Sunday:

Left BWI airport at 7:00 AM. “Up-graded” seats to the exit row.  Not sure if it was really an upgrade or not, since the seats didn’t recline but there was supposedly more leg room. Arrived at KOA airport at 2:00 pm and waited ~30 min for our bags.   Picked up rental car and headed to the supermarket to stock up for the next two weeks.   Groceries are expensive but the produce is really fresh.   We made our way to Kealakekua Bay just South of Kona.   The house was big with floor to ceiling windows that opened up to the beautiful Kealakekua Bay.  We could see Captain Cook monument from the deck.  We made Ahi tuna on the grill for dinner with a Spinach Salad. I tried to stay awake on Sunday but I think I only made it past 8:00 pm.

Monday:
Slept a good nine to ten hours!   The waves were crashing pretty hard on the lava rock.  Went for a run followed by an open water swim using the Cook monument to sight!  Rested the rest of the day with my feet up.

Tuesday:
Slept another nine hours!  Went to Kona Bike works to pick up my bike and then took it for a spin on Queen K. highway.  Rode out to the airport and back which was ~ 50 min. it was definitely warmer in Kona then at the house but I felt great and the bike was working perfectly (Thanks to RACE PACE for the careful packing of my bike!).  Next up check-in, everything in went smoothly and I picked up a few souvenir t-shirts/hats/etc. at the Race Expo.   Off to Kona Brew House for lunch, no beers for me but I did sample everyone else’s! 

Wednesday:
Planned a swim-bike-run workout today but the water was a little rough and I ended up bruising my foot on a lava rock as I was getting in the water.  The swim and bike went fine but I could feel a throbbing in my foot especially after completing the  bike workout.  The top of my foot was bruised and very tender.  I opted not to run, and instead, iced and elevated the foot all day long. 

Thursday:
No workouts planned for Thursday.  I continued to ice and elevate my foot.  I was feeling much better about it even though the bruise had turned black and blue.  It no longer hurt to walk on it, although: it was still tender to touch. I went into to Kona for a massage and then picked up my mom at the airport.  My aunt came in later Thursday evening.

Friday:
DAY before the Big Day!   Went for a 40 min run to test out the foot and luckily it felt great!  I packed my run and bike gear bags with special attention paid to nutritionals for the bike and run-- along with special foods bags.  Off to Kona to check in my bike and gear bags.  Kona was hopping!   Safety checks were done on the bike and helmet.  Only wrist-banded athletes were allowed in the transition area.  Every athlete is assigned a volunteer to accompany them to their bike rack space. Wood blocks are used to rack bikes.  All helmets are left on the bike, not in transition bags.  Assisted by the same volunteer, we visit the changing tents where the volunteer places my  bag on a numbered hook.  Bike gear was placed in front of the changing tents and run gear was positioned behind  the changing tents.  Though not big,  changing tents did have plenty of chairs and two Port-a-Pots inside (one tent for females and one for males!).  I ran into to Chrissy Wellington on Ali Drive.  More like I ran into the camera guy that was filming her.  Then I realized who it was and although, I was little tongue tied, I did manage a, “Good Luck Chrissy!”   Back at the house, I finished preparing my water bottles for the bike segment and getting my other nutritionals together.   We had a great dinner and I headed to bed around 8:00-8:30 PM.