Hours and Hours and Hours

Not only do triathletes spend hours and hours and hours training (and eating and resting and sleeping!), but hours and hours and hours of mostly volunteer labor goes into hosting the Ironman World Championship race.

This afternoon as I was driving around town, along with more and more athletes out on their bikes and running, others were preparing in a different way for the big day. At the pier area, big, orange, swim course buoys have been set, and banners were going up on the light poles along Alii Drive, as well as on Kuakini Highway and Palani Road.

On the Queen K Highway, heading North toward the Energy Lab run turn-around, huge lighted signs caution drivers to be aware of athletes. Directors of Aid Stations are in the final stages of assembling their crews, and those that volunteer in the registration/body marking area, construction, and many other volunteer areas, will have a long, fun week of “work” ahead of them. The over 5,000 who volunteer each year are a true blessing to the competitors!

It’s exciting to see the athletes arriving in Kona from around the world, and to watch them train. When you’ve been here a while, you pretty much know who you see running in the distance on Alii Drive, because you recognize their running style, their clothes, or even their swinging ponytail! Not anymore! It’s really interesting to observe all the different, and fast runners, and all the varied running styles.

Well, time to get some sleep…there’s a big weekend of racing ahead, which will draw a lot of the visiting athletes. Tomorrow is the Kukio Swim, a 1.2 mile point-to-point swim from one beautiful sandy beach (Kua Bay) to another beautiful spot; Kukio. I am usually able to place in swimming races in my age group, except for this race. Fast Ironathletes of all ages are expected, and that includes fast women aged 50-54! The race t-shirts are known for their really nice design, and the brunch following the race is yummy, so it will be a good morning. Oh, and my friend called and said the surf/swell/waves should be up for the race…my favorite swimming conditions!

On Sunday, PATH (People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii) is holding their 25th annual 5k and 10k walk/run along Alii Drive. This race will feature some very fast runners, both visiting and local, a great t-shirt and a silent auction. For Cliff and I, there will be running before the run race on Sunday, and cycling and running after the swim race Saturday; but much less than what we have been doing on the weekends. Race reports to follow…