Race Ready!

Ready or not the 2009 Ironman World Championship is about to unfold! I happen to feel ready :) Today included a quick swim, bike, run. Then it was off to check in my bike, and gear bags. My baby is ready to roll!! Wind? Bring it! Heat? Ok, sounds good. This race is what it is because of the conditions and the competition. I'm sure tomorrow will not disappoint.
My bike was one of the first to arrive today, but tonight he'll sleep amongst some ridiculously fast machinery. He's so happy to be back in the mix again this year!

I was quite excited to check my bike and receive my Cervelo Kona t-shirt from the Cervelo crew. If you choose to race the best TT bike on the market you get a personal "Thank You" from the company. I love it!


Another thanks to everyone who is here, and home, following the race! It will be awesome to see so many familiar faces along the race course (both racing and supporting), and when I feel alone I'll think of everyone back home and race for that next timing mat!

Goodnight from Kona!

Aloha and MAHALO!

Ahhhhh, yes! I have returned to the lava fields! I arrived in Kona on Monday and have been enjoying every minute since! I feel surprisingly calm, and relaxed. It's amazing the difference between tackling this course for the first and second time. Instead of being scared about the unpredictable winds, I expect it! Instead of wondering whether the sun will bake me and take away every drop of fluid I take in, I expect it! Anything better will be considered a gift from the island gods!
I've fit in a few good training sessions. It's quite motivating to be out on the road training and spot not one, but 8 of the best triathletes in the world. Tuesdays ride featured: Mirinda Carfrae, Belinda Granger, McCormick, Amanda Lavato, Linsey Corbin, Normann Stadler, fellow UM alum Andy Potts, and one of my favorite pro's: Brad Send ;) The best part about racing here is to be amongst such amazing athletes.


By far my favorite training sessions have been those spent out in the Pacific. My brother arrived on Tuesday and has been up for any and all swimming and run sessions (he's out biking the Queen K while I blog and rest today).

Wednesday's swim included a stop at the coffee stand in the middle of the swim course, a turtle spotting, and swimming over a large white tip reef shark. Actually the shark sighting caused an interesting response from me. Matthew pointed towards the shark, while I looked up and said "well ya, but it isn't real!" It just came out. I couldn't believe there was a 10foot real shark swimming under me. Thankfully he wanted nothing to do with the hundreds of triathletes swimming 30 feet above him.



If there was a coffee stand in the middle of the ocean back in San Diego I'd be up for ocean swimming way more often!

And then there is the famous underpants run! I laughed non-stop the whole time. Roch, and Paul never seize to amaze me with their endless humor!
Matthew getting ready for his first run down Ali'i

Duke, where are your undies?

I can't wait to race with Charisa again! We're ready to shred!!!


I also had a blast visiting some of the companies that have supported me this season. They each add great motivation and enjoyment to my training and racing! I am so undeserving, and so so thankful for everything they've done to help my season along....and to get me back to Kona! It was great to see Marc from Tribike Transport! There was an interesting and promising meeting with Chris from Cervelo (more on that later), and I got in a few laughs with the Gu guys.


I now know why people that live here have a ridiculous number of bathing suits. I thought I had a lot, but if you live here you clothing is simply optional! It is ridiculously hot here this year. It seems much warmer than last year, although the humidity and heat are all part of the experience here. Bring it! =)
All that's left to do is rest, smile, and enjoy every moment between now and 7am on Sat. After that life only gets better! Oh how I can't wait to bike through Hawi and run through the Energy Lab!

Deepest Mahalo for reading and for your support!!!

ONE WEEK!

One final week of recovery and taper and it will be show time! Man I can't believe in just one week 2000 athletes will enter the Pacific to write the story of the 2009 Ironman World Championship!
Yesterday I had my best ocean swim ever. The small stupid mental blocks are well in my past! I can't wait to get back in where the water is warm, clear, and lined with race buoys! My legs are feeling better and better each day. After a few hours on the bike I dropped him off at the beauty parlor to get all primped and ready to go!
Besides that it's just contrast bath:



Acupuncture:


Massage:
no pic of that ;)

Stretch:



and pack up the machine:

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes! I promise they will play a BIG part in my race day performance!!!

Believe!

"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try, and the faith to believe it's possible" - Rick Devos

I will be racing in Kona because I believed I could. At one point it seemed far from obtainable...but I believed! The body can achieve what the mind can conceive. It also helps that I have a pretty awesome role model who proves this to me over and over: my brother.
This time last year the whole family planned to travel to Kona to watch me fulfill my Ironman dream. Turns out, Matthew (brother), had a dream of his own to fulfill. He is a professional sailor, with two America's Cup campaigns under his belt. Passion and Belief powered his athletic dreams towards reality!

Anyways, two weeks before Kona Matthew was hired up by the Dutch team for the Volvo Ocean Race. The race spans 9 months, starts in Alicante Spain and concludes in St Petersburg, Russia. Turns out both of us would begin our voyage on the same day (however he reminded me that even if I felt tired upon completion of my race, at least I'd crawl into a real bed that night).

The team's on board media guy captured photos and videos throughout the race. He put together this awesome video. Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYYwpX2cSIM

I'm so stoked to have the ultimate race sherpa accompanying me this year! Only a few days until Matthew and I head to Kona. I can't wait!!

Countdown is on!

Things are good over here in sunny San Diego! Today's workout included a 2 hour ride with some intervals to test the heart rate and legs. The legs are still tired, but they'll gain the spunk they need by the time race day rolls around. The heart rate responded just as it should have. It's all a great sign that my body is soaking in the taper is on track. Then it was off for a short t-run in the trails by my house.

I need to approach race week with the comfort in knowing I trained harder, longer, and hopefully even smarter this season (isn't that half the battle!?!?!). It seems like forever ago that I was wondering if I'd make it back to the Big Island this year. With the ridiculous speed and strength of my competitors I knew I had a mountain to climb to get there.

I made it up and over that one and am ready for the reward! 9.5 days!