Tomorrow is the big dance. The top professionals in the sport as well as the top age groupers from all over the world will be on the start line tomorrow in what the Pier Security Officer called it.. “The biggest event in the world”!

Chris Thomas is 39 and is one of the longest running members of the  Timex Multisport Team.  This is his 5th time to race here in Kona and continues to be a top contender in his age group.  Chris is the owner of Personal Training Professionals of Southport and is married with 3 sons.  The photo of below was taken earlier this year in the wind tunnel.  Watch for this guy, he is a package of dynamite!

Tim Hola is a 10 yr veteran of the Timex Multisport Team.  He celebrates his 37th birthday today and his 13th Kona appearance.  He works for Power Bar and educates retailers about the nutritional side of the products! I happened to run into Tim and his wife, Niki at bike check; they have 2 sons.  He was as poised as ever.  He is an old pro at this race and experience is a huge benefit when dealing with the relentless elements of the Island.

If you’ve been to Kona, you’ve probably witnessed Tom Schuler, Owner of Team Sports, riding this bike around on race day.  Tom loves this race and with the creative designs by Tristan Brown, Timex Team Manager, the bike looks better than ever this year!

The Timex Multisport Team has a fantastic showing celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with 12 athletes here! Best of luck to all of Team Timex tomorrow!  Kim Hager,  Tim Hola, Stu Fitch, Kelly Fillnow, Dave Orlowski, Susanne Davis, Jackie Arendt, Christopher Thomas, Christine Anderson, Barry Siff, DJ Snyder, Luis Gonzalez.

As I was heading into the water for a swim at the pier this morning, I was grabbed by Brian Hainsworth and was given a  TYR Goggle Prototype-Special Ops.  It is an open water specific goggle.  Apparently, there are only 1500 prototypes that were made until it launches next year.  They have a new seal and a Polarized lense. I hopped in the water with low expectations and OMG!!!! These Baby’s are SWEET! Crystal clear lenses and clarity in the water and sighting out of the water like nothing before! The sun was in and out of the clouds during my swim and I was amazed how it worked under both conditions.  Also, the seal was incredible.  I plopped them on my face, never even adjusted the straps, and didn’t have one leaking issue. TYR is onto something here. NICE JOB!!

The Annual Underpants Run is always the Thursday before the race.  It is quite a hoot and a Kona tradition.  I was lucky enough to NOT participate, but  be the one taking the photos! I couldn’t have come across a more classy guy in underwear that were actually bigger than than his Speedo.  Dave Orlowski is an Ironman legend; he is one of the Original Ironman and a member of the Timex Multisport Team!

Later today, I was headed to the Ironman offices with the David Schultz, the VP of Sales, Sport and Military, for Timex.  As we were chatting with Luis Alvarez Gonzalez, the Ironman TV Crew stopped us in our steps for a little interview.  Its always fun to be both in front of and behind the camera.  Timex Athlete Luis is celebrating 20 years/10 races in Kona and his 79th Ironman finish.  Luis Alvarez Gonzalez is our Timex Team mate from Mexico. Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com

The surf continues to roar here in Kailua-Kona, with cloud cover on and off through out the day. The temps were slightly warmer today and I think many appreciated the cooling winds.  My long run along Ali’i drive was great this morning, especially running into Keith Meyer, Timex Event Marketing & Sponsorship Manager and Robin Barsantee, Timex Tech Representative.  I love how so many employees at Timex have active lifestyles!  I later found Keith and Robin at the Timex Tent at the expo spreading the Timex stoke.  Rumor has it, around 2 pm, there were only a handful of the Limited Kona Edition Timex watches left!!!

Just across the way, UCONN, The Korey Stringer Institute and Timex are sponsoring a study  that examines Performance variables and Physiological Responses in Elite Triathletes during a competitive race.  The Timex athletes are participating plus some additional volunteers bringing the total to 30 athletes.  The study checks heat, hydration, nutrition and other related measures.  The photo below is an athlete receiving a whole body sweat washdown.

They will check the sodium content in the sweat in relation to what he is eating and how they match up. During the race, the Timex Global Trainer will provide important data for the study.  In addition,  they will also be taking core temperature of the athletes during the race as well. At the finish, they will have a Recovery Intervention at the finish line where half of the participants will be cooled immediately following and the other half will not.  Piniciple Investigator is Dr. Douglas Casa and Student Researcher is Rebecca  Stearns.  Timex will be receiving feedback for their athletes.

As I was getting ready to head out for the evening, I saw this wonderful women walking back from the expo; I recognized her shirt right away.  She is a volunteer.  This race like every race, would never happen with out the generous giving of time from so many volunteers.  I remember the first year I was here in 2007, having lunch next to the Finish Line Volunteer Coordinators.  They live in Hawi, came down for 3 days for the race and were ready to return home.  At that point, they had been the volunteering at the finish for 18 years.  I reckon, they might just still be doing that. Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com

If you follow me, you know I’m a short course girl ;) so why do I end up in Kona every year for the Ironman World Championships? Simple.  I support my clients, my sponsors, my Team mates and my friends.  I love this sport.

Today was my first full day on the Big Island for the 2011 Big Dance!  This is the first year I have been officially in my Off-Season while  here and I already can tell, I am digging the relaxed mind and the Aloha feeling.

I’m staying on the shore this year, and last night, there were some really loud waves! Regardless, I was ready for my first run and swim of the week red eyed and not quite bushy tailed.  After my run and some breaky with my friends here from Australia, Robin Haywood and Susan Langley; we headed to the pier for a swim.  I ran into my Timex Teammate Stu Fitch from Australia!

It is tradition to stop by the wonderful Farmer’s Market on Ali’i Drive and get Island produce for the week. One of my favorite things about this place.  Now my fridge is stocked with Avocados,  Japanese Cucumbers, Mangos, Dragon Fruit and Persimmon. I have a feeling a return trip will be needed soon.

Today finished up with the Parade of Nations, and as usual, Timex distributed a ton of schwag!  Its always fun supporting the brand and interacting with the crowd.  We threw cow bells, water bottles, hats and visors.

More athletes will continue to arrive tomorrow  through Thursday, but there is already a tremendous vibe and World Championship buzz that you can probably feel at your fingertips in all corners of the world…. Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com

I never in a million years, thought I would travel to Beijing, China.  When I qualified last year at USAT Age Group Nationals, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I was excited to represent the USA, race on the 2008 Olympic Course and  fortunate enough to be able to travel with my great friend, Julie Lyons.  We travel together very well and always have a real good time.

The pollution was a big concern for me.  I had met with Dr. Adinoff to medicate me appropriately so my asthma would have the best chance in such conditions.  The smog the first part of the week was almost unbearable.  The grey sky, no sun, black boogies, was very concerning to me.  The weather took a change for the better and rained. It rained! The morning after, I saw a blue sky.  I had no idea how much I had missed a blue sky.  At this point, I prayed for rain on race day.  I know that adverse conditions separate the weak from the strong and it would also keep the air clear.

Well, it rained on race day! I seemed to be the only one excited about this and I didn’t dare tell anyone that I was the one responsible for it!  The bike was technically challenging and many corners already had padded trees for protection, so I knew I would have to dial the bike back a bit to make sure I didn’t go down.  My swim had a little to be desired, but with it being as cold as it was with no swim warm up, I guess it was good enough.  The bike was a bit sketchy and I almost went down in one of the first turns, but fortunately, my mountain biking skills came to the rescue and with a little luck, I pulled out okay.

I hit the run and felt great!  It was so awesome running in the collosium.  It was a 3 lap run.  On my last lap, I noticed that a girl from Mexico in front of me and was in my age category.  In the last stretch, I tried to catch her and began making gains.  As she turned to head to the shoot, she looked for me.  I had pulled up right behind her.  I decided to make a move to pass her and she quickly caught back up to me and we were running neck and neck.

As we got within 100 meters of the finish, I was worried she might kick it.  I thought to myself, “My children are watching.. GOOOO!” I knew I had to dig deep and find one more notch! I dug…. praying there was something in there… and pulled just ahead… and held… and WON! 

What I didn’t know, is that effort pulled me in for a top 10 finish!  I had only dreamed of this and it now was reality.  I ran solid off the bike for the first time in 2 and 1/2 years post injury.  My A race came together and even though I had some muff ups, like frozen hands that wouldn’t allow me to take off my helmet in a speedy fashion and a few other things due to the cold rain… I had an amazing day, and most importantly, I had fun!

During my time in Beijing, I also was able to tour the Forbidden City with other Team USA athletes as well as the Great Wall! While I was walking the Great Wall, it really hit me where I was.  I yelled to Julie and said.. “Julie, I’M IN CHINA!” Many looked at my as if I were crazy, but at that moment, I had gone back into time and was in a history book.  As a young girl, I remember looking at pictures of the Great Wall of China; and there I was.

I met other amazing athletes from around the world, many of which I will see next year in Auckland, New Zealand. As awesome as the adventure was; I will say, I patted the ground when I landed in Washington, DC. I love America.  Did you hear that… I LOVE AMERICA!  A big thank you to TIMEX, KSWISS and MIX 1 for all the support this season and for the amazing support getting me to Beijing, China: ITU World Championships. I am supported by the best!  Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com