HAWAII-life is good after a week in paradise...

Today was a chill day, where Lar Dog went for a 2 hour bike ride on the Queen "K". Then off to some shopping, and a cool beach where the Turtles were abundant....more than abundant.

Note who's arm is handing Ironman Champ Chrissie Wellington an H20 bottle? Thats at mile 2 of the run course. The sunset is from the front of our condo at Kona Makai...it doesn't get much better than this...tomorrow we scuba...wooo-hooo!

Hawaii-been hangin here for over a week bruddah

See who's arm is holding out the H20 for Ironman Champ; Chrissie Wellington? The Iron people are mostly off island, so it has calmed down where we can get to Lava Java and not have to wait in line! Went to an amazing Turtle beach today...where they were stacked up. Very cool creatures. Also visited an ancient Hawaiian spor called the "Place of Refuge". Kim loved it, and so did I.

Kim's idea of a nice bike!!

I was obsessing about Cervello's, Argons, Orbeas, and QR's....but Kim had another idea!!

Hawaii Ironman-2008 Edition!

It was a HOT one in Kialua-Kona on Ironman Saturday. We were up early for the swim start, and made our way to various spots to watch the pro's and the AG athletes, all whom are quite amazing. I was struck by the heat & humidity, wondering how in the world I raced in these conditions last year. One of the photos shows me with the laptop, waiting for the lead athletes at mile 2 of the run course.

We did finish line "catching" for 3 hours, and caught athletes from all over the world. Fun to help them walk and unwind. Many, many were taken to the medical tent for treatments of various kinds. One gal had crap (yeah, pooh), all over herself; gross! I didn't take a picture of that...

Fun day out there, but I was beat, and we got home at 10pm...now we get to relax, enjoy the beach, and get ready to scuba Hawaiian Style!

1st full day in Ironman Paradise

Dudes...it is a cooker out here, and if the IM were today, there would be some big time melt downs, but I guess you can count on that at IMH regardless. Got up early, and did a swim in Kialua Bay...where the water was TOASTY warm...like 84 degrees maybe. Saw dolphins, and ran into a guy from Orange County out at the Expresso Bar that is on a sail boat about a 1/2 mile out on the swim...went to try out the new Ridley bike, but couldn't ride it as it will not fit me, and they would have to CUT the seatpost to make it work, so I had the guys at Ordea hook me up with an Orbea Ordu. I took it out on the Queen "K" and hammered on that bad boy for a bit. It was equiped with the Zipp Vuka Aero Bars, and the not yet released new Dura Ace Componants. It was Africa HOT out there, but I booked a little more than 20 miles in wind/heat without any nutrition/fluid...holy crap...now off to a SlowTwitch Get Together....

Arrival in Kialua-Kona.....yipppeee...

We arrived in Kona today, and again, I felt the Hawaiian "BUZZ" come over me...the heat, the humidity, and being back on this magical island...how sweet it is...with no lack of local characters...(see Viking Man!) As I sit out on the Lanai, watching the beautiful Pacific Ocean, I know this is my "favorite" place to be...dinner tonight w/Ben & Miwa, and an early to bed....

Lets go to Kona!

My favorite place in the world is Hawaii. Kim & I will be flying to the Big Island tomorrow am on a direct flight from LA to Kona. I want my body dumped into the sea in Hawaii, or at least my ashes when I die. That way my family/friends can remember Lar Dog and smile when they visit this paradise that God gave us to enjoy. Pictures and and few stories will follow in the next few days....yipppeee!!!