Are You Living It?

I started my journey to Kona with a short flight to Denver. Getting my bike checked was a big concern. The cost to fly a bike somewhere fluctuates more than the stock market. The usual amount for United is $80. With the recent changes, I was expecting something more along the lines of $250. Somehow, the ticket agent decided on the welcome sum of $40. Not sure why, but I gladly handed my credit card over to her before she could change her mind.

A big concern when traveling via air to a race is whether or not your bike/luggage will make it there. After an extremely confusing and stressful transfer in Honolulu, I arrived in Kona with my luggage and bike - Thank Heavens! My first impression of the islands was the humidity. In Durango, humidity is only found in the showers at the Rec Center. I grew up in the midwest, so I’ve lived in high humidity, but that was a long time ago. I’ve never raced in humidity like this.

I connected with my shuttle, loaded my gear, and we made our way into Kona. The road we traveled would be a major part of the race (the Queen K), so I paid close attention to everything along the way. If you know anything about the IronMan Triathlon, you’ve heard of the “Energy Lab”. It usually plays a major part in the run portion of the race. The entrance to the Energy Lab sits just south of the airport on the Queen K Highway. As we passed it, I held my breath…it didn’t look that special, but I would reserve judgment until Saturday night.

We finally arrived at my condo rental, and I set about unpacking. Usually, I’d put my bike together straight off, but I hadn’t eaten in way too long, so put on a fresh set of clothes and hit the streets looking for a healthy bite to eat. I stopped at the first place I found with fresh fish and salad on the menu (this is my evening staple). The food was ok, the beer was better, but the view was priceless. I was overlooking Alii Drive and Kailua Bay where we’d be swimming. A great way to start my visit. At this time of year, pretty much every non-local in Kona is involved with the race. The couple next to me were no exception. He punched his ticket to Kona via a lottery draw. This would be his first IronMan race. I didn’t say it, but all I could think was “Good Luck”.

After dinner, I made my way back to my condo to settle my mind. I unpacked and grabbed a chair on the balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The surf was crashing on the spit of lava spilling into the bay behind the condo. The constant roar was the perfect “white noise” for relaxation. I closed my eyes and listened while I considered the incredible journey that brought be here. I didn’t know this course, but I’d read enough about to realized that a proper amount of respect was in order. Madame Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of fire. She rules everything here. Disrespect her, and you will pay. I had no intentions of making that mistake. The days to come would be a frenzy of events and celebrities. My coach warned me about not getting caught up into all of it. I’d seen this frenzy at other IronMan races but never on this scale. Low-key and stress-free…that was my goal. In an effort to acclimate to the island, I purposefully did not turn on the air-conditioning. Instead, I opened all the windows and turned on the ceiling fans. As my head hit the pillow, I listened to the sound of the waves crashing. I put everything else out of my head, and I concentrated on what I needed to do tomorrow morning….practice swim in the bay, register, and put the bike together. Keep it simple and keep focused. It’s been a long road getting here. It’s tempting to get wrapped up in the whole scene, but I’ve still got a job to do. This mantra has worked for me up to this point, and I have no reason to change things. This is the big time.