What a blast and special time I’ve had (am still having in fact!) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Anyone that visits this magical place truly knows how amazing this place is. There’s an energy that grows inside you and nurtures your core being.
These past few weeks have gone by fast. Paul and I landed in Kona shortly after St. George 70.3. With my gut and body in check, I was ready to put in some miles and training. We had a great couple of weeks and met some amazing locals and visitors. We hooked up with the Kona Aquatics Masters and lucky me, I was able to swim with dolphins once again! Spending a little over two weeks in Kona, we then made our way out toward Waikoloa.
My new sponsor Redbull joined us on the island and we had a great week leading up to Honu 70.3. I’m stoked to be part of the team. We met local Redbull rockstar Travis, and entertainment extraordinaire/ athlete marketeer Chase. I was honored to have a great photo-shoot with the infamous Zak Noyle – He made it easy as I rode/ran up and around Hawi and Waimea, and swam in the ocean while he did his magic. We got a sneak-peak at some of the images and they are simply, awesome. Hopefully I’ll have some to share asap. Great things are in the works!
Pre-race was super chill. A little spin, a little run, and little swim. Run/Bike gear drop off. In bed early. I started the day with some coffee, some homemade energy bars and of course, Redbull. Paul and Mike (manager) were there to get me to the start of the race. For some reason, my mind was not fully charged, and I forgot my cycling shoes in the hotel. Lucky for me, Paul came to the rescue and made a mad-dash back to the hotel to grab them.
Swim- I love the ocean and perhaps this is why I had such a great swim. It was my first time starting in a pack (albeit small) of men as well. The vibe/energy from these guys is very intense compared to the likes of us gals. There was a lot of jostling before the gun went off, and testosterone!
Non wetsuit, I swam in my Blueseventy skin. I love the extra boost of confidence it provides and the obvious help with my body alignment. I was able to grab a pack of gals and we swam the entire course together. I had to keep my mind focused – which is hard when you see such amazing fish and coral underneath you!
T1- Ran into T2 with 3 gals only 45-50 seconds from the front. Quick exchange of gear and I hopped on the bike. My mount wasn’t too clean. Definitely need to work on the ‘jumping’ mount process.
Bike- I was hoping for an epic day – winds, heat and humidity. We got most of this. The winds were not as strong as they were on the days leading up but good enough for providing carnage. I made up the lost gains in the swim in the first 10km and started up toward the climb to Hawi. I absolutely love climbing and any course that has something like Hawi in it, I’m stoked. There were a few age-group men that made the pass and were flying. Why they are not racing Pro, I’m not sure. The descent down was a tough one. I should’ve put more weight on my bike at the aid stations! The side winds were awesome with the Shiv and I was able to stay aero for the entire descent.
Back onto the Queen K, Melanie passed me in flying colors and we rode into T2 close together. I knew I had my work cut out for me with Melanie just ahead. This run course was made for an Xterra champ and I’m not a good one with quick descents and grassy paths. I knew I had my work cutout for me.
T2- I had some cramping going on and stood there a few moments to see if they’d subside. Melanie dashed out before I could even take a step. The mind can control and so I waited until my legs said OK, ready, RUN!
Run- I’d call this an xterra event-type run (though I’ve never done one!). Honu is a mix of golf cart paths, grass (lots of grass!) , and a few out-and-back asphalt sections that seem to last forever. The run was muggy. Melanie and I hammered our way for a the first few miles together. Melanie raced last year and knew what was coming. I was surprised with every turn and received some unexpected pitches and quick descents. The last out-and-back had me a couple minutes ahead. Bree Wee was making some solids gains on the field and I focused on what seemed still a ways away – the finish line.
Unexpectedly, Paul was there to greet me with a Lei. It put a rather big smile on my face! Chase and Travis held the banner! A huge thanks to all my sponsors and supporters. I’m so excited to be on this journey and can’t wait for the upcoming races and the back half of the season! Mahalo!