Taper week (Its Race Day Already)

It gets busy in the mornings on the swim course but in the afternoon everyone is trained out or just goes down to get wet.  There's been a couple of turtles there in the afternoon and they are happy to eat algae that is scraped off the rocks for them.
Turtle time.  Late in the afternoon at the start of the swim course.
One moment you are looking for things to do in your down time and the next moment it's one more sleep till race day.  

Training less and no car means more time in the condo for both of us.  Kim's training easing right back to less than I'm doing.  So we've got a bit of time to spare.  Lots of walking around Kailua, sunsets, turtles, swims.

Training rides were shorter - Waikoloa and back was the limit.

Sign of the times
And all of a sudden the few bikes and runners increase in numbers exponentially, the expo opens, the Lovells arrive and it's busy.

It's the only expo at a triathlon where there are many giveaways as well as the merchandise for sale.
Lovells means a car so we've been mobile again.  Had a great day at Captain Cook.  Kayaked across the bay stopping for long periods in the middle of a large pod of spinner dolphins which swam slowly through, around and under us and amused us with their spinning and jumping out of the water and their amazing abilities under the water while we snorkeled above.  We were among them many times during the day - great animals.
The whole crew

Nearer the monument the clear water was thick with fish and rich coral.  Great snorkelling and probably worse places to die for Captain Cook.

 Then there was the parade of nations.  270 Aussies means second after the USA in numbers competing.
Some of team Australia

On parade
And the cultural night where we get to see



some great Hawaiian hula, hear some beautiful Hawaiian music, meet some past ironman legends and enjoy a free pork salad and fruit meal.
Hawaiian Culture

So it's day before the race and Kim has gone to bed early, wondering whether she has done too much or too little exercise during the last week, whether she has eaten too much or too little during the last week and finally whether it is a good idea to ride your new bike in the race.  
This is what happens when you spend too much time at the expo
Look at those muscles

Find out tomorrow.


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