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A couple more Kahuna thoughts... please humor me

Sunday morning as I walked my bike from my hotel to the transition area pre-race, I saw a woman in a blindingly bright pink Hammer Nutrition jacket. I thought, whoah, it's a little early for that kind of tonal confrontation. I did not think, wow, Michellie Jones is here! But indeed, the Olympic medalist and reigning Ironman world champion had come to race among us. Or, more accurately, ahead of us. Our little local race was her tune-up for Kona.

That pink gear is her signature race wear. Triathlon geek that I am, I should have known it was her. Of course, she clobbered the women's field. And took seventh overall. By the time I finished, she had showered, changed into street clothes and rhinestone-studded sunglasses, and probably read half of War and Peace. Rock star.

The photo above is of my Athena tiki trophy (full view here). It weighs a good hefty five or six pounds, more doorstop than mantel ornament, and it's definitely a fierce-looking mofo. I also got a 26-serving bottle of raspberry (pink) Hammer gel with a flask and a pair of pink goggles. Theme?

I didn't actually sign up to race as an Athena (women over 150 lbs.), as it wasn't available in the online registration. But when I arrived at check-in, I saw that there was an Athena/Clydesdale wave start. I waffled about switching waves: I might win something, but then again, it meant starting 25 minutes later than I would with the 34-and-under women. That was precious time during which the wind on the bike course could pick up. In the end, obviously, I decided to go with the Athenas, because I figured I'd be disappointed if someone slower than me won some cool schwag. (The wind, surprisingly, was not a factor that day.)

This tiki guy has to be good luck. I think I may haul him to Arizona with me. After all, I smuggled a cheerful doorstop with me to New Zealand, where I had my best IM performance so far. Coincidence? Or the luck of the plaster?

September 12, 2007 10:11 PM