Kona Flea Market

[update: October 05, 2008]

Snappy the Sea Turtle

[update: October 04, 2008]

I have never had the chance to contemplate what it would feel like to step on the back of a sea turtle…until this morning. After waking up and 2am, 3am and then finally 6am, my first day in Kona started off the way it has started for the last four years…with a cup of Kona coffee. After a while I made my way down to the pier for my first ocean swim. I walked down the cement stairs, stepped into the water and noticed a huge sea turtle a few inches from my foot! My first impulse was to run away from it but I realized he/she was just a harmless little thing. In fact, according to Wikipedia, all species of sea turtles are endangered so they deserve a little respect! I would not, however try poking your finger towards one as they have the ability to snap their jaw completely shut, quickly. I am glad my toe did not land in his mouth.

I went on to swim and immediately noticed the swells were much larger than usual. I thought of this as being a great way to break the body into some good hard ocean swimming. I had a few people around me for a while but as time went on everyone seemed to have turned around. I began to feel a little vulnerable out there with the big swells and the lonely sea…as beautiful as it was. I tried to enjoy it all as I wait for these swims all year. Little schools of jet black fish were swimming in front of me every now and then and the way back in was much faster as the current gave me some propulsion.

I enjoyed the entire day today as on this exact day last year I was unable to get out of bed. I was extremely ill. I feel fortunate to have arrived here in Kona fit, healthy and more excited than ever to get out and race. My resting heart rate this morning was 35…not bad as I still have 7 more days to rest! By race day I should be barely alive:)

I have been reading the Power of One and I highly recommend it. It is and older book turned into an old movie but a gripping read. I also watched the debate clips, although I found Palin to be more enlightening in this video:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/

I hope to post some pictures tomorrow although I missed out on Snappy’s today.

Helloha!!

[update: October 03, 2008]

I just got into Kona after a long day of travel. VERY luckily for me I got to fly in on first class so I made good use of the elevated leg rest. It is so great to be back here again. The drive in from the airport on the Queen K always makes my heart beat faster…imagining those last few miles of the run. The road is looking extra fast this year!

I am going to try and journal each day I am here and to post pictures too…stay tuned.

Nite nite

Desiree