Just one more week, then it's time to go...

This morning we wake up and for the first time since our arrival on Big Island, the sky of the island is not adorned with clouds in any direction. While the P.A.T.H. 5 or 10 km charity run is taking place in Kona since 6:15 am, we enjoy a cozy breakfast on our terrace.

Such a beautiful day must be used naturally, so we head to our nearby bay for snorkeling - although today, despite the relatively calm day, there are quite strong waves. Therefore, only a few fish can be seen and we only go snorkeling once. Then we head back to Kona, making a stop at a Hawaiian market that offers numerous local goods. We leisurely stroll through the market, which is just waking up, and enjoy all the impressions.

Then we continue to downtown Kona, where all the tents filled with triathlon merchandise are already open - here you can find everything you need for the sport, from swimming caps to running shoes and stickers for your travel suitcase. Of course, everything is designed for this year's competition and the triathletes shop endlessly. We look at everything and also make a stop at Kona Pier, where numerous swimmers are found. But a turtle right at the entrance to the water steals the show from all of them - as if she knows exactly where to swim to draw all the attention to herself. Even the triathletes, focused on their training, quickly take out their phones to take a photo with the local honu.

During my visit to the gym, also known as the swimming pool, I meet an older Ironman who is participating in the race for the 17th time this year, making him one of the oldest racers. According to him, there are only 10 older participants taking on the 140.6 miles next Saturday, and he definitely deserves my full respect for that. It's a nice conversation that he engages me in, and I always find it beautiful how many connections one can make through sports.

In the afternoon, my mom and I spend time at Turtles Beach, where numerous turtles are swimming in the water and also on land. This oasis of peace is a good counterbalance to the hustle and bustle in Kona, and we also discover a few triathletes who probably need a break.

Then we head back to Kona Pier, where today I want to test a small part of the swimming course in the open sea. Tomorrow morning, a test swim over the full distance is scheduled to take place here - and I had considered joining, but wanted to test swimming in the ocean beforehand. Even the professionals, as we have heard in interviews, are concerned about the swimming course and the marine life - there have already been encounters with jellyfish or sharks here. In addition, you can see many athletes swimming in groups or in pairs, and I simply miss a swimming partner to make me feel safer.

What can I say, maybe you get a noticeable buoyancy from the salt water, but it starts with the orientation: what does a left-breathing swimmer do when the buoys that mark the course are on the right side? Well, for starters, lose orientation... Quite a habit to get used to, also the water is not as deep as I thought, as there is a reef with numerous sea urchins right below you, so don't dip your arms too deep into the water. If I was most concerned about the taste of saltwater in my mouth and the resulting dry throat before, I realize that here in Kona I will face much greater challenges and quickly dismiss the thought of completing the 3.8 km distance in open water tomorrow. But as spectators, we definitely want to be there and once again, my respect for the athletes has significantly increased.

We don't want to miss the unique sunset of today and observe it from our usual spot, Kahalu'u Beach Park, where the start of the last week before the race gets a proper ending.

P.S. This time the report is a bit late because of technical difficulties...