It's that time again.
Many pro's and a smattering of age groupers are in town for the big dance in 3 weeks. So I thought I'd update a post from a couple of years ago to help those who haven't been here for the race before or those who haven't been here in awhile. Have fun while you're here and be safe. Aloha:
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 our wet season. Temperatures out on the Queen K can easily top 90 F/ 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 (more or less). 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 arrive a week or so before the race, there will be a lot of other more familiar athletes in town, tag along with them.
Training swims: The Kukhio Blue Water swim is no more. WTC has a training swim slated for October 4 in its stead. There's chat about Kukhio returning next year, but don't hold your breath.
Bike safety (pre race): After a horrid 2012 and a not so good 2013, 2014 has been a relatively safe year for cyclists. Let's try and keep it that way. 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.
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 to 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 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 St 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 couple of 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.
New for 2014: There will be new bike lane in both directions (it's in it's final stages of striping right now) on Kukakini between Palani Road and Kaiwi (That's the 4 way 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!
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.
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.
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!
Chicken Soup: If you're mop or later, 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.
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 recently).
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 is great.
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
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"
Many pro's and a smattering of age groupers are in town for the big dance in 3 weeks. So I thought I'd update a post from a couple of years ago to help those who haven't been here for the race before or those who haven't been here in awhile. Have fun while you're here and be safe. Aloha:
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 our wet season. Temperatures out on the Queen K can easily top 90 F/ 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 (more or less). 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 arrive a week or so before the race, there will be a lot of other more familiar athletes in town, tag along with them.
Training swims: The Kukhio Blue Water swim is no more. WTC has a training swim slated for October 4 in its stead. There's chat about Kukhio returning next year, but don't hold your breath.
Bike safety (pre race): After a horrid 2012 and a not so good 2013, 2014 has been a relatively safe year for cyclists. Let's try and keep it that way. 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.
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 to 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 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 St 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 couple of 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.
New for 2014: There will be new bike lane in both directions (it's in it's final stages of striping right now) on Kukakini between Palani Road and Kaiwi (That's the 4 way 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!
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.
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.
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!
Chicken Soup: If you're mop or later, 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.
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 recently).
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 is great.
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
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 20, 14 11:33