Don Fink - World-Class Multisports Training Since 1994

Greetings Boys and Girls -

As busy as yesterday was, today was kind of the opposite. So, this should be a relatively short note. Unless I get off on some tangent. Which I've been known to do.

For some reason, I didn't sleep all that well last night. I had trouble falling asleep. And then woke up this morning about 5 AM. I don't think I'm getting nervous and tense about the race. It's still days away. But, the internal spring is probably getting wound just a little bit tighter each day.

Renate is playing tourist today, taking an "around the island" tour. She left the condo this morning about 7:30 AM and is getting back in the 6:30 PM time frame. She wanted to know if I was interested in going. I opt to swim and bike instead.

	“	I don't think I am getting nervous and tense about the race. It's still days away. But, the internal spring is probably getting wound just a little tighter each day..”
		— Steve Noone

Our condo is about 1.5 miles from the pier so, this morning, I decided to jog down Alii Drive for my morning swim. And, of course, I pass Patti on the way. The Gatorade people have their tents set up. And their speakers going. So, the extraneous activity level has increased. I guess they're having trivia contests and giving away T-shirts. This morning I'm just here to get in an easy swim and then get out of the area. I don't really look for anyone prior to getting in the water. I'm not really in a conversational mood. I'm going out to the 15 minute buoy and then turning around and coming back. (For me and my pace, there's a nine minute buoy, a 15 minute buoy, the King's Buoy which is about 20 minutes then the Slide Buoy at about 25 minutes. All one way. Double the time for a complete swim.) It's a complete free-for-all up to the nine minute buoy. I stop once and stiff arm some guy's head to keep him from running into me. The water is slightly rough, but not all that bad. And soon enough I'm out of the water. Patti and Bill are engaged in conversation with others so I don't bother them. (Bob, I'll pass along your greeting the next time I see them.)

I grab a cup of water to drink, rinse the salt water off my body at the outdoor shower, put my running shoes and shirt on and do the easy jog back to the condo. Just for grins, and to test out my new watch, I take a mile split starting with the little green sign for .5 mile. When I get to the 1.5 mile sign I find I've just run a 7:30 mile. At a relaxed pace. I'm sure either my new watch or the mile markers are not correctly calibrated.

Now, it's time for an easy one hour bike. Like yesterday, I don't feel like riding through town so I put everything in the car and drive to the Aquatic Center. I'm getting very familiar with that ten mile stretch of the Queen K to just beyond the airport. Part of me thinks I should have done the 18 mile stretch up to Hawi. But that's at about the 60 mile part of the course. I had no real desire to drive an hour out there and I certainly wasn't going to ride my bike that far. So, I guess I'll just save some secrets for Race Day. (Similar to that, I haven't, and won't, run the stretch of road into and out of the Natural Energy Lab. I did Hawi and NEL in training before 1997. I'd probably recommend it for anybody doing the race for the first time, but I'm sure it will all come back to me. Even six years later.)

Just got a call from Lesley. Vincent and Jody, two fellow Dragons from Downingtown, arrived in town and we're getting together for lunch. I'll be back in a bit.

I'm back. By the way, Jody is the first Dragon to qualify for Kona for next year. She did it last month in Wisconsin. Congrats, Jody. Enjoy this week. Next year it's going to be a little different for you.

So, to return to my ride, I've gone out as far as I'm going and I turn around to head back to the Aquatic Center. And into a bit of a headwind. Today, after ten miles of riding, with ten to go, it's just annoying. Saturday, I could have many more than ten miles of headwind. I just have to remember that it's the same for everyone. And to not fight it, physically or mentally.

And that about covers my day. The Ironman Parade of Athletes is this evening. I'm going to pass. I have the Cubs-Marlins game on and I think I'll take a little nap. I'll talk to you all tomorrow.