Macca piloting his Specialized SHIV out on the Kona Ironman course. By Conrad Stoltz (I’m showing off my mad camera skills,  hoping to someday get paid for this writing/photography hobby of mine).

The reason I havent blogged in a while is the lack of interwebs connection at our Kona condo. Been knocking out some amazing power numbers on the bike, and other than recovering and eating,  havent found the energy to go blog. I find it hard hard to sit and blog from a coffee shop (Lava Java of course)  squinting at the screen in the sun, with the stunning ocean views, Big Island pork pizza in one hand, typing with the other and ogling the sea of finely chisseled/ tanned/ tattoed/ coiffed Ironman bodies streaming by.

Back to the race.

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It feels like I did and Ironman myself. Sun burnt and tired. Off to bed.

Here are some pics from today: What a battle.



Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

photo by Rich Cruse

Chrissie Wellington had a flat, spent 10 mins fixing it and still won by 15 min. Amazing – she caught many of the pro men on the run including my Pilot Butte Burger eating buddy Matt Lieto.

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The Ironman village had a demo booth where athletes can test run shoes, ride bikes etc. I worked at the Avia booth and was amazed at the size and energy of this whole Kona/Ironman thing. The Avi Lite II seems to be the most popular for IM racing- its light with plenty of cushioning. I was also surprised at the might of the Triathlon Dollar, despite the world wide economic slump. Just proves again- Triathletes are overachievers, and Ironpeople more than most. Tomorrow is the big day- let the suffering begin!

Signing autographs at the Avia demo booth with triathlon legend Scott Tinley. Or, more like “watching Tinley sign his books.” I have been a Scott Tinley fan since (especially) my beginnings in triathlon in the late 80s, and I was stoked with my autographed ST books. The one says: “To the Conradenator”

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