Sid’s day five diary: The infamous Underpants Run and room for Pro Meeting improvement

A much needed swim to start the day. I mean you can’t really not head down to the pier and Dig Me beach when here in Kona, to swim in the ocean.

I was going to do a Yoga session, put on by IRONMAN, which I’m sure would have been amazing and very calming and centering, and in a lovely location by the water. But then I thought, I can do Yoga back in Boulder, but I can’t swim in the ocean with the fish back in Boulder – so swim it is. Including the compulsory stop at the AG1 coffee boat.

A Kona institution

It was busy this morning. The infamous Underpants Run took place along Ali’I Drive and then I think every one of them descended down to Dig Me beach to swim.

The Underpants Run (UPR), is exactly how it sounds – you wear your underwear and run. It’s almost an institution.

It started in 1998 as a protest against wearing speedos in inappropriate spaces. It has since grown into a pre-race must do for many athletes and supporters who come to Kona, and over the years has raised over $400,000 for community giveback.

Teams come in matching undies, and different costumes are starting to appear as it grows and grows each year.

New women’s team announced

Whilst the sport is individual, we see many teams emerge and Kona is a classic time for that, as athletes who qualified under the same team, all come together from around the world. Team Zoot, with their brightly coloured tri suits (founded by a woman right here on the island at the IRONMAN World Championship) has since grown to one of the most visible teams out there.

There’s Wyn Republic, a newer team but growing rapidly, and the Betty Squad from Betty Designs which is a female only team. You’ll see these teams on course and on the sidelines cheering, and of course there are many more.

One of the most established teams over the years was Every Man Jack. A male only team, let’s not hate on them, as Every Man Jack is a men’s grooming product brand, so would be a bit odd with a women’s team (and Betty Designs is a female only team). But EMJ was more of a high performance men’s team. Age Group athletes who were winning and on the podium, several of their athletes would then go on to turn Pro.

Last year Ritch Viola, the founder of the brand and a very accomplished triathlete himself, sold the team and Roka Multisport picked it up. Roka is a swim brand originally now pivoting in to other spaces. On picking up the brand though it was decided (and we cheer) that they create an equivalent women’s team. And true to their word, they have.

Currently with just a few athletes, three of whom are racing in Kona, they are hoping to have of around 35 initially. They are welcoming everyone to apply as they grow the female side of the team. Applications will open soon and I think there is an exciting opportunity here as the team establishes itself and grows with a community that supports women and gives them confidence that it’s ok to go after big goals and high standards.

Athletes first?

Breakfast with Bob is still going, with guests galore, official events are definitely starting to quieten down as athletes begin to lock themselves away for the last couple of days before the race. The last few sessions are getting ticked off. Carb loading, and hydration locked in.

Whilst brand and partner commitments may have wound down, for the Pros it’s Press Conference and Pro Meeting day. Both done outside, under a tent, in Hawaiian heat!

I seriously never understand this. OK it’s a lovely setting, (ish) as the ocean is in fact blocked by IRONMAN branded backdrops. But it’s hot, humid, there’s no air and we feel it’s ok because let’s face it, that’s the way it’s always been done, so heck we can’t change anything or update it to put the world’s best female athletes, who we want to race and perform come Saturday, in a tent in Hawaii for a one hour Pro meeting? #athletesfirst

No real surprises – clarification around shoes and if they are being checked #shoegate and around drafting, overtaking, slotting in etc. One day we will have a sport where the athletes get a seat at the table when discussing rules and technical details and can actually decide things as a united sport.

Rollercoaster of emotions

Anyway back to reality…

Today there is definitely a shift in energy. Athletes start to disappear, but there are still media and industry folk milling about, ex pros catching up, reminiscing, FOMO or JOMO, or supporters, family and friends, perhaps trying to keep out of the way of their athlete. Plans being put in place for Saturday.

More and more of the infrastructure is starting to appear around town. Barriers getting put in place. The pier shut down as it’s transformed into transition, roads closed, banks of seating erected.

The finish line starts to take shape. Although I always find it amazing as it feels like the last part of the finish line build is done when we are all racing and out on the bike course. I’m now thinking if I’ve made this up in my head or not. And also, did you notice how I’m calling myself an athlete still, noting “whilst ‘we’ are all out on the bike course”.

The hype and the chatter is still around though from all of us armchair experts – who’s your pick for the win? Who’s on your podium, top 5? The dark horses, the ones that no one is talking about. Discussion of form, race tactics – everyone trying to guess or impress on others their opinion and view.

As an athlete the nerves are continuing the rollercoaster that they have been all week. One minute excited and hyped, the next a nervous wreck, questioning why you put yourself through it again, then back to being calm, and then motivated to really go for it on race day, then back to wondering if you can actually make it around the swim in the cut off.

I always would flip between wanting another month of training to bank, and just firing the cannon and getting on with it now, this minute, let’s go.

T-1 sleep

No café of the day today… we all need our sleep before the big dance.

• Click here for Laura Siddall’s big-race preview and predictions.
• Click here for Laura Siddall’s in-depth Kona interview with Lisa Perterer.
• Click here for Laura Siddall’s Kona chat with Leslie Knibb.