Sid’s day one diary from Kona: LCB reveals who’s boss in Ho’ala Training Swim as pleasure builds – Elite Information

We are right here, now we have arrived, nicely after I say ‘we’ I imply me, and I’ve loved a few days in Kona now. We (that’s all of us this time) are one week out and issues are definitely now getting hyped and pleasure constructing as we enter race week.

I all the time bear in mind as of late and the sensations. You know the race is lower than per week away, and abruptly it appears so shut. Yet on the identical time you continue to have 5 days, which while you break it down, actually it’s nonetheless numerous time. It generally appears like this odd time warp, of quick and gradual time, that’s generally exhausting to clarify.

Arriving on the island, I nonetheless received the excitement. The method to touchdown, in case you are fortunate, takes you alongside the Kona shoreline, monitoring the Queen Ok and the bike course. I received the thrill, and the Aloha spirit, on the method, however on the identical time with out the nerves that touchdown right here as a competitor brings.

There is certainly some stage of FOMO being right here, and with that some JOMO too (pleasure of lacking out). I do know this week goes to be up and down with feelings for me, however I’m going to benefit from the subsequent few days, catching up with buddies, feeling filled with respect for every of the ladies right here Pros and Age Groupers), what they’ve performed and achieved simply to get right here. And then prepare for what will be an epic day of racing!

First large get-together

Over the subsequent few days, I’m going to present you a day by day replace from Kona. What’s occurring, who’s mentioned what or performed what, the vitality and vibe, and maybe a few of my ideas.

Oh sure, I ought to introduce myself. I’m Sid, Laura Siddall. I’ve lately completed racing Professionally, and within the strategy of transitioning into one thing else, and figuring out what the heck to do with my life, and the way do you fill the massive void that coaching and racing stuffed (emotionally and bodily). Spoiler, the reply is you don’t, however perhaps we will cowl extra of that at a later time.

For now let’s have fun all issues Women in Kona!

Sunday, and it marks the eve of race week with the Ho’ala Training Swim. It’s the primary time actually that lots of the Pros are all collectively, as nicely in fact as all of the athletes and anybody else who desires to affix within the enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the swim needed to be shorten, ending up being round 2.7km somewhat than the three.8km. The athletes have been additionally informed to not run into the water which resulted in some pretty comical skipping, and strolling down the seaside.

Ultimately it didn’t actually change the outcome Lucy Charles-Barclay the primary out, standing up out the water, and simply casually, virtually nonchalantly strolling up the seaside, eradicating her cap, and virtually shaking out her hair, within the course of like a hair advert! Whether for present or actual, Lucy seemed like she hardly put in an effort, but emerged away from the pack of ladies behind.

Lucy is coming into Kona on a excessive and clearly feels the nice island vitality returning right here because the Champion from 2023.

Apparently there had been a number of bets flying round between the Pro girls, as to who was going to beat Lucy, however she confirmed who’s the most effective within the water.

Points to show

The swim meant it was probability to meet up with among the Pro girls – hugs and hellos and the awkward “how are you feeling?”.

Britain’s Steph Clutterbuck is lining up in Kona for the primary time as a Professional. Having competed right here twice earlier than, first a DNF, then a end, which she describes as “getting round”, combating the warmth each occasions. This 12 months for Steph it’s about managing her effort and having again half of the run.

Easier mentioned than performed, as she’s totally conscious. Steph has had a combined lead into Kona, with some chest ache again in June that turned out to be myocarditis (irritation of muscle across the coronary heart). This resulted in full relaxation to present her physique time to correctly heal. Complete relaxation for any Pro is difficult, after which coming again, with this problem behind your thoughts, would have been powerful.

But with a renewed recognize for the game, Steph involves Kona filled with gratitude and coronary heart (actually).

We then caught up with American Danielle Lewis out on the notorious Energy Lab, earlier than she began her run. Lewis has additionally raced right here earlier than again in 2023, however was a DNF on the run. She had been experiencing some neuro muscular points, stopping her from coaching, however got here to the race within the hope she may begin and she or he made it to mile 6.

Eleventh place on the World Championship in Nice final 12 months, and Lewis comes into 2025 with some nice outcomes over the 70.3 distance and robust IRONMAN performances. Lewis’ energy is her bike/run combo, and so will probably be desirous to restrict the deficit to the entrance of the race within the swim, to present herself an opportunity.

Lewis has known as upon the assist, as a coaching accomplice, from British athlete Jodie Stimpson, a two time Commonwealth gold medallist, who has moved as much as racing the center distance over the previous few years. After numerous open water classes and swim work, Lewis will probably be hoping she’s not too far behind at T1.

Balancing act

Tomorrow issues actually begin to ramp up. Most Pros hope they’ve all their media commitments squared away the week prior, with extra in individual occasions throughout race week.

Shake out runs with accomplice manufacturers, Breakfast with Bob from Huggos, meet and greets, Q&As because the expo springs to life. It’s all about managing your vitality ranges, balancing the previous couple of coaching classes, simply to maintain the physique firing, (as many of the work is finished now), with the sponsor commitments and guaranteeing you even have sufficient quiet and down time to clean up come Saturday.

T-5 sleeps…

Café of the day: HiCO Hawaiian Coffee – a bit out of the chaos that’s the heart of Kona, in direction of the Kona swimming pool, on Pawai Place. A quieter vibe, from the well-known locations on Ali’I Drive, though I did discover fairly a number of extra athletes appear to be discovering it too, so will see how lengthy this little escape lasts.