IRONMAN WEEK - FRIDAY

One more day. I took the bike and gear down to the transition area this afternoon. Hope I didn't forget anything.

The most famous street in triathlon

Me being interviewed by Active.com.

The question? What's the most important piece of equipment on your bike?

This is newe this year. Some say it is a pedestrian bridge but we'll see.

Going out later today to do some of our own chalk writing.

The entrance to the finishing chute looking out.

Tomorrow night this will be a party area.

The walk of fame. taking our bikes and gear to transition while the press and surveyors watch.

Gettin' ready.

The runway between the men's and women's changing tents.

Run gear waiting.

My bike is on the row at t he endo f the red hash marks. Remember that!

My row. The swim finish is in the background.

Good luck to everyone racing tomorrow. I'll post race day fotos when I recover. See ya out there.

Oh, you can track me live at:

on the computer and iphone: http://trackmyathlete.com/vemap.aspx?name=029889

on blackberry and pda: http://trackmyathlete.com/pda.aspx?name=029889

IRONMAN WEEK - THURSDAY

Today was the "Underpants Run" and as usual it was a hoot. We also hung out at the Clif Bar house and scored tons of Clif bar products, got to meet Chris McCormick and picked up shirts for Team Macca for the fam to wear during the race.








Pro triathlete and former world champion Chris McCormack blowing bubbles.

Big Island triathlete Doug Henbest showing Macca how to blow bubbles.

We had the athlete's race meeting tonight and as usual I am very nervous about the race. I always seem to get extremely nervous after those meetings. But I'm trying to enjoy this and remember that it is supposed to be fun. Less than 48 hours...

IRONMAN WEEK - WEDNESDAY

The big day is getting closer! I did a short bike ride to the airport and back and felt pretty strong. Tapering is becoming evident after months of feeling exhausted. I'm not doing much of anything else today. I'll do a short ocean swim tomorrow testing the new goggles and that will probably be it. Training is over, just trying to get the rest I need and keep the body going.

Oh, I got my GPS tracker today. Here are the websites to go to to track me during the race. I did a trial run today and it seemed to work OK.

For the computer and iPhone: http://trackmyathlete.com/vemap.aspx?name=029889

For blackberry or pda: http://trackmyathlete.com/pda.aspx?name=029889

I'll keep posting the websites so they'll be easy to find come Saturday. It's a comfort during the race just to know people know where I'm at and how I'm doing. It doesn't get so lonely that way. So I hope you follow me.

Here are a few photos from Wednesday in Kona.

I registered today and picked up my race packet. Look at all that bounty that comes with Ironman.

This year they are printing our names on the bib numbers.

Signage and more signage along the pier and seawall.

They had me at "Danger."

That's Scott Rigsby on the left. We are friends on Facebook and I finally got to meet him in person. I saw him finish IM world championship a couple of years ago as one of the few, if not the first, double amputee above the knee to finish the race.

Lot's of Wheaties. I like this cereal but it is expensive when you can find it here. I scored an armload of boxes from the Wheaties booth last night.

Athletes getting registered today.

In a few days these bleachers will be packed with spectators.

As will the seawall.

When I got my race packet it had a note on it from my fellow registration volunteers. How nice of them. Thanks guys.

IRONMAN WEEK - TUESDAY

Ironman week is a busy, nervous, exciting week. There is something going on every minute of the day this week.


Sitting at Lava Java this morning, it was rumored that former world champion Norman Stadler was sitting behind me. So in stealth mode I raised up my phone and took a photo. No Norman, except for his poster on the wall behind me. I saw his team mates when I left, however.

Afternoon in Kona brought the Ironman Parade of Nations. So here are a few photos from this fun parade.

The Netherland athletes

A few of the Big Island athletes. We are the only ones who get to ride the parade route instead of walk it. (I think).

Poland was a little late.

Marching down Alii Drive.

Karen and Rebecca following. My own personal groupies.

Not sure what country these two are from.

Sunset from the Ironman Village.

Sunset over the pier.

Paul Huddle and Roch Frey, coaches, columnists and underpants run organizers.