We both started our prep for Ironman together in mid 2004 after collapsing over the line in an Olympic distance race at Elwood. I can remember at the time, how the *#&$ am I going to run 10kms of the bike, 2 x 5km laps, seemed like it was going to be a world of hurt. Oh how things are so different today. Fourth year in and a 2:00+ run is par for the course and you don't even blink an eye! A few days after that race over a few beers, Captain (Julian Wain), Motiv8r (Stuart Hinks) and myself decided that the longer stuff would be fun, lets do Shepp and start the 18 weeks of training in July.

So there it began, the quest for Kona and now, some years later, Captain is there!

People often ask what is so special about Kona, it's hard to describe, but for me, it's the pinnacle of Ironman, I get chills on the skin when watching past races and for anyone who has completed an Ironman, that feeling of running down the finish chute keeps you coming back for more. GGGrrrr

Well, "D" day is nearing and the Captain is 10 sleeps away from living the dream and entering that elusive club of Kona finishers and I can not wait, way way way too exciting! I wish I could be there to race with him but it's not to be ;( So next best thing, a few of us will be on the MTs in front of the Plasma at Caff's pad watching the action on ironmanlive, cranking it out in our own Queen K, we might even turn up the heating, fire up the urn and set up a fan or two to get some cross winds happening.

Back to reality, at the moment, the boy is "acclimating" to the conditions that Kona has to offer, he's riding on the Queen K and gearing out on the downhill into Kona, vroom, running through the Energy LAB, in his words "SOMEONE PINCH ME, I'M HERE BABY." He keeps on having to tell himself to back off as the adrenalin kicks in and he wants to smash it up and is doing "lots of Natasha Badman style smiling" ::))

He has encountered some of the nasty winds that the big island has to offer already whilst out riding on Sunday, into a 15-20mph wind on the 39/25 to keep the intensity at bay and getting blown 1m left or right by cross winds, BRUTAL! He also drove the course and says that there are some nasty NASTY hills, and FIERCE WIND.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and praying to the weather gods for Julian.

SMASH SMASH Captain!

Komo (I'm with you all the way)

Kona Countdown : 10 days and counting.....