Kona Ironman Travel and Training: First Swim and Ride on the Big Island

After more than 15 hours of travel, the first day in Kona brought a welcome return to the ocean and a short training ride on the Big Island. The pair arrived ahead of Ironman World Championship race week, giving them time to settle in, check a bike and get back into the water and onto the road.

A long route from Atlanta to Kona

The journey began Wednesday evening, when they left home around 5 p.m., picked up dinner and drove about 2 hours and 20 minutes to Decatur, Georgia. Staying with their friend and athlete Katie made the early Atlanta departure easier: their flight was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Thursday, and the alternative was leaving Greenville for Atlanta in the middle of the night. They caught up with Katie, whose third-place finish at Ironman Maryland was the last time they had seen her, and met her three-legged dog, Pax.

They woke around 3:50 a.m. and drove 20 minutes to Peachy Parking, then took its shuttle to the domestic terminal. Flying from Atlanta cost less and required fewer connections than flying from Greenville, where Delta service was available. After checking in and handing over their bikes and suitcases, they passed through security and spent about 90 minutes in the Delta lounge in Terminal A for coffee and food.

The first flight took them to Seattle, a roughly 4.5-hour leg followed by a layover of almost five hours. They used the Centurion Lounge to eat breakfast and lunch and get some work done before the next five-hour flight to Kona. For this trip, they preferred flying straight to Kona over connecting through Honolulu. The second option would mean boarding a smaller plane, which they felt could make it more likely that a bike would be held for a later flight if space or weight became an issue.

Even several days before race week, the plane was full of triathletes, race apparel and bike cases. Karel had a bulkhead window seat with extra legroom, while his companion took an aisle seat. Both flights offered time for a nap after the very early start.

Settling in after arrival

They reached Kona after 10 hours in the air and more than 15 hours of travel. Stepping off the plane into the outdoor airport and smelling the sea air made the arrival feel special, particularly with race week approaching.

While Karel waited for the luggage around 6 p.m., his companion took the rental shuttle to collect a minivan from Hertz. The process took about 45 minutes, with a few delays, and they met back up shortly after 7 p.m. One practical detail at the airport: staff required identification to show that a bike being collected from the baggage area belonged to the person claiming it. It was already dark; sunset comes a little after 6 p.m.

During the Seattle layover, they had ordered groceries for parking-lot pickup at a local Walmart, an easy way to have food ready for a late arrival and the next morning. They drove to Kona Ali condos, unloaded the minivan and picked up the key. It was their first stay at this location, a few blocks from the race venue, with an ocean view. Across eight trips to Kona, they had stayed at four other places in town off Ali'i Drive.

A light dinner of cereal and yogurt was enough before bed around 9 p.m. The next morning began early, with Karel up around 4:45 and his companion around 5:15. They worked while listening to the ocean, then watched the water grow busier with swimmers after sunrise.

First swim and a windy practice ride

At about 8 a.m., they walked to the pier, where the area was already crowded. After taking a photo with Kristian and Gustav, they swam for roughly 35 minutes, covering about 2,200 yards. There had been talk of jellyfish arriving on Sunday, but they saw none that day. The water felt warmer than on any of the companion’s previous visits, and clear enough to see the seafloor and fish during much of the swim. Karel’s swim went well, making it a positive start to the day.

After the swim, their athlete Peggy brought her bike by for Karel to check over and confirm it was ready to ride. Around 12:30 p.m., they loaded their bikes into the minivan and drove to the entrance of the energy lab, behind the new gas station. From there they rode north to the scenic point and back, spending 75 minutes on the bike.

Wind picked up at times, but the companion felt proud of how she handled it on her triathlon bike. Karel didn’t feel strong at the start, though his legs came around as the ride continued. Several triathletes were already on the course; they expected it to get busier the following week. The route uses a highway with a wide shoulder, but traffic is present. They drive out of town to begin rides because debris around town raises the chance of a flat tire.

Temperatures were described as consistently between 76 and 80 degrees, though the heat still felt pronounced. After the ride, they stopped briefly at Safeway for a few groceries, noting that food can be expensive on the island and that comparing shops helps with some purchases. They returned to the condo for the rest of the day, with the first swim and ride behind them and race week still ahead.