The first thing that strikes me in Kona is the air, warm and alive with energy. It feels like the island itself knows what is coming. Every conversation, every smile, carries the same undercurrent of anticipation. This is not just another race week. It is the race week.
I make my way to the Ironman Athlete’s Village, the heart of it all. Athletes walk shoulder to shoulder, swooning over the muralled wall of Hoka shoes, testing Roka goggles, and trying to act casual while spotting their idols. I linger near the stage where live music fills the air and suddenly find myself beside Kat and Mark Matthews, both smiling, both gracious. The Athlete’s Village is not just a shopping hub for swim, bike, and run obsessives – it feels like the sport’s own Central Park, a meeting place for athletes who have made it to triathlon’s mecca.
Ali’i Drive pulls me next. It has not yet transformed into the race-day runway, but its magic is already showing. At Huggo’s, Poncho Man strums his guitar on the rocks. A small crowd gathers for Breakfast with Bob. I stop too, listening to stories of past champions, predictions for this year, and easy laughter between legends.
I wander toward the Canyon House of Champions, where banners of athletes wrap around the Lava Java café like a living mural of motivation. Every wall, every poster, radiates ambition.
The next morning, in Kailua Bay, I swim out to the AG1 Live Aloha Coffee Boat. My usual coffee routine involves a drive through, not a pair of goggles and a swim cap. But here, nothing about mornings is ordinary. Floating beside athletes, sipping espresso, I look down to see honu – the green sea turtles – gliding beneath us.
Later, laughter spills from down the road. There is a sea of runners in nothing but underwear, socks, and shoes. It’s the famous Underpants Run – pure, lighthearted celebration, and the perfect fundraiser for triathletes!
Everywhere you turn, you see faces you recognize from race broadcasts and highlight reels. Mirinda Carfrae and Daniela Ryf sit for interviews. Marjolaine Pierre crosses the road wrapped in a towel after a swim, while Solveig Lovseth walks up Palani Road. I call out “Have an amazing race” to Chelsea Sodaro and am met with a warm smile.
The Ironman World Championship is more than a race. It is an experience that takes over the island, inviting athletes, families, and friends to share in something unforgettable. Every detail feels world-class. If you have never stood on Ali’i Drive during race week, felt the heartbeat of this island, and watched dreams unfold against this iconic background, it belongs on your bucket list.
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