Hang Loose

Today we're taking it a bit easier after yesterday, no alarm clock ringing at 5:30 and still we wake up before 7:00, after all you have to make full use of the daylight hours here in paradise. The plan for the day is made at the breakfast table - it should be under the Hawaiian motto 'Hang Loose'.

At around 8:00 we arrive at Kona Pier, there is a colorful hustle and bustle like the past few days, the athletes start the day with a swim session, today Sebastian Kienle is supposed to be here too, as we later find out in the Kona Daily report, but unfortunately we missed him. Meanwhile, about 500 meters from the shore, there is also a coffee platform where the athletes are supposed to wait for coffee after their swim - an original idea, we think.

Then we take a stroll through Kona, new stands with all sorts of equipment have opened again, nice to look at. The construction work is progressing every day. By now, part of the grandstand is already in place at the finish line, as are the banners with the printed winners of previous years, which, as we have noticed with irritation, still date from last year and have not been updated with the winners of 2018. The board on which we left our message for the athletes has also been filled up a lot, there is hardly any free space left...

At 11:00 it's time for me to go swimming, where I again get into conversation with some locals who are always happy when the Ironman is over - can be understood to some extent, after all, half the island goes crazy and during this time Kona triples or quadruples its population.

In the afternoon, we relax a bit at home before we return to Kona later - somehow you can't get enough of all the hustle and bustle...

Afterwards, I want to go for a jog on Ali'i Drive again, this time it's 8 km in the opposite direction for me, from Kona to Kahalu'u Beach Park. I actually even overtake two triathletes on the route, which of course makes me a bit proud. Mom supplies me with drinks at the finish line, and she just made it in time for my finish because there is quite a bit of traffic on the road from Kona to Kahala'u.

So after our evening workout, we once again enjoy a spectacular sunset, and some of the athletes do the same - we all deserve this view.