On the drive in from Waikoloa three days ago I passed a fair few bikes on the highway. When we went for a swim the next morning - at the Kailua pier where the race starts, there were a fair few people there. And there was the occasional runner (ironman version) if you ventured out. Still two weeks before the race.
In the last few days the training traffic has increased noticeably. And this morning I had my first giveaway - a swimming cap and some coaching notes. There were runners out on Alii Drive this morning when we both ran and during the day. Still plenty of locals out running, walking and pushing prams but the "serious" athletes stand out. Lean, fit-looking bodies with shaved legs wearing bright lycra glistening with sweat. Even in the supermarket the bodies tend to stand out.
Race fever won't be quite raging till next week but the town is evolving for the race.
The swim is the best part. Water is perfect temperature, the course is clearly marked with buoys south along the coast for two kilometres and in the morning people on kayaks supervising.
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| Looking south along the coast, 100m east of the swim course. |
While you swim you are entertained by a wide variety of fish the odd turtle and if you're really lucky a pod of dolphins - which I saw on the first morning.
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| Unknowing swimmers about to be attacked. |
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| The same swimmers trying to teach the turtle to sit |
Kim is starting to ease back on the distances of her training. Tomorrow will be her last longish ride of around 100ks and her runs have already eased back under 20ks.
And a couple of times a week the tourist boats disgorged hundreds of tourist onto the pier where they walk the town or head off with one of the tour operators for the day. The boat takes up a fair bit of the horizon.
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| A bit hard to miss when they arrive |
Nine days to go. Ride to Waikoloa with Kim and Bob Martin - another of the many Aussies here. Fickle winds blew lightly on the way north till a few ks from Waikoloa when they turned strong and in our faces. Quick bottle refill and climb into the wind out to the highway anticipating a cruisy ride home with the wind behind us. Within 10ks the howling tailwind was back to being in our face. The winds seem reasonably consistent in direction. The mountains and saddles between them have quite an effect on the prevailing easterly trade winds.
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| Wind on the big island |
Bike course heads north from Kailua-Kona along the coast and the turnaround is on the northern tip.
This morning there were lots of bikes out.
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| Athlete in training |
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| Heading south about 30 ks north of Kailua |
Sunday 8/11/17
Kim is starting some serious tapering and the town is full of athletes and supporters. A hive of lithe fit tanned sweating coffee drinking activity and inactivity as they rest their bodies over the six days left before the race.
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| Past Winners - including plenty of Australians |
A few merchandisers have set up camp already - in hotels, vacant shops, sharing existing shops, out the front of houses they rent and a dozen or so in a part on the waterfront side of Alii Drive.
Events are held to take advantage of the presence of athletes in the town. Yesterday a 4k swim was held along the course they use in the race and today there was a fun run along Alii Drive.
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| This is the pier that turns into transition area. |
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| The same pier from the town side. Wouldn't recognise it on race day. The swim starts imediately to the left of the photo. |
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| Town just before sunset. The cloud hangs over the mountain most days. It rains up the hill far more than it does in town. |
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| Sunset from the end of the pier. |
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