Maybe one year I will not work the expo and become a journalist so I can go out there and get stories for the blog. Today we basically worked all day at the booth and later on we went to the Aloha Ironman reception. After that we went to Kim’s party who is one of the girls on our Elite team from PA.

At the expo I got to chat a little with Chris McCormack. He looks relaxed and sure seems to be the favorite. It sure looks like he wants to win the race in the marathon which means holding back on the bike. That strategy has won Kona more times than any other and he plans to go with it again.

I also talk to the SRAM guys. The bike we have for Mark Allen has SRAM red on it and the shifting seemed very stiff and hard. So I took it to the SRAM guys for some adjustment. They say it takes a little while to get used to it. But they lubricated things in hope it feel better. I have to ride it again. Not sure when that will happen.

I am also trying to score a scooter so I can go back on the course after I work with NBC and cheer on our athletes and take some photos. Finding one is virtually impossible but I have a good lead.

This year we are coaching Jeff Conine who is a former retired Baseball player. He played with the Florida Marlins when they won the World Series. Not sure if any of you saw his Bicycling magazine interview. They quoted me in there. Today I got back his racing outfit with our logo on it. He is part of the NBC telecast for this year so that may be some TV time for our logo on his chest. I had to put my marketing hat for that one.

At the Aloha reception I got to say hi to Scott Tinley. When I did well in Kona his clothing Kona always dialed me in with an outfit. Having his latest clothing on race day was very cool. He sold his clothing company to Reebok and guess what. It disappeared. I hope the company that bough Ironman does not do that.

So in any case Scott Tinley for old timers is an icon. Newbies now just think of him for his column on triathlete. I remember him because when I swam with him in Boulder I almost always went faster. Of course that is his weak leg and it is my strong leg. But it sure is fun to go faster than a pro. Actually in 94 I finished just a few yards behind him at Ironman Japan. I had no idea he was right there.

I miss him for sure. His body took a beating and he has lots of hip trouble now. Although he says he can now go for short runs. Running is very tough on the body. Listen to it guys and girls. So I posed for a photo with ST above for the archives.

Last thing was Kim’s party. We got there a little late but got to meet all her blogging friends. She had a nice blog and apparently all these other girls with blogs decided to have a party in Kona. Good stuff. Kim claims to be an Ironman junkey and knows all kinds of trivia. She knew off the top of her head all top three finishers last year in the pro division. But she got stumped on what the woman’s Hawaii record time was. Anyone know?