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Just landed in Kona....and....

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Lar Dog

Oct 5, 07 7:42

Post #51 of 106 (2958 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [stealth] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm 5'8", so Maaca has got to be almost 6'. I was surprised. Glad you like the pictures...more on the way. I think I got some good ones with the disposable camera, but I won't get them developed for a few days.
Lar Dog

Sean O'Brien

Oct 5, 07 8:18

Post #52 of 106 (2895 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Awesome posts!

Please keep 'em coming!

Fleck

Oct 5, 07 8:22

Post #53 of 106 (2889 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Is this Macca's bike? Camera angle is not the best, but that is some serious seat set-back. It would be interesting to get some feedback from the fit gurus ( Dan et al) about that.

Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck

OC Ben

Oct 5, 07 8:37

Post #54 of 106 (2852 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

maybe he was tryin' to impress the Womens

Lar Dog

Oct 5, 07 8:52

Post #55 of 106 (2808 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That is Maacas bike...and those are his feet next to his bike.
Lar Dog

OC Ben

Oct 5, 07 9:02

Post #56 of 106 (2784 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

hey Lar Dog, if you have some time, don't forget to stop by the little white church on Alii Drive before race day.

Kristi

Oct 5, 07 18:47

Post #57 of 106 (2629 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Herbert] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"From what I understand there is also no swag for starters on ABG bikes anymore. :-( "

Herbert - thank you for your PM - but as you can see above, you clearly say that there won't be swag for Litespeed/QR/Merlin (ABG) riders anymore. That is definitely not the case. Mac and Glen will be right at transition handing out some of the best swag ABG has ever had to everyone riding their bikes in the race. Litespeed and Quintana Roo are very serious about riders who compete on their product - and they are going to continue supporting them at all levels. Herbert, I love when we get to hang out, and you're a lot of fun - but your statement above is irresponsible and I just wanted to set the record straight. For what it's worth, I don't get down there until Friday night, and I can't wait to see everyone!

Lar Dog

Oct 5, 07 21:04

Post #58 of 106 (2511 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Kristi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Day Three

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

8 Days till race

Hawaii Ironman Diary

October 5, 2007

I was up at 4:30am and in for another beautiful Hawaiian day. Went down to �Dig Me� beach where the start of the Ironman race is located. It is called �Dig Me� as the triathletes strut around like peacocks, apparently hoping to be �seen�. I decided to swim about a mile, and go at a moderate pace. I was greeted by 80 degree water, crystal clear, with loads of colorful sea life. It makes swimming such a joy compared to �lane lines�, chlorine, and having to turn every 25 yards. Lots of spectators line the sea wall to watch the swimmers and snap photographs. I am pretty sure no one was taking any shots of me!

After the swim, I ran into 72 year old Mickie Shapiro (she is in my triathlon club in Orange County), who has done countless Ironman races, and she was talking to last years men�s champion from Germany; Normann Stadler. He was very nice and I got a photo with him on my disposable camera.

I went back to the condo, and got ready for a run down Ali�i Drive. This is the run course for the Ironman, and there are loads of athletes training on this road. The cars are friendly and you feel pretty safe out there. I got out on the run before the Big Heat of the day, and ran for an hour (or a little more than 7.5 miles).

I love to run, and running in the heat feels really good to me. I am not a fan of cold weather, although that makes my Minnesota family and friends probably cringe; but the weather in Dana Point is chilly in the winter. I hope when I retire, I can spend 2 to 3 months a year over here; who knows. Took a quick swim at La�Aloa State Beach which is known for its great snorkeling. Saw a giant green sea turtle roaming around, along with other cool fish.

Once my training day was over, I jaunted over to Lava Java. It is a place to eat and they only serve 100% pure Kona Coffee. Man, it is good stuff. Lava Java is a well known �hang-out� for triathletes, and it is perched with a great ocean view. The cruise ship Hawaii Princess is in port in Kailua Bay, and it is a pretty enormous vessel.

Before I left, I said hi to Michellie Jones. She is the Australian woman who won the Ironman last year, and loads of people think she will repeat. I am not so sure, but I did wish her well, and had her husband take a photo of the two of us; we look like great buddies.

Time to watch the Angels and see if they can beat the Red Sox�.might not be the Halos year�we�ll see�.

Lar Dog and MJ

Lar Dog

Haim

Oct 5, 07 21:22

Post #59 of 106 (2477 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Kristi] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Herbert - thank you for your PM"
----------------------

Maybe it's just me...but I would think decorum suggests you would have PMed Herbert back.

Haim
-------------------------------------------------------
"Sometimes you need to think INSIDE the box!" -- ME
"Why squirrel hate me?"

..

Oct 5, 07 21:25

Post #60 of 106 (2468 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Haim] [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's just you.

Haim

Oct 5, 07 21:43

Post #61 of 106 (2444 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Paulo] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"It's just you."
--------------

Hmmmm...she must be hot ;)

Haim
-------------------------------------------------------
"Sometimes you need to think INSIDE the box!" -- ME
"Why squirrel hate me?"

QCWC

Oct 6, 07 17:52

Post #62 of 106 (2247 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Haim] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

"It's just you."
--------------

Hmmmm...she must be hot ;)

Haim

Jorts

TriBodyboarder

Oct 6, 07 21:46

Post #63 of 106 (2117 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Enjoying the blog Lar Dog! It was chilly here in San Clemente this morning! I was bodyboarding in a 4/3 fullsuit at Salt Creek. Don't you wish you were back here?
------------------
My MOP'er Training Log
------------------
My business-eBodyboarding.com

pdxjohn

Oct 6, 07 21:56

Post #64 of 106 (2103 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Looks like you got the IM racers GU Swag bag. That's a sweet freebie. Good luck Sat.

kupka

Oct 6, 07 23:39

Post #65 of 106 (2043 views)

spectators' perspective [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's my first time here and I'm NOT racing. My wife and I are out for a bit of vacation. Surfing, volcanos, scuba, etc. Oh, and that little race to watch next weekend.

I'll have my digital camera on me at all times (photo nerd). I'll post up triathlon relevant pics as I catch them.

I didn't see any stars but imagine that it's only a matter of time before i do - there are spandex-clad folk running and riding everywhere.

(This post was edited by kupka on Oct 7, 07 9:08)

Herbert

Oct 7, 07 6:45

Post #66 of 106 (1860 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [kupka] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Keep the pics and stories coming.

Thanks,

Herbert

M~

Oct 7, 07 7:19

Post #67 of 106 (1813 views)

Re: Just landed in Kona....and.... [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Get over to the Fuel Belt booth folks!!

http://www.xtri.com/...p;CAT=25&xref=xx

"You�ve worked hard to get to Kona. Now that you�re here, you�ve got one of the most grueling races in the world to get through. FuelBelt thinks you deserve nothing but the best equipment for race day, so we�re offering a FREE 2-Bottle Helium Belt to all registered Hawaii competitors. Just show your official wrist-band to our Fuel Belt staff - while supplies last!"

If you don't want yours, I will send money for postage. :)
*****----------------------------------------*****
Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!

Lar Dog

Oct 7, 07 8:43

Post #68 of 106 (1734 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Herbert] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Should I continue to post to this thread or start a new one each day?
Lar Dog

Erik Clark

Oct 7, 07 8:44

Post #69 of 106 (1730 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Lar Dog] [In reply to]	Can't Post

post it here, multiple threads is too confusing

----------------------------------------------------
Striving to have sex more than 66 times per year

Lar Dog

Oct 7, 07 8:59

Post #70 of 106 (1702 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Erik Clark] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I am keeping a diary for my family and friends back on the Mainland. Thus, I have some explanations that are very rudimentary for the ST crew. I don't have the patience to write to two different audiences.

Day Four

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

7 Days till race

Hawaii Ironman Diary

October 6, 2007

One week to go. Day 4 is my last full day as a bachelor; Erik & Kim (my son and wife), fly in tomorrow. I have held out on any air-conditioning in the condo/car, and I �think� I am starting to acclimatize. As I write, I am enjoying a lovely Hawaiian rain shower. The rain is warm, and I actually enjoy being out in it when I am training.

Today I did a repeat of �Dig Me� beach. I ran into Iron Mickie who reminded me she was only 71 years old. This will be her 10th Hawaii Ironman. She is an inspiration to many. I swam more of the swim course (the buoys are set up), and the number of athletes continue to build. After the swim, I drove north to Waikoloa, where I set out for a FAST�30 mile bike ride. I had bouts of speed over 40 MPH (yes�some wind/downhill helped). I had the �need for speed� today, and spent a little over 1.5 hours riding.

On my ride home, I noticed a van with flashers on. I looked over, and 6 time Ironman Hawaii winner Natasha Badmann was �motor-pacing� behind the van. She was about 2 feet behind the van (I have a couple of photos of her). The idea with a �motor-pace� vehicle is that it is to maintain a constant speed for the athlete to pace off of; I am guessing that she was hammering around 27 MPH. It looks like a lot of fun.

Right after the Natasha sighting, I recognized Katja Schumacher who was �running like she stole something� down the Queen �K�. Katja was the women�s winner in 2006 at the Wisconsin Ironman that I qualified for Kona at.

For those who are new to the Ironman stuff, I have included a little history on the origin of the Ironman. For those of you who know it all, skip to the end for the photo linkage.

The idea for the original Ironman Triathlon arose during the awards ceremony for the 1977 Oahu Perimeter Relay. Among the participants were numerous representatives of both the Mid-Pacific Road Runners and the Waikiki Swim Club, whose members had long been debating which athletes were more fit, runners or swimmers.
On this occasion, U.S. Navy Commander John Collins pointed out that a recent article in Sports Illustrated magazine had declared that Eddy Merckx, the great Belgian cyclist, had the highest recorded "oxygen uptake" of any athlete ever measured, so perhaps cyclists were more fit than anyone. Collins suggested that the debate should be settled through a race combining the three existing long-distance competitions already on the island: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 mi./3.85 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles; originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 mi./42.195 km).

Prior to racing, each athlete received three sheets of paper listing a few rules and a course description. Handwritten on the last page was this exhortation: "Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life", now a registered trademark.
With a nod to a local runner who was notorious for his demanding workouts, Collins said, "Whoever finishes first, we'll call him the Iron Man." Each of the racers had their own support crew to supply libations, nutrition, and encouragement during their long journey. Of the fifteen men to start off the in early morning on February 18th, 1978, twelve completed the race. Gordon Haller was the first to earn the title Ironman by completing the course in a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds.
With no further marketing efforts, the race gathered as many as 50 athletes the following year. The race, however, was postponed a day because of bad weather conditions and only fifteen competitors started off the race Sunday morning. San Diego's Tom Warren, age 35, won in 11 hours, 15 minutes, and 56 seconds. Lyn Lemaire, a championship cyclist from Boston, placed sixth overall and became the first "Ironwoman".
Collins planned on changing the race into a relay event to draw more participants, but Sports Illustrated's journalist Barry McDermott, in the area to cover a golf tournament, discovered the race and wrote a ten page account of it. During the following year, hundreds of curious participants contacted Collins.
A milestone in the marketing of the legend and history of the race happened in February 1982. Julie Moss, a college student competing to gather research for her exercise physiology thesis, moved toward the finish line in first place. As she came nearer to the finish line, sever fatigue and dehydration set in. In the homestretch, she staggered like a punch-drunk boxer. Just yards away from the finish line, she fell to the ground. Although Kathleen McCartney passed her for the women�s title, Moss nevertheless crawled to the finish line. Her performance was broadcast worldwide and created the Ironman mantra that just finishing is a victory.
The Ironman is held in conditions which are not uniquely suited to endurance racing: the Hawaii water is sufficiently warm that the helpfully buoyant wetsuits used in cooler triathlons are not allowed; though the cycling consists of long hills with only moderate gradients, strong and gusting cross-winds are normally found on the course; and the marathon leg of the race is usually strikingly hot.
Although thousands of athletes worldwide compete at an Ironman event each year, the vast majority aim simply to set a PR time or even to finish the course. Only very talented athletes realistically compete for a spot in Hawaii, and just finishing an Ironman race is often the highlight of many triathletes' career.

Click on the link, then to slideshow. Most recent pictures toward the end.

http://picasaweb.google.com/...?authkey=-4-58nSIGs8

Here is the shot of a white van (one on the left):

Here is the back of the van with Natasha about 2' behind it motor-pacing at 28-30MPH

After they flew by me, I sped up in my car and caught this side shot of her...

A common sign along the Queen "K"

Lar Dog

Herbert

Oct 7, 07 9:08

Post #71 of 106 (1684 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Erik Clark] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Amen

In Reply To:

post it here, multiple threads is too confusing

Tri Life

Oct 7, 07 9:13

Post #72 of 106 (1673 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Herbert] [In reply to]	Can't Post

How has the wind been? I'm a Hawaii rookie and have been looking at the forecast daily. The winds don't look too bad... 16 - 18kph in Kona and Hawi. Is the weatherman telling the truth?? We had snow the other day... I'm looking forward to getting there!

eganski

Oct 7, 07 9:23

Post #73 of 106 (1648 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Tri Life] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The winds have been brutal, but i'm new here too, so i'm sure they get worse. I have an 808 front wheel and have almost been blown off my bike several times. Going downhill at 20kph is really tough, mentally, but the crosswinds are like nothing i've ever experienced. Oh well, the tougher the better!

right? *gulp* right?

will

Oct 7, 07 9:26

Post #74 of 106 (1641 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [Tri Life] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Having lived there I would say the wind forecast is generally speaking not very accurate. Also you get very differnt conditions from Kona to about the heliport near Waikoloa and from there to Hawi. The wind forecast wasn't bad the other day and talked to a friend and heard that it was howling on the North end of the course.

http://bigisland-will.blogspot.com/

Tri Life

Oct 7, 07 9:30

Post #75 of 106 (1636 views)

Re: spectators' perspective [will] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Gulp... I feel the same way. I live in Alberta in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We get wicked winds here, so I'm not new to it, but for some reason, that isn't making me feel any better about the wind. If anyone who is there could give us daily updates on what it's like, I'd sure appreciate it.

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