First Impressions: Kona 2006

We arrived in Kona last night in the middle of a deluge.  Rain was so heavy that no one wanted to leave the plane to make the mad dash across the runway to the terminal.  I'm talking cats & dogs... 

Competitor Magazine's Bob Babbitt and John Smith were on my flight, as was 3-time world champion Peter Reid.  We all got drenched as we sprinted to the luggage carousels to the shouts of "don't run!"  Right.

Athletes at the airport were extremely stressed.  Many bikes didn't arrive with their owners due to the disruptions in flight schedules caused by the earthquake. 

After collecting my bags and  rental car, I was absolutely soaked and chilled to the bone... Weird to be cold in Hawaii.  The weather was keeping most people off the streets, so Alii Drive was strangely deserted at 7:00 PM.

This morning at 5:30 I  awoke to a couple of  tremors, minor aftershocks to Sunday's big shake.  I  learned that the Ironman expo was damaged by last night's downpour and 60 mph winds. 

What's going on here?!?! Earthquakes, floods, gale force winds... I'm wondering when we'll see the locusts.  Whoever knocked over the Tiki or took the lava rocks to the mainland, will you please make things right?  The island is not too happy...

As the sun rose in a (finally) clear sky, I stopped in at Lava Java, a popular coffee shop on the south side of Kailua-Kona.  If there ever was a triathlete's version of town square, this is it.   Hang out here and you'll see everyone who's anyone in multisport.  100% Kona coffee, huge healthy portions and cinnamon rolls the size of manhole covers help, but first and foremost this is a place to see and be seen.

Dan Empfield of slowtwitch.com is presiding over his breakfast and laptop at an outdoor table.  Natascha Badmann spins by on her viciously fast Cheetah, waving to friends.  Steve Tarpinian, just finished with another training camp session, wanders in.  Foreign film crews try to capture candid shots of athletes fueling their engines, while other amateurs wearing heart rate monitors appear -- oddly enough -- to be doing stride repeats just in front of the shop.

Every morning this week, after a relaxing surf swim from the Ironman start line at Dig Me Beach, Lava Java's hip servers will be dishing "post swim workout" specials to an international clientele of age groupers and pros.   It's funny how -- even in Kona -- you quickly fall into a daily schedule.

So, despite the shaky (get it?) start, everyone seems to be settling into the familiar routine of Ironman race week in Kona.   

The chatter about the pro race has focused on two epic rivalries: Michellie vs. Natascha and Normann vs. Faris, but there are numerous others capable of winning on Saturday.  More thoughts on that later.

Comments

[dave]

I have to say Rob, you've done a great job of capturing a part of IM that I've never seen covered. Lava Java truly serves as somewhat of hub of activity for both athletes and industry folks. This post reminds me of just what a special week it is. thanks. keep it up.

[TOM STEINKRAUS]

This is the first year in about 10 or 11 that my wife and I are not hanging out at the pier or on Alii Dr. and it is killing us. We can't get enough info on Kona and I sit at my computer and daydream about sitting and watching the ocean at Lava Java in the warm Hawaiian sunshine.
Keep it coming so I don't get the shakes from Jonesing so badly.

[Mary Steinkraus]

We were so concerned about the locals and their business's. This is the first time in 11 years we have not made the trip so have gotten to know alot of people.
My husband and I miss it so veryyyyyyyy much.
We hope to be back in Kona next year.
We wish all the athlete's a wonderful race week.
This is so hard being home.

[Caius Tenche]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop. One comment...pictures please!!!

[Eliz Greene]

Thanks Rob,
My husband and I arrive in Kona tomorrow - taking a few days out of our vacation to volunteer. We have volunteered for IMOO (Wisconsin) for the last two years and look forward to seeing the big event for the first time! We look forward to scooping up some energy to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Now I am truly excited!

[Gale]

Rob ~ Snow on the ground in Colorado and high 20's this morning. You're a lucky dog.