It's not all that long until the Big Dance. In fact a few very serious people are already in town training. So once again I'm going to repost a few suggestions and comments about how to find your way around town and survive till race day. There are a few updates for the returning Kona Qualifiers and I'll have those at the beginning as well as worked in to the text.
2015 Updates:
If you're back again there are a couple of changes you should be aware of.
Kawaihae Deli: This popular spot for refuleing on rides to and from Hawi town closed shortly after the 2014 IM race. Nothing has replaced it yet. The locals stop at the minimart at the Union 76 gas station just down slope from there. You'll be able to find all the water, Gatorade etc you want there. Be careful as there are a lot of cars coming and going and not a ton of room for bikes around the building. I generally rest my P3 against the outside PO boxes but it does get windy and it's been blown over at least once. Other that that, there is a Foodland affiliated grocery store in the Shops at the Mauna Lani and the Hawi town market.
Road Construction: Someone at the state level in their infinite wisdom decided SEPTEMBER 2015 would be the ideal time to start the next phase of the Queen K widening (The Harbor to the Airport). As of today, September 2, there's not even a hint of it. But if there is by the time you arrive, be careful in the construction zones. Unlike the 2007 and 2008 in town widening someone got smart and supposedly there will be a 7 foot wide bike and pedestrian access on both side of the road 24/7. My guess is the planner for this was the same guy who couldn't figure out that the IMWC was always held on the Saturday closest to the first full moon in October and booked cruise ships in for 2008.
Hopefully, they'll wait on construction until after race day.
Weather: We've had a miserable hot summer. It's been unusually hot and extremely humid, and it's not even Ironman time yet. The past month we've had torrential rain in town every afternoon around 4pm or so. Just take extra precautions for the humidity, even the IMWC veterans.
Coffee Shops: Pauline's Bakery opened a week or so ago in the Old Rapa Nui spot in the banyon Shops very near the pier (Unison is a big tenant in that building). Great malasadas, bread, good coffee. Give them a try as well as the usual spots.
------------ Orginal Post -------------------------------------
It's that time again.
Weather: If you've not visited the Kona Coast during Ironman time, October is the hottest time of the year and it's bordering on one of our wet season. Temperatures out on the Queen K can easily top 90F/ 32C when most folks are running. It's also our windy season out on the Kona coast (Kua Bay northwards)
Water Temperatures: The water will be around 77 -78 F / 25 -26 C. The race is not wet suit legal – ever. Be forewarned though, the water at the pier is significantly cooler than that. Kailua (that's the town's real name) is Hawaiian for 2 waters. There are fresh water springs from the pier entry on out to abeam the Kona Inn. Most of the course won't be that cold.
The swim course starts being set up on Thursday before the race and is finished Friday afternoon. There will be a few buoys set before the race marking the general swim course. There are usually a bunch of locals swimming at least the 1.2 early in the mornings so if you're in doubt about the course ask them. Some leave at 6:30 am or so and others around 8:00. Plus if you're arriving a week or so before the race, there will be a lot of other more familiar athletes in town, tag along with them.
Bike safety (pre race): Things have settled down around town with bicyclist the past two years. let's try and keep it that way for the duration of your stay. You worked hard to get here, don't take chances on missing the race or worse.
Most locals ride from the county pool or soccer fields up Makala (past where the Target and Sports Authority are) and onto the Queen K. That little section there has been the among the worst area for accidents. People aren't expecting cyclists (go figure) and some are rather resentful of the whole Ironman time of the year. Stay out of aero position until you're safely on the highway shoulders and ride single file as much as possible until clear of the area.
Heading North bound on the highway your first danger area is the turn to the transfer station and Police station. Cars will be merging into the right turn lane and the bike lane is on the left side of that lane. Sit up. After that you have Kealakehe Pkwy (opposite the harbor) which is the turn to the local high school and Civic Center now. From there you have a short ride to the turn by the Tesoro Station. There are two ways to handle this short set of streets; some folks go onto the shoulder after the harbor and then back to the left side where the Tesoro turn is. That's what the sign implies you should do as you pass Kealakehe. Others think more accidents happen crossing traffic and just stay on the left side of the right turn lane the whole way and let the cars that are impatient pass them off to the right. If you're in a group of riders do what the guy up front does. Don't split the group left and right as you'll end up tempting cars to go between you -- and they will.
If you're in a group, please be sensible and ride no more than two abreast (Hawaii law actually requires single file but that's another story), don't bunch up and creep out onto the highway -- you will get buzzed and you will get hurt.
After the airport you're fairly clear until the resorts.
Some distances:
Pool - Veteran's Cemetery/Kua Bay (Bum Crack Hill for the Aussies): 12 miles each way.
Pool- Scenic Overlook (This is barely on the descent to the resorts): 18 miles.
Pool - Waikoloa Resorts: Just under 50 miles round trip depending on how far you go into the resorts.
Pool - Kawaihae: This is a bit under 80 miles round trip.
Returning south bound the major areas of conflict with traffic are the road to the Mauna Lani, the Road to the Waikoloa Resorts, Kua Bay and more importantly the south Entrance to Kekahakai State Park (Makalawena). Cars aren't expecting you at that entrance, and it's a nice down hill where you'll likely be zipping along in aero. After that the Airport Rd is really bad as it has a protected acceleration lane for the south bound Queen K that you need to cross and cars will not look. Then the harbor.
If you haven't been here in a few years, pay attention to the change in the bike lane at the harbor. We no longer cross the right lane approaching the harbor turn (southbound), stay on the shoulder and cross the road there at the light. When you make the turn onto Makala from the south bound Queen K, you'll be in the shopping area, Sit up and use it as a cool down. Please.
There is a bike lane on Kuakini Between Palani and the 4-way stop sign at Kaiwi. This is an estremely narrow area though and cars must use part of the bike lane near the stop sign. These lanes were carved out of the traffic lane width, there was no expansion of real estate. Keep it single file through there and try not to creep towards the edge.
If you're heading down to Ali`i Drive beware there's no shoulder on Ali'i until you're around the Royal Kona or so. Also watch for runners when you're on the shoulder of Ali`i Drive. Oh and just for reference I've been trying to get a speeding ticket on my bike heading into town (Northbound on Ali'i heading down the hill by the Royal Kona) for years with no success. If you get one let me know!
The south bound "suicide" bike lanes. Yes they still sandwhich you between two lanes of speeding cars. They're supposed to be switching the bike lanes over to curbside, but haven't done so yet. Be extra careful riding here. Sit up and keep your head on a swivel. The side walk bteween Makala and Henery Street is considered a multi use pathway and bicycles are allowed. I personally no longer ride through that section of the Queen K unless I have to.
Finally, watch out for glass. There are a few locals who think it's funny to trash the shoulders prior to Ironman. The roads do get cleaned before everyone arrives and also for the race. But there will be glass and wire from shredded truck tires.
The Energy Lab: Signs will likely be up prohibiting bikes from being in there by the time you arrive. If they're not, don't ride in there anyway. There is no shoulder, cars drive very fast and there is a lot of traffic from the businesses and charter school. People have been hit and seriously hurt riding bikes along that road.
If this is your first trip to the world championship you owe it to yourself to go visit the energy lab. Drive to the bottom and take a look back up to the highway. The road isn't as steep as it looks. It's an optical illusion caused by the slope of the hills on the mauka (mountain) side of the highway that makes you think it's god awful steep. It's not flat either.
Running: Most local runners have ITBand issues from our rather concave shaped roads. I run on the Makai (ocean) side of the road all the time (there are also somewhat fewer roads intersecting the makai side of the Queen K or Ali`i Drive). Get used to people not following the convention on this, so please try and make room for them when you see them coming opposite direction -- don't force them out into traffic.
Also please pay attention to the traffic signals. I've watched athletes run down stopped lanes of cars that were trying to move, seen them step in front of moving vehicles during rush hour and all sorts of crazyness. To be blunt, nobody but you cares why you're in town. Don't risk the hard work by a momentary lapse in judgement.
Pier to Outrigger Keauhou Crosswalk (just past the Ali`i Drive turn around): 5 miles each way.
Pier to the entrance to the harbor (via Makala): Just under 3 miles
Pier to the Airport: 7 miles
Pier to the Energy Lab: 6 miles.
Misc Race Trivia:
The climb to Hawi from Mahukona isn't the steepest climb, it's just long at 7 miles (and windy. did I mention windy?). The climb from the resorts to Scenic overlook is steeper though shorter and the
last steep climb you'll have is at mile 99 from Kukhio to Vet's Cemetery -- very short (1 mile is all). From that point (Mile 100 on the bike roughly) you have 6 hills till you get back to T2. Some locals practice hill repeats on their bike on that hill so that it's not a shock during the race.
My personal hell section of the bike course is the climb from Kawaihae to Kawaihae Junction. It's hot, there's never a breath of wind, it's steep and you can see Bum Crack hill in the far distance. Fortunately it's also fairly short, 1 mile. Personally I'd rather climb the 7 miles to Hawi than do this climb. Seriously.
The road isn't truly closed during the race. If you're MOP or later don't be shocked to see a bus near you. They're shuttling volunteers. There is also limited road traffic early during the bike race as some areas are land locked from the race, these are usually workers at Kukhio and they should steer clear of the cyclists. Oh and watch out for the NBC camera crews .. we all know they don't always miss the cyclists!
If you're in the back 1/3 of the cyclists (been there done that), the police will start forcing cyclists over to the shoulder around Waikoloa Road until Waikoloa Beach Road (the resorts). You're supposed to be able to use the highway but it happens every year. They will also let traffic head southbound onto the highway from the resorts as well. Again be careful as the drivers will be speeding well in excess of 70 because the highway is "empty."
Chicken Soup: If you're mop or later runner, the high sodium lukewarm chicken soup is found at every run aid station out on the highway. It can be a godsend if you're behind on your electrolytes.
When you exit the energy lab on the run headed south bound you have 11K to go to the finish.
If you're finishing after dark, after you pass the hot corner (Kuakini and Palani Road) inbound turn right in FRONT of the Union 76 station (Hualalai Rd.). I've seen lots of runners make wrong turns over the years. It can be hard to tell where to turn late in the race.
Coffee: There a zillion Coffee farms in town, some have tours. Go see one. Or look up the Kona Historical Society, they run a 1940's style Coffee farm: The Kona Coffee Living History Farm.
Coffee shops: The Starbucks in town are both small and both on Henry Street. One is on Henry and Kuakini, the other up opposite Safeway. There's also a coffee shop right by the pier (Menehune), the old large Starbucks is now occupied by Kona Coffee and Tea (quite good and room for bikes) and of course there's Lava Java and Hugo's on the rocks.
Pauline's Bakery opened a spot in the Banyon Shops very near the pier. Good coffee, great baked goods and a good breakfast.
Groceries: KTA is a local chain and has Hawaii Island Grass Fed Beef -- it's labeled that way if you're a beef eater and interested. Sack n Save is part of the Foodland Chain in Hawaii and Safeway is Safeway. Island Naturals in Old Industrial is the only natural food store in town now (the other closed)
Restaurants: The best restaurant is someone's house. Other than that Krua has good Thai. Lava Java has good most everything. Kona Inn has a great view and their Thai Lemongrass soup was great but rarely offered now.
Bicycle Shops: There are really two in town: Bike Works and Cycle Station. Bike Works carries Cervelo and Specialized. Cycle Station is the Trek & Scott Dealer. Find one that you can work with. Either one will work on your bike no matter the make.
Bike Works: 808-326-2453
Cycle Station: 808-327-0087
Last minute goggles etc: The owners of Unison, in the Banyon Shops very near the pier, open the shop up extremely early on race morning. If you find your self in need of goggles or something similar on race morning, stop in there and make it known you're a desperate athlete and they'll get you take care of and on your way.
Feel free to add on or ask questions. Aloha.
Be safe, race hard, have fun.
---------------------------------------------------------
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -- A fake Albert Einstein "quote"
2015 Updates:
If you're back again there are a couple of changes you should be aware of.
Kawaihae Deli: This popular spot for refuleing on rides to and from Hawi town closed shortly after the 2014 IM race. Nothing has replaced it yet. The locals stop at the minimart at the Union 76 gas station just down slope from there. You'll be able to find all the water, Gatorade etc you want there. Be careful as there are a lot of cars coming and going and not a ton of room for bikes around the building. I generally rest my P3 against the outside PO boxes but it does get windy and it's been blown over at least once. Other that that, there is a Foodland affiliated grocery store in the Shops at the Mauna Lani and the Hawi town market.
Road Construction: Someone at the state level in their infinite wisdom decided SEPTEMBER 2015 would be the ideal time to start the next phase of the Queen K widening (The Harbor to the Airport). As of today, September 2, there's not even a hint of it. But if there is by the time you arrive, be careful in the construction zones. Unlike the 2007 and 2008 in town widening someone got smart and supposedly there will be a 7 foot wide bike and pedestrian access on both side of the road 24/7. My guess is the planner for this was the same guy who couldn't figure out that the IMWC was always held on the Saturday closest to the first full moon in October and booked cruise ships in for 2008.
Hopefully, they'll wait on construction until after race day.
Weather: We've had a miserable hot summer. It's been unusually hot and extremely humid, and it's not even Ironman time yet. The past month we've had torrential rain in town every afternoon around 4pm or so. Just take extra precautions for the humidity, even the IMWC veterans.
Coffee Shops: Pauline's Bakery opened a week or so ago in the Old Rapa Nui spot in the banyon Shops very near the pier (Unison is a big tenant in that building). Great malasadas, bread, good coffee. Give them a try as well as the usual spots.
------------ Orginal Post -------------------------------------
It's that time again.
Weather: If you've not visited the Kona Coast during Ironman time, October is the hottest time of the year and it's bordering on one of our wet season. Temperatures out on the Queen K can easily top 90F/ 32C when most folks are running. It's also our windy season out on the Kona coast (Kua Bay northwards)
Water Temperatures: The water will be around 77 -78 F / 25 -26 C. The race is not wet suit legal – ever. Be forewarned though, the water at the pier is significantly cooler than that. Kailua (that's the town's real name) is Hawaiian for 2 waters. There are fresh water springs from the pier entry on out to abeam the Kona Inn. Most of the course won't be that cold.
The swim course starts being set up on Thursday before the race and is finished Friday afternoon. There will be a few buoys set before the race marking the general swim course. There are usually a bunch of locals swimming at least the 1.2 early in the mornings so if you're in doubt about the course ask them. Some leave at 6:30 am or so and others around 8:00. Plus if you're arriving a week or so before the race, there will be a lot of other more familiar athletes in town, tag along with them.
Bike safety (pre race): Things have settled down around town with bicyclist the past two years. let's try and keep it that way for the duration of your stay. You worked hard to get here, don't take chances on missing the race or worse.
Most locals ride from the county pool or soccer fields up Makala (past where the Target and Sports Authority are) and onto the Queen K. That little section there has been the among the worst area for accidents. People aren't expecting cyclists (go figure) and some are rather resentful of the whole Ironman time of the year. Stay out of aero position until you're safely on the highway shoulders and ride single file as much as possible until clear of the area.
Heading North bound on the highway your first danger area is the turn to the transfer station and Police station. Cars will be merging into the right turn lane and the bike lane is on the left side of that lane. Sit up. After that you have Kealakehe Pkwy (opposite the harbor) which is the turn to the local high school and Civic Center now. From there you have a short ride to the turn by the Tesoro Station. There are two ways to handle this short set of streets; some folks go onto the shoulder after the harbor and then back to the left side where the Tesoro turn is. That's what the sign implies you should do as you pass Kealakehe. Others think more accidents happen crossing traffic and just stay on the left side of the right turn lane the whole way and let the cars that are impatient pass them off to the right. If you're in a group of riders do what the guy up front does. Don't split the group left and right as you'll end up tempting cars to go between you -- and they will.
If you're in a group, please be sensible and ride no more than two abreast (Hawaii law actually requires single file but that's another story), don't bunch up and creep out onto the highway -- you will get buzzed and you will get hurt.
After the airport you're fairly clear until the resorts.
Some distances:
Pool - Veteran's Cemetery/Kua Bay (Bum Crack Hill for the Aussies): 12 miles each way.
Pool- Scenic Overlook (This is barely on the descent to the resorts): 18 miles.
Pool - Waikoloa Resorts: Just under 50 miles round trip depending on how far you go into the resorts.
Pool - Kawaihae: This is a bit under 80 miles round trip.
Returning south bound the major areas of conflict with traffic are the road to the Mauna Lani, the Road to the Waikoloa Resorts, Kua Bay and more importantly the south Entrance to Kekahakai State Park (Makalawena). Cars aren't expecting you at that entrance, and it's a nice down hill where you'll likely be zipping along in aero. After that the Airport Rd is really bad as it has a protected acceleration lane for the south bound Queen K that you need to cross and cars will not look. Then the harbor.
If you haven't been here in a few years, pay attention to the change in the bike lane at the harbor. We no longer cross the right lane approaching the harbor turn (southbound), stay on the shoulder and cross the road there at the light. When you make the turn onto Makala from the south bound Queen K, you'll be in the shopping area, Sit up and use it as a cool down. Please.
There is a bike lane on Kuakini Between Palani and the 4-way stop sign at Kaiwi. This is an estremely narrow area though and cars must use part of the bike lane near the stop sign. These lanes were carved out of the traffic lane width, there was no expansion of real estate. Keep it single file through there and try not to creep towards the edge.
If you're heading down to Ali`i Drive beware there's no shoulder on Ali'i until you're around the Royal Kona or so. Also watch for runners when you're on the shoulder of Ali`i Drive. Oh and just for reference I've been trying to get a speeding ticket on my bike heading into town (Northbound on Ali'i heading down the hill by the Royal Kona) for years with no success. If you get one let me know!
The south bound "suicide" bike lanes. Yes they still sandwhich you between two lanes of speeding cars. They're supposed to be switching the bike lanes over to curbside, but haven't done so yet. Be extra careful riding here. Sit up and keep your head on a swivel. The side walk bteween Makala and Henery Street is considered a multi use pathway and bicycles are allowed. I personally no longer ride through that section of the Queen K unless I have to.
Finally, watch out for glass. There are a few locals who think it's funny to trash the shoulders prior to Ironman. The roads do get cleaned before everyone arrives and also for the race. But there will be glass and wire from shredded truck tires.
The Energy Lab: Signs will likely be up prohibiting bikes from being in there by the time you arrive. If they're not, don't ride in there anyway. There is no shoulder, cars drive very fast and there is a lot of traffic from the businesses and charter school. People have been hit and seriously hurt riding bikes along that road.
If this is your first trip to the world championship you owe it to yourself to go visit the energy lab. Drive to the bottom and take a look back up to the highway. The road isn't as steep as it looks. It's an optical illusion caused by the slope of the hills on the mauka (mountain) side of the highway that makes you think it's god awful steep. It's not flat either.
Running: Most local runners have ITBand issues from our rather concave shaped roads. I run on the Makai (ocean) side of the road all the time (there are also somewhat fewer roads intersecting the makai side of the Queen K or Ali`i Drive). Get used to people not following the convention on this, so please try and make room for them when you see them coming opposite direction -- don't force them out into traffic.
Also please pay attention to the traffic signals. I've watched athletes run down stopped lanes of cars that were trying to move, seen them step in front of moving vehicles during rush hour and all sorts of crazyness. To be blunt, nobody but you cares why you're in town. Don't risk the hard work by a momentary lapse in judgement.
Pier to Outrigger Keauhou Crosswalk (just past the Ali`i Drive turn around): 5 miles each way.
Pier to the entrance to the harbor (via Makala): Just under 3 miles
Pier to the Airport: 7 miles
Pier to the Energy Lab: 6 miles.
Misc Race Trivia:
The climb to Hawi from Mahukona isn't the steepest climb, it's just long at 7 miles (and windy. did I mention windy?). The climb from the resorts to Scenic overlook is steeper though shorter and the
last steep climb you'll have is at mile 99 from Kukhio to Vet's Cemetery -- very short (1 mile is all). From that point (Mile 100 on the bike roughly) you have 6 hills till you get back to T2. Some locals practice hill repeats on their bike on that hill so that it's not a shock during the race.
My personal hell section of the bike course is the climb from Kawaihae to Kawaihae Junction. It's hot, there's never a breath of wind, it's steep and you can see Bum Crack hill in the far distance. Fortunately it's also fairly short, 1 mile. Personally I'd rather climb the 7 miles to Hawi than do this climb. Seriously.
The road isn't truly closed during the race. If you're MOP or later don't be shocked to see a bus near you. They're shuttling volunteers. There is also limited road traffic early during the bike race as some areas are land locked from the race, these are usually workers at Kukhio and they should steer clear of the cyclists. Oh and watch out for the NBC camera crews .. we all know they don't always miss the cyclists!
If you're in the back 1/3 of the cyclists (been there done that), the police will start forcing cyclists over to the shoulder around Waikoloa Road until Waikoloa Beach Road (the resorts). You're supposed to be able to use the highway but it happens every year. They will also let traffic head southbound onto the highway from the resorts as well. Again be careful as the drivers will be speeding well in excess of 70 because the highway is "empty."
Chicken Soup: If you're mop or later runner, the high sodium lukewarm chicken soup is found at every run aid station out on the highway. It can be a godsend if you're behind on your electrolytes.
When you exit the energy lab on the run headed south bound you have 11K to go to the finish.
If you're finishing after dark, after you pass the hot corner (Kuakini and Palani Road) inbound turn right in FRONT of the Union 76 station (Hualalai Rd.). I've seen lots of runners make wrong turns over the years. It can be hard to tell where to turn late in the race.
Coffee: There a zillion Coffee farms in town, some have tours. Go see one. Or look up the Kona Historical Society, they run a 1940's style Coffee farm: The Kona Coffee Living History Farm.
Coffee shops: The Starbucks in town are both small and both on Henry Street. One is on Henry and Kuakini, the other up opposite Safeway. There's also a coffee shop right by the pier (Menehune), the old large Starbucks is now occupied by Kona Coffee and Tea (quite good and room for bikes) and of course there's Lava Java and Hugo's on the rocks.
Pauline's Bakery opened a spot in the Banyon Shops very near the pier. Good coffee, great baked goods and a good breakfast.
Groceries: KTA is a local chain and has Hawaii Island Grass Fed Beef -- it's labeled that way if you're a beef eater and interested. Sack n Save is part of the Foodland Chain in Hawaii and Safeway is Safeway. Island Naturals in Old Industrial is the only natural food store in town now (the other closed)
Restaurants: The best restaurant is someone's house. Other than that Krua has good Thai. Lava Java has good most everything. Kona Inn has a great view and their Thai Lemongrass soup was great but rarely offered now.
Bicycle Shops: There are really two in town: Bike Works and Cycle Station. Bike Works carries Cervelo and Specialized. Cycle Station is the Trek & Scott Dealer. Find one that you can work with. Either one will work on your bike no matter the make.
Bike Works: 808-326-2453
Cycle Station: 808-327-0087
Last minute goggles etc: The owners of Unison, in the Banyon Shops very near the pier, open the shop up extremely early on race morning. If you find your self in need of goggles or something similar on race morning, stop in there and make it known you're a desperate athlete and they'll get you take care of and on your way.
Feel free to add on or ask questions. Aloha.
Be safe, race hard, have fun.
---------------------------------------------------------
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -- A fake Albert Einstein "quote"
Last edited by:
KonaCoffee: Sep 2, 15 20:43