So here we are back in Kona again.

Day after tomorrow the gun will go off.

This is only my second day here but this is inarguably one of the best times

I’ve had since I started coming here five years ago.

Pete, of course, isn’t racing but he’s here and there’s a long list of friends hanging out and having a great time.

Half my day is spent writing but that’s only half. The other half is spend doing something I love and that’s chatting with triathletes about our sport.

Last night I got in a solid workout by biking to the Specialized party up in the hills – way up in the hills. My fifty three pound mountain bike ensured I earned my beers and it was well worth it. Lots of beautiful bikes to covet and lots more people to laugh with.

McCormack was there with his family. Sam McGlone and Cliff English were also there and because she’s not racing we enjoyed a relaxing evening replete with an amazing spread and a well stocked cooler!

Biking home on the pitch dark streets of Kona added an element of adventure to cap the evening off.

This morning I caught site of Coach Paulo ripping down Alii at about a 3:45 K pace. If you’re going to secret train, Paulo – don’t do it on Alii!!!

Today I went to the pro press conference. Not much to report there – except I was left with an impression that those boys had best keep an eye out for Sindballe.

I also had a brief chat with Rutger Beke. I like this man immensely and have high hopes for a break through performance from him come Saturday. He assures me he’s fitter than he was last year.

Tonight my friend Joel Filliol and I are going to hit Lulu’s. Joel and I have been promising each other a beer for more than a year and tonight it’s going to happen. Joel is the Sr. coach of the Canadian National Triathlon team. As you can imagine it was a pretty stressful year for the young man but he handled himself well and Simon’s performance must have been a satisfying ending to the season. I intend to ask him about it tonight.

Tomorrow morning a group of us, organized by Pete, are going to swim out to the Captain Cooks monument. I always look forward to that, even though I haven’t swam a stroke in a long time.

Tomorrow evening, while all the racers are sleeping the usual suspects are gathering to have a few laughs and get a little betting pool going.

I’ll let you all know how it goes.