Adventures on the Big Island: IM Kona and so much more

This summer I achieved something that very few in the sport of triathlon are able to accomplish: I punched my ticket to Kona. Well, technically Kat punched her ticket to Kona, but I was like the chad hanging from a Florida ballot when she did it! Her World Championship qualifying performance at Ironman Mont Tremblant this past August was epic and while I had very little to do with it, I can't help but take most of the credit! I am, after all, an amazing source of inspiration - one so critical to her success in racing that she couldn't help but bring me along to the Big Island for Ironman Hawaii. As an honorary member of the Donatello family, I couldn't resist the family's invitation for me to join them for Kat's once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Eileen and I with my "extended family" at our wedding!

While I was naturally ecstatic to have the opportunity to watch Kat race, I was determined to take advantage of the trip professionally. I set out to secure the professional development opportunity of a lifetime; I was determined to shadow Kona's swim coordinators in order to better my understanding of best practices for water safety and, in the process, secure the required race director continuing education credits needed for recertification. Initially, my dreams were shattered. Between Kat and myself, we received exactly zero responses for about a month. Everyone we called or emailed told us we were crazy. Those type of opportunities didn't exist at the World Championships and our asking was presumptuous. Of course, this just drove my desire to secure the opportunity even further. And, after six weeks, my request was met with the most unlikely of responses: YES! Ironman Hawaii and the WTC would honor my request and allow me unlimited access to their Assistant Swim Director on race day. It's an opportunity you literally can not pay for (which is saying a lot when you're dealing with the WTC!). I knew I was in for the experience of a lifetime.

Bags packed, tickets in hand, and VIP pass secured, I headed to Logan Airport. With Kat's permission, I'd sprung for a second row window seat on my first flight from Boston to Las Vegas. The thought was that I would have a bit of extra legroom and get some sleep on the overnight flight. And then this happened in the first row...

The middle aged cast of the Hangover IV settled in directly in front of me 

These guys were Vegas bound, but were not concerned about starting the party a bit early. In fact, I'd guess they started the party sometime around noon for our 8:20pm flight. So sleep was at a premium on flight number one. No worries, though, I still had time in the Vegas airport to rest.

And then this happened...

Actually, it was more the video poker machine but you get the idea

I must say, I consider myself somewhat of a gambling savant as I was able to leave the mid-airport casino without losing so much as a penny. Granted, I didn't make so much as a penny, but I'm pretty sure that still allows me to classify as some sort of slot machine and video poker genius.

With two strikes against me, I was finally able to get a bit of rest on the flight from Vegas to Honolulu and then the quick trip from Hawaiian capitol to Kona. There, I was able to get a ride into town from the race director of Ironman St. Croix 70.3. He was a cool guy and even gave me a tour of the race venue when we got to the Kona pier. He also helped me navigate the VIP and Credential offices where I was able to secure my pass and bracelet for the weekend. 

Before taking one final nap, I was able to snap a photo on the way out of Honolulu

Finally, after hours of travel (and like 20 minutes of walking around lost in Kona), I was reunited with Kat, Jeff, and the closest thing I have to sisters in Mia and Lydie. We sat down to an oceanside breakfast and started mapping out the remainder of the weekend. 

A guy could get use to breakfast spots like this one.
Not pictured is the sea turtle that joined us for the meal!

Not wanting to waste any of the precious time we had on this beautiful island, Jeff, the girls, and I headed straight for the beach across from our condo once breakfast was finished. While I'd never snorkeled before, I figured there was no better time to figure it out than in the waters of Hawaii.

A view from the condo and of one of Hawaii's best snorkeling spots

The underwater views were well worth the gallons of water that ended up in my sinuses. While my underwater camera picked the worst of all times to fail, things pretty much looked like this...

And this...

I was absolutely stunned by the reef and the fish that called it home. So much so that I couldn't say no when we left one beach and headed for another!

An amazing black sand beach at the bottom of the volcano

The views here were just as amazing as those outside our condo. Potentially even better. The backdrop of a massive dormant volcano added to the beauty of this place. The fish were plentiful and another sea turtle even made an appearance. I wish I had evidence to allow you into this world, but the hours I spent in the water with my "waterproof" video camera managed to destroy every second of footage I had taken. While the camera failed, the views are something I will never forget. 

After draining my ears and sinuses of even more water (I will make zero claims about being adept as a snorkeler in this blog!) we headed out to witness one final shocking view for the day. 

Lava Java might be my new favorite restaurant

Lava Java, the famed Kona hotspot, lived up to its reputation. The food was fantastic and the views were unbeatable. So great was the experience, that we'd end up eating there three or four times in three days! Granted, my ability to order off an adult menu is pretty limited - but I give the pizza and pancakes two thumbs up each! The rest of the crew can vouch for the rest of the offerings.

Lights out, as ordered by Kat, came at 8pm - which to me was like 2am Eastern time, so it was cool. By 3:30 I was awake on the couch. Again, it seemed like 9:30am to me as my body was still on EST. Kat and Jeff soon joined me in the kitchen and we mapped out what was sure to be another epic day - well, for me, Jeff and my surrogate little sisters! Kat, on the other hand, would be off her feet by mid day.

Before Kat was on Ironman bed rest, she and I took off for the Kona pier - home of the the World Championship Swim Course. Our swim would be short, but it would also become one of the greatest sporting memories of my life. As the sun rose over the volcano to the east, I fixed my gaze downward at the hundreds of fish darting around the reef below. Between the importance of the setting to our sport and the spectacular views I was able to witness, this quickly became the best swim of my life. I enjoyed every single stroke and even found myself pausing to watch the sunrise or stare at the wildlife on a number of occasions. Again, it is another Kona experience that I will never, ever forget. 

The site of one of the most spectacular swims in the world

Upon (reluctantly) exiting the water, Kat and I met the founders of the new company, Roka. Former Stanford swimmers, these guys were impressive to speak with. We spent about twenty minutes talking about their products, our race, and exchanging contact information. They even offered to let us try out their suits - which Kat did, though I declined as I informed them that I wasn't racing. Thirty seconds later, when they told us Kat could have the $300 suit for free, I REALLY wanted to change my answer! 

I did get a silicone cap, so at least I didn't leave totally empty handed...

After the swim, I departed on a 5 mile run down Ali'i Drive on the same stretch of road that the athletes would run the following day. A bonus to my not racing was that I was able to enjoy the luxury of the sponsor houses that lined the road. Each one had a tent with various drink and energy gel/chew options. In all, I probably consumed about 1000 calories in 35 minutes. I ate EVERYTHING! By mile 3 I was quite full and carrying bottles, gels, chews, bars, and anything else I could get my hands on. It's no wonder I slowed down toward the end of the run. I was probably carrying 15 pound of nutrition - either in my hands or stomach!

I got back just in time to learn that we (minus Kat) were headed out to Lava Java (again!) before going cliff diving. Breakfast was great and I even met and spoke with ITU pro from New Zealand, Kris Gemmell (I would have been star-struck had he not been so humble and easy to talk to). Then, we headed off to a seaside cliff and cave carved out of lava. Like with snorkeling, I had never launched myself off a cliff and into the depths of the ocean before setting foot in Hawaii. But, if Mia could do it, so could I!

The adventure began with a five minute walk along a path through a lava filed. We were essentially walking across the surface of the sun and it's a miracle that my skin didn't melt away instantly. But it was worth it, because at the end of the path was a gorgeous (and somewhat terrifying) cliff with a cave at the bottom.

Here is a video shot in the same location - The End of the World in Kona:

After watching Jeff leap first, which was like the ones demonstrated in the video above, I turned to the girls and asked how we were getting into the water, because I certainly wasn't catapulting myself from that height. Fortunately, there was a beginner-friendly option that was only about 15 feet high. It took some fairly decent descending skills to reach the lower platform, but once there I was sure we'd made the right choice - at least to start.

After a few test jumps, it was time to step up to the big leagues! We made our way to the top platform (well, 2 feet down from the top platform). The jump was exhilarating, terrifying, and incredibly fun. I only wish we'd had more days to go back and continue the adventure.

Airborne!

Watching Jeff and thinking, "That's a LONG way down!"

Feet firmly on the ground back in the condo, I headed into town on Jeff's sweet rental bike. It was approximately four sizes too big and the riding wasn't made any easier given the fact that I was in cargo shorts, a polo and wearing a backpack - all in 90 degree heat and 100% humidity! Five strenuous and sweaty miles later, I found myself in the midst of Ironman Hawaii fever. I made my way past the hundreds of athletes training (way too hard one day before a race of any distance, let alone an IM) and into the host hotel to meet up with Mike Atwood, Assistant Swim Director for the event. For two hours, he and I discussed his duties for the next morning and he showed me around the venue. Eventually, we parted ways as I had evening plans with the Donatello crew (once again, minus the resting Kat!).

Those plans: an epic night of snorkeling with enormous manta rays. Out boat left the harbor about 45 minutes before sunset, allowing us to take in some pristine sights on the way to the dive location. All the time, I knew this is what was waiting for us...

After a quick dive (snorkel) briefing, we threw on some gear and plunged into the darkness of the Pacific Ocean. At the outset, the activity was minimal. Two or three mantas circled twenty to thirty feet below the surface, more interested in the divers than the snorkelers. As the minutes passed, more and more of these magnificent animals arrived. In total, 29 made an appearance. And, as a bonus, a bottle nosed dolphin stopped by to check things out. After about thirty seconds, though, he'd had enough of the activity and ended his investigation. The entire experience was amazing and I'm so fortunate to have had this opportunity. For forty five minutes, I marveled at the wonders the Pacific had to offer. It was an event I'll never forget, and an experience I recommend to everyone.

Prior to our departure that evening, Kat had given us specific instructions to keep our mouths shut when we arrived back at the condo that night! So, naturally, we all did our best to enter the condo silently and get right to bed. The next day, after all, would be one of the most important in her sporting life. 

Three-thirty in the morning came quickly, but there was no hesitation in my rise from bed (well, my makeshift bed). I was excited for the day to get underway, but tried to keep my cool so as not to add any stress or nerves to Kat. Within an hour of rising, we were on the road and headed to the start. The ride was quick and mostly silent other than a few comments about the awesomeness of the manta rays from the previous night.

At the race site, Kat and I (proudly wearing my VIP pass and bracelet) exited the car and began the process of navigating through seemingly endless security checkpoints. By the time we reached weigh in and body marking, my VIP pass had become (momentarily) useless and we had to part ways. I handed Kat all of her gear that I had been sherpa-ing and wished her the best of luck. And with that, she walked into a sea of people and I went about finding my way to my host for the day (though not before waiting 15 minutes for Kat to exit body marking - which, apparently, takes a long time in Kona!). 

After connecting with Mike, an Assistant RD, I began the process of navigating even more security checkpoints. Given the magnitude of the race and the tragedy that unfolded in Boston last spring, security was tight. So tight, in fact, that my VIP bracelet did not provide adequate clearance for me to join Mike on my platform above the swim course. Fortunately, he knew a back way into transition that was staffed by another high level RD. There, we were able to access transition and our perch for the morning. Once there, before things really heated up, I started snapping pictures. These were views that few ever see. Ultimately, if you aren't on this tower or the NBC camera platform, you can't see the race from this vantage point.

Looking away from the water and toward transition / bike & run out

Looking out over the pier and toward the swim course

Thousands of spectators lined the sea wall as the swim start neared

As I soaked in the views, the athletes made their way to the water and it wasn't long before the race kicked off with the pro starts at 6:30 (men) and 6:35 (women). What I was really looking forward to, though, was the 2000 athlete amateur start. I'd seen it many times on screen, but never in person - and certainly not from this perspective. It didn't disappoint...

The next three hours were riveting. Between listening to the advice Mike was able to give me on race directing, watching the Kona staff in action (like the snipers on the hotel roofs after a tire burst making a sound mimicking a gunshot...), and seeing the race from such a spectacular location I was completely entertained. The pros, both men and women, got out in massive packs - 27 for the men and 13 for the women. The age groupers streamed in for over an hour and the final few athletes struggled to make the cutoff. The entire experience was one I will never forget. It taught me many things about being a better race director and reinstalled some of the motivation I'll need to get through a long winter of training.

An Ironman, even for the fastest people on the planet, takes LONG time to finish. So, when you're a spectator you need to find things to do. For me, that mostly involved finding places that sold good smoothies. I think I had 4 on race day - and would have had more had it been socially acceptable for me to go back to the same stores 5 or 6 times. 

Jeff and Kat had the absolutely genius idea of getting a hotel room in town for race day. With our condo too far out of town, this gave us a place to call home while the race was unfolding. As an extra bonus, it happened to be right on the race course so we didn't have to go far to access the car or each other. It also had a shower, and I couldn't be more thankful for that! It was HOT and HUMID. I don't know how the athletes were able to function because I had a hard time just standing on the roadside. Every few hours Jeff and I would decide that we'd had enough of the heat (and sweat) and head inside to showers and charge our cell phones. 

In between Kat spottings (and she was doing amazing!), we grabbed more smoothies and headed to Lava Java for another meal. 

We saw the leaders at mile 1 and mile 9...

Luke McKenzie leading at mile one. He'd hold on for second

We saw Hines Ward...

Hines Ward, former NFL player, at mile 9

And we saw the top pros finish. Jeff even tried to get a high five from the champion, Frederik Van Lierde as he neared the finish. Frederik was staying two floors below us in the condo and Jeff had spoken with him Friday, but that didn't seem to matter when he went in for the congratulations! We both got to the Hawaiian guy carrying the flame in front of Van Lierde, but the motorcycle detail kept Jeff at a distance.

A few hours later, Kat got her moment in the spotlight as she crossed the fame finish line in front of thousands! It was a great moment that I was glad to share with her, her girls and her husband. But, she was quickly swept away and that posed a problem - we didn't know where to find her, though we knew that she would want to get back to the condo as soon as possible. Fortunately, my VIP pass allowed me access to the post-race area Kat was one of the first people I saw there.

140.6 miles later and she's still smiling!

After navigating through the crowds (and taking all of her things from her - especially her medal, because the weight of it was about to topple her!), we made our way to bike check out. As we walked, she talked. She first told me she was "NEVER doing this race again...". I nodded my head and said, "Ok, Kat. Keep walking." (Two days after the race I got the call that she was, in fact, not done with this race... ). Then she'd something semi-sensible and I'd say, "Ok, Kat. Keep walking". And, occasionally, she'd say something that made NO sense at all. I just nodded and said, "Ok, Kat. Keep walking."

Eventually we made it to the bike checkout and despite my best attempt to act like I belonged there (Kat's suggestion), this is where my VIP status apparently stopped and I was left to wait with everyone else. After she emerged with her bike and we located the family, we headed for the car. It was a journey that took some time, but as long as we kept moving forward, Kat was alright and able to walk! Jeff and I took care of some business by dropping her bike and gear at TriBike Transport while the girls looked after their mom. From there, there wasn't much left to do other than get back to the condo and get some rest.

Early the next morning we headed back down Ali'i Drive to visit the Finisher's Merchandise Store. I, Kat's personal shopper, pretty much followed her and held things that she either wanted to try on or buy! I must say, I was decent at it and could likely make a career of it should this teaching thing not work out!

Soon after, I parted ways with the Donatellos at the airport. They headed off for a few more hours of fun while I waited to board my first of many flights back home. The first, Kona to Honolulu, wasn't bad, but it was followed from a 9+ hour trip from Honolulu to NYC...

Nine hours is a LONG time to sit still

The only thing worse than a lengthy flight is a lengthy layover - which is exactly what I had in NYC. But some french toast and Matty in the Morning podcasts smoothed things over; before I knew it, I was on a plane for Boston. And, waiting for me upon arrival was Eileen! I'd expected for her to just pull up curbside, but she was waiting just outside the gate! It was great to see her and I was eager to get in the car and go home! While the trip was amazing, I couldn't have been happier to be home with my girls, Eileen and Nala.

headed home to see my family!

When most people return from Kona - or any Ironman, really - they're convinced that it's something they need to do. That wasn't the case for me. The experience was incredible and I am grateful for the opportunity to share in the experience with Kat and her family. The VIP access and my time with the Kona RDs was something that few people ever expereince, and again, I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity. All that being true, I didn't leave the Big Island with Ironman fever. I'm still on the fence if it's something I want to do. I now know it's not something in my 2014 plans, but I haven't decided past then. Maybe I will and maybe I won't, I honestly don't know what the future will hold in term of my long course racing. What I do know is that I'll probably head back to the half distance and see how I fare, but that's all I'm willing to commit to at this point.

Again, I owe the Donatellos a huge thank you for inviting me on the trip and allowing me to tag along on all the fun activities! And, of course, thank you to Eileen who held down the fort and kept the puppy entertained - with the help of my parent's dog, Oscar - while I was away!