No matter how early I start to pack and try to get ready it seems like I always find things to do before I head to the airport. With the United flight from Denver scheduled to leave at 6:00 AM it was very difficult to find time to sleep. But as always, I made it and connected to the Kona flight from Los Angeles. I slept quite a bit on the plane so time went by real fast. There were a few triathletes in the plane. Some are easy to spot and some not so easy. This one guy asked me “are you ready?”. I looked up and said “I better be”. He was a triathlete also and he is getting married this weekend one week before the race. It was kind of nice to be able to say that I was racing. This guy knew I was racing. I guess I look like a triathlete again. For the past years I always had to explain what I was doing in Kona.
I got my rental car which was an ordeal. Why do they always try to upgrade you to a bigger car? That bugs me. If I wanted a bigger car I would have asked for one. Ok enough of that. I saw Heather Fuhr at the airport getting her two bike cases. She always looks in shape. Then as I drove into town I saw Lori Bowden riding out of town. During that drive I noticed the clouds look really dark over the town. It was raining in town, it felt very cool for Kona standards. Even before I got to Kona I had this feeling that this years race is going to be epic. I have this crazy feeling that the weather is going to be unlike any other year. Perhaps it will rain cats and dogs or something. I have seen really crazy weather in Kona but never on race day. So I am going to predict something unexpected for this year’s race.
Once I got into town I noticed the big ship anchored right in the middle of the swim course. I guess these are the ships that force the race to be moved to next weekend. The race was originally scheduled for this Saturday but it got moved because of conflicts with cruise ships. I later parked illegally so I could keep an eye on my stuff as I got some take out food. Once I got the food I went to my condo and checked in and finally sat down to eat lunch.
Wednesday being my day off from training I felt that it was a good day to get a massage so I got on the phone and found someone. I actually called the local school of massage and got a referral from them. I got the massage and headed into town for some shopping and a coffee at Lava Java. Last year I reported that Norman Stadler was always at the coffee shop. Well guess who was there. Yep, you guessed it. Norman was there hanging with his girlfriend/wife I am not sure if they are married or not.
Day one in Kona is over. For the past few days many people have asked me if I am excited or nervous. I had not thought about it until they asked. I am neither was my thought. I am not sure if that is good or bad. Maybe once I do that one last workout I will get nervous. Speaking of workouts; I have to do all three sports tomorrow including a 3:30 bike. I guess I better get to bed. I’ll try to get a little movie for you guys right from the Queen K. Later.