Kona survival guide

Triathlon Forum
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The 2022 version thread has been taken down, does anybody have an updated version? Thank you! @KonaCoffee

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x2, Iā€™ve been looking for it as well, but with no luck.

3

have you tried the wayback machine for archived versions?

4

Let me see if I can get that pulled back up.

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5

I also would love to see the last one, (or even a new one)

6

Iā€™ll jump on this thread instead of opening another for questions, would appreciate if Kona veterans could chime in.

  1. How do you deal with sunscreen? I imagine one application before the swim is not enough. Small tubes in bike/run bags?
  2. How do you get to the pier race morning? its a bit too far for me to walk from the AirBnB.

Thank you

7

Doron, I would use reef-safe sunscreen before the swim, as other types can damage the environment. I have always applied sunscreen liberally both in T1 and again in T2. I keep sunscreen in each transition bag because I donā€™t like to assume that sunscreen will be available. For those of us who are on the older side, there used to be volunteers applying sunscreen, but I donā€™t recall any of that in 2022, and I like to use my own stuff anyway. Plus, the sun is much stronger in Hawaii than in some other places, and thereā€™s zero shade on the bike course, with little to none on the run, too. In 2022, there was a shuttle bus set-up from some parking lots on the opposite side of the Queen K to make it easier to get down to the pier, expo, etc., but I donā€™t know if that will occur again, now that itā€™s back to a one-day race. Perhaps the Athlete Guide addresses that issue; I havenā€™t read it yet, but I know itā€™s been posted on the website.

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8

I would go a step further to not only use what is considered ā€œReef Safeā€ under Hawaii Act 104 but to use mineral sunscreens that exclusively list zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as their active ingredients and do not contain parabens, triclosan, trilocarban, or phenoxyethanol. All sunscreens manufactured by members of the Safe Sunscreen Council meet these requirements.

Sunscreens in that are available for purchase in Hawaii that are not exclusively mineral based, as described above, still pose some risk to coral reefs. I think Palau does one of the better jobs at limiting sun blocks for reef health.

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will you stop to take your special needs bag? is it worth to stop, considering your experience? do they help you to find the bags?

thanks

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I have never stopped. Sadly any iced drink will be warm by the tie you get there. I bring my own nutrition on the bike so I simply take water throughout and some gels on the run

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I literally watched my thumbs blisterā€¦the sun will find anywhere you missed.

12

@KonaCoffee was the ā€œEditorā€ and Keeper of the Ultimate Kona Survival Guide. He was a long time local - living right in Kailua Town. Heā€™s now mover up country almost up near the highest part of the Old Saddle Road. Not sure how plugged in his is to whatā€™s going on in Kona as it relates to the IRONMAN World Championships. As a many time visitor to Kona - raced it 2X myself. Supported my wife racing 2X in the Professional Womenā€™s Race, and having had a small bit of ā€œworkā€ on Kona during race week each year - Including Emceeing the annual Slowtwitch Party for a number of years - I would chime in with bits and pieces of advice.

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They spot your number and call ahead to a volunteer to get the bag. I raced before the whole Mortal Hydration thing, but considering that - Iā€™d definitely use special needs on the bike at least.

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Daron, depending on where your AirBnB in 2022 there was a shuttle service that runs along Alii Drive race day morning, from the Longā€™s Drug store at the Keauhou shopping centre and dropped athletes off at the expo at Hale Hālāwai. Iā€™m sure I read it again this year but for the life of me canā€™t find a reference to it in the Athlete Guide. If I can confirm Iā€™ll be sure to post it here.

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15

Found it on the website - yes the race day shuttle will operate this year. Hope that helps.

ā€œ There will be continuous service on Ali`i Drive from Keauhou Shopping Center (Longs Drugs) to Hale Halawai Park.

Please note:

  • If you do not board the shuttle at the Longs Drugs start point, please walk north from your point of origin on the mauka (mountain) side of Ali`i Drive and a Shuttle will pull over to pick you up as it heads to town.
  • There will be multiple shuttles doing continuous loops. If a shuttle is full, another will be only minutes behind it.
  • Athletes will take priority on shuttle seats to ensure timely arrival.
  • Shuttles are for northbound transportaion only and all passengers must disembark at Hale Halawai Park in Kona town.
    No passengers will be allowed on any shuttle southbound return leg.

No bikes, luggage or equipment may be transferred by the shuttles at any time. Your kokua (support) is appreciated.ā€

1 Like
16

Awesome, thanks for the info about the shuttle.

Regarding sunscreen, the athlete guide says there will be sunscreen in transition area. I will pack my own in transition bags just in case.