Swimming, run and fun!

Day 15 Friday 30/09/2011 Kona, Hawaii

Headed off down to the pier with flippers in tow - Pete was considering an open water swim on the tri course! Beautiful sunrise over the volcano and Kona heralded another great day, and it was!! Thursday must have received a downpour of triathletes as it was busy, busy on the swim course - the mood, atmosphere and excitement is really gearing up for the big one in a weeks time!!! Countdown now - 7 days to go!!!! and its ON!!! For a while we watched the athletes swimming through their paces, plus the locals fishing from the pier, and the outrigger teams gliding in from their morning workouts.

Beautiful sunrise!

The top of the volcano really clearly defined this morning, with Kona nestled below!

The swim course - all the orange buoys are out!

Luke, Craig Alexander and company head out for two laps of the course.
Lucy Alexander  keeping an eye on proceedings from the front of the paddle board. 

The pack returns - lap one done!! 

Quick rest before off on lap 2

End of lap 2 - quick conference!
What a setting! What a day!

Lap 2 done!

Pete opted for a pool swim - didn't want to put the boys to shame!

Oodles for the Noodles class at the pool !

The big guns came out in the afternoon and showed their form at the Mauna Lani K-Swiss 10k Run /Walk! What a fun afternoon and evening! Pete, Adrian and I arrived for registration then had a look around this beautiful resort about  45 miles north of Kona. Very, very nice!!!!  My first 10k run ever - I was thinking that it was madness!

The course around the golf course of course!
Wasn't easy - very up hill and down dale! But fun!

Ready for the race but a nice stroll around the resort first.
Join us............

Road Runner running! Hope he's not in the race! He's quick!

And so to the purpose of our afternoon! THE FUN RUN / WALK!

Team McKenzie were keen (?) and ready to rock n' roll! Thanks to the coaches  - Amanda alias "De-Manda" for the great workouts, keeping us honest and motivating us in the gym; and Happy Jac for my program.

Registration, and the participants begin to gather on the 2nd Tee

Course explanation - very strict instructions! - we are running , not playing golf!

Gathering for a chat before the race
The K-Swiss boys, Hilary, Tim O'Donnell and Mat Lieto

Belinda ready for the run! She smashed it!

Belinda talking to Lucy and Luke Bell

Interviewing Rinny

Heading for the start line

Adrian and Pete set to go!

Belinda lines up for the start !

Matty Lieto ready to go!

We're off - Ado has disappeared already! Speedy!

We quickly string out - great view from the back! lol

Pete steps up the pace!

Great course - lots to look at, see and enjoy!

The winner heading back!

Second place heading back

Go Matty! Belinda is actually right behind him - hiding!

Go Hils!

Go Ado! Killing it!

Pete tested out the lava on the side of the path!
OUCH!!
To his credit, after some medical treatment he continued and finished the race! 

The turn around! Half way! Only half way??????!!!!!!!

Sunset wafts across the horizon - a beautiful time to be run/walking the golf course! 

At the finish line - thought I'd do about 2 hrs but I crossed in 1hr 21 mins.
Very happy! There's hope!

Fantastic job by Ado - 1 hour! Champion!!!

Pete crossing the line

Cheers and a beer for a great, fun afternoon!
Wait until next year!

The boys can be very proud of themselves!

If you are in Kona next year join in this fun Mauna Lani Bay 10k K-Swiss Walk/ Run! Beautiful course and views, good fun and for a great cause - raises money for Cancer suffers.

When we dropped Adrian home to Ali'i Cove the AFL Final in Oz was in full swing - there were some keen AFL supporters in the household!  Enjoyed a most welcome drink and some of Linsey's delicious lasagne and joined the crew watching the game.

Linsey the master chef at work preparing the lasagne sauce