Hi,
We are about 3.5 weeks out from the big day and training in Kona has been going great. Chris Macca McCormack has helped a great deal in my preparation and has been showing me the ropes. What to do and what not to do come race day. Hopefully it should cut the amount of learning years down by a couple!
Last weekend we headed over to the main island, Oahu for the infamous Waikiki Roughwater Swim. It is the original swim race that the Ironman was invented from. See, there was and still is a 3.8km open water swim, a 180km around the island bike race and the Honolulu marathon. At a function after the events there where a group of guys debating on whose discipline was the toughest and they decided to throw them all together for the ultimate champion. So there was a lot of history in the event and a large amount of hype as it is world famous. We all crashed at a buddies place, Tim Marr, sleeping on couches and blow up beds was not the ideal pre race routine but we made it to the start line.
I felt like I had a great swim… I did have a great swim. Unfortunately my goal of beating all the girls out the water was not achieved, the first chick passed me at the last buoy and got 20seconds on me. I finished about 10th in 47 minutes just at the back of a big pack. Just to illustrate the talent of the guys who competed. I am an okay swimmer, I have been brought up in the water, I come out in the front bunch in most triathlons. The young Australian who won was 4 minutes in front of me. That’s 1 minute for every 1 kilometer, that’s 6 seconds per 100 meters. I take my hat off, respect!
I have just finished a big week of training and my tan is coming along nicely. I have a few easy days before a big workout this weekend which will be a good indicator of where I am fitness wise. Macca has left the Island for the mainland for a couple weeks to catch up with his girls… I think he was struggling too much to keep up!!!
One of my training partners from New Zealand, Mark Cross arrives tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing the good old Kiwi accent again.
Will touch base again before the race
