Tuesday on the island used to be the last day for quiet but as its already pretty busy here we just decided to throw ourselves in again.
A bit of training to start the day, few intervals out towards Captain Cooks, there are pretty much no flat areas around here, it is after on the side of a few volcanoes, so the ride out was all uphill, the ride back all down. 51mph on a road I didn’t know was pretty good but given the circumstances and wanting to save myself for race day I eased back a little on trying to go any faster.
Then we were off to the beach, we hadn’t really done much research on the Captain Cooks area as most of the more popular beaches are in the other direction but we wanted to check out the bay, eventually we fell upon the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. A fantastic area for snorkelling and general paddling in rock pools checking out the turtles and relaxing. Exactly what everyone needed.
A quick lunch on the beach and a race back to town for the important event of the week, the Ironman Keiki Splash and Dash for the ironkids race. Both Teya and Millie were entered, Millie for the 1/4 mile up Ali’i Drive and back, Teya for the 150m swim and mile run. It was so well organised, the kids got t-shirts, hats, trinkets, and medals and so proud of them both. Teya was a little gutted as the thunder and lightening put paid to the swim section (how many times has that happened this year in races !!) so it was a surf run and then a run up Ali’i drive.
I even found Teya sprint finishing on Facebook live at 28:15 into the video
Then the Parade of Nations, a little like the opening ceremony of the Olympics (obvs not as grand) and a chance to come together as as team, this is such an individual sport that we never really get the opportunity in ironman to celebrate racing for our country as well, so a few guys (Tri247)organise the whole meet up, this year HUUB were the team sponsor and produced some great t-shirts and we all get to parade down Ali’i drive behind the flag and show off the team, as last year it was a little wet and the brits were blamed by all the commentators for the weather but no one was complaining, very proud to represent GB in Kona in 2018.
The parade always finishes at the expo near the local market, the biggest and 3rd one that we have visited, so as a family we decided to let the kids run around a bit longer and mooch around, I managed to get a chat to Rinnie and Tim O’Donnell, the super couple at the moment (amongst others) signing at the Hoka stand. The girls were cute enough to bag themselves a talking unicorn toy and a few bracelets for their efforts.
Finally, a last walk down the front and more amazing sunsets. Love this place.
All in all a full day, tomorrow will be IM Talk interviews and registration, until then, over and out.
Rosey.
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