in Kona you do not want to miss out, so it is off to the Pier for an ocean swim this morning.

In 2 months I will dread the wetsuit and neoprene cap for the chilly Morton Lake swims, wishing I was back here in Kona !!!

3rd in Kona, or is it a 4th?

Wow, what an amazing week!!!! Getting from Vancouver Island to the BIG Island in Hawaii is a fun trip. The BC Ferry was running late, but still made it to Vancouver Airport with time to spare and one last Double Double at Tim Hortons :)

Of course getting off the airplane in Kona is exciting and breathing the nice warm humid air brings life to your body. Monday was spent touring around a bit and getting in a swim at the Kona Aquatic Center outdoor pool. I do not prefer swimming, but once I was done I could not wait for the next day to get back and swim. Making it even better was showing up and seeing local Pro Bree Wee in the next lane. Wow, yes Bree, you are an amazing swimmer, moving through the water so fast I could not even see you go by.

I was actually lucky enough to also see http://breeweehawaii.blogspot.com/ at Bike Works and informed me of a local 10K run race put on by Kona Brewery and others. Also a 12 mile bike time trial both were on the weekend.

During the week I was able to get a few short rides in and also a 64km ride out on the Queen K to experience the heat and wind the select few get to experience in the World Championship. I am sure they see more heat and wind than I did, but I may never know??

Saturday morning came early at 5:30 to get up for the 10km race. I am not used to running races starting that early, but it was worth getting up early. They put on a great race, great volunteers and friendly people. I even met a couple from Comox!! After the race I got a finish card with results, I am not used to that. It said I had 3rd place in my age, I was pretty happy :) Once I got back to the condo and looked online, I saw one other my age group faster, but he was 2nd overall, so must have removed him from the age group results. That actually makes me 4th , I am still happy:) Instead of partaking in the free beer I ran home 4 miles, what dedication!!!

Sunday was also a 5:30am get up. This time, out to Waikaloa for the bike time trial(12 miles=19km?). My first ever attempt, so guess what, I got to go first. (they let the slow ones go first!!) I held on to the lead (meaning no on passed me) for about 8 miles before I was passed by guys that had left 3 and 7 minutes behind me!!! They must have been flying!!! I think I finished 15th? For a time trial virgin I liked the first time and may have to try it again. The ride back to the condo was about 23km, so I had a nice 52km ride that day.

Today, Monday was spend with mom and dad travelling to the Volcano, something to see for sure. A good day to rest the legs as I can feel they are sore, and want to get out on the Queen K after a swim tomorrow morning.