Kona Day 2 Thursday 11th October

14:57:02 o'clock BST
Thursday 11th October
Up at 5am to start getting used to waking up early and got my transition bags ready. We had a cab pick us up and take us to the power bar breakfast where there was around 70 people including Melissa Ashton (top 10 Kona finisher 2 years running), Luke Bell (big name triathlete and Kona winner), Scott Neyedli (IMUK winner), Jo Fenn (British superstar runner), Hillary Biscay, Belinda Granger plus a whole lot of other elite athletes. I also got to meet the head of Power Bar Europe and my contact Zibi who is based in Germany.

Power Bar have been a fantastic support to me and have not only provided loads of brilliant nutrition products but also a funky race suit. It was such an honour for me to be invited to the breakfast and rub shoulders with some of the super stars of triathlon.

The film crew arrived and filmed us having breakfast and me talking to various people. I had a good chat to Scott and got the low down on his IMUK race. Very impressive, I find it interesting that the elites have the same races as the rest of us, just quite a bit faster.

We each got given a power bar pack in a cool power bar bag and loads of free samples including recovery products, gels and bars. The US product is slightly different to the products we get in the UK in that it isn’t as thick and they have loads more flavours in both gels and bars. I decided to try out the gels and found them easier to get down when running. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the UK.

The breakfast was held at the Kona outdoor circle which was up on the slopes so it overlooked the ocean. Beautiful views and it backed onto the Botanical Gardens. a fantastic setting and a lovely introduction to our first day in Hawaii. Thanks to Zibi for arranging our invites.

After the breakfast we headed into Kona to register. I got a bright yellow band put around my right wrist that was to stay there for our entire stay as it had my race number on it and is my entry into everything. Most importantly I paid my $10 to get my race day insurance…. something I didn’t realise I was going to need.

Through registration I got all of my transition bags, race numbers, spectator tickets, bike check in information, maps a free bag, cap, mouse mat and loads of brochures, mostly trying to sell you something.

We wandered into the ironman store and I picked up a few things I needed such as CO2 canisters, a couple of spare tubes and a bento box to store my gels in. There was everything you could possible think of with the IM logo plastered on it from clothing, coffee mugs, posters, an ironman bed (!), jewellery, pens, coffee, photo frames and many many other things.

Registration and the race office were located in the KKKBH, which is right next to the Pier where the race starts. 5 min walk down the road is the expo so we headed down there and ran into Leanne, Dan, Kaisha, James and Steve. It was really hot so I was trying to stay out of the sun. I was feeling a little bit apprehensive about just how hot it was. I was also a little stressed as I had to get so much done on the Thursday and didn’t feel like I was resting, eating or drinking enough. Plus I was tired from only having 4 hours sleep. IM is massive in the US so they had some big brand sponsors including Clinique. Finally someone is realising that women do this sport too! We all picked up some free stuff and the guys made me some cool signs to hold up during the race.

Corinna, Antoinette, Sam and I had lunch on the water and then I headed off to give another interview about how I was feeling pre race. I talked through my race plan and what I wanted to achieve. I then spent some time on the IMUK race stand at the expo talking to Chris and Ally. Chris has raced Kona twice so was giving me some great tips and we agreed to meet at 7am so we could go out for a swim on the course.
After that we met up with everyone for an early dinner and watched the sun go down. I then went off to the race briefing. I have decided I am not going to attend them any more as they are a waste of time. You don’t ever get told anything new from what is included in the race information. I was falling asleep and it took me ages to get a cab back to the hotel so I didn’t get to bed until 10.30.

Wednesday 10th October - Kona Day 1

14:45:32 o'clock BST
Wednesday 10th October
So we are sitting in San Fran having lunch after a “fun” flight. Not a cankle in sight. All hail the compression flight socks. :)

Corinna is now known as the ‘Nun Worrier’ after walking in on a nun in the toilet. The nun was not best pleased and got a little huffy. Quite an achievement to get huffy with your habit around your waist. We think she is going to go to hell.

We had to pick up our luggage and then check it back through security after clearing customs. We had everything loaded on 2 trolleys, came up to the guy who was clearly a little stressed and started instructing us to ‘step away from the luggage. Thank you. Move away to your right away from the trolley’ I wonder if he actually does work for the airline.
United are not at the top of our favourite list. No personal entertainment system. No free booze. Sitting on the runway for almost an hour after we landed. Antoinette was ‘providing feedback for superiors’ in how communication is key to keeping their passengers calm. Those who know her can imagine the tone of voice being used with the target…. I mean flight attendant. One flight down, one to go!
Flight ended up being delayed for 4 hours so the journey ended up being around 27 hours.

We arrived in Kona and had a taxi waiting. We got Matilda in the back of the van along with our entire luggage and then had to unpack everything s the cabbie lost the keys. They were in his pocket the entire time. Checked into the Sheraton and off to bed by 1am.

The Speech. 08 October 2007

16:18:37 o'clock BST
Hello! I went to the AGSM annual Ball on Saturday and did my little speech for them after dinner. I was really happy with it, and think it went well. Everyone was lovely to me and wished me luck for the weekend. It is always nice to get the ball gown out! Sammy scrubs up alright as you can see from the pictures! I hadn't seen him in a suit before...Yum! Everyone was looking lovely on the evening.
2 more sleeps! I am starting to get a bit nervous and moving into the zone. I am going to pack tonight, the hard thing is that I have to take all my food with me, I don't want to risk not be able to get the things I like and know I can eat pre race. Sam has kindly packed my bike up for me today so Matilda is ready to go! I ran this morning, no pain in my knee so it is on the mend.
Rob Walker sent me an email saying they were heading out toHawaii today and that they are going to come to the Power Bar breakfast on Thursday and also come and film me swimming with Chris Boon, IMUK owner.
I plan on keeping this updated when we are travelling and away.
C x

The Website is Live! 04 October 2007

13:46:08 o'clock BST Feeling Happy
The Website is Live!
Finally I have managed to get it together and get the website published. It is a work in progress and I will be adding some pictures over the next few days. Please do feel free to leave me some feedback either via email or this blog.
http://ironcaro.googlepages.com/
Carolyn x

MMMMM Normann! 03 October 2007

16:07:59 o'clock BST Feeling Ecstatic
MMMMM Normann!
I just received my shipment of goods from Powerbar and they have included a signed hat form Normann Stadler. I cannot convey how excited I am about this!!! He is my number 1 triathlon hero. I'm just sitting her gazing at it knowing his hands have touched it. I am sounding a little creepy so going now.
C x

Press Release 03 October 2007

13:53:07 o'clock BST Feeling Happy
Press Release
This is the press release put together by AOL's press company, enjoy!
WORKING WOMAN AIMS TO BRING WORLD ‘IRONMAN’ TITLE BACK TO BRITAIN
Amateur triathlete beats viral meningitis and pro athletes to get chance to represent UK
LONDON, XX XX – Holding down a full time job is tough enough for most people, but not for 29 year-old Carolyn Hewett, who is set to represent the UK in the grueling Ford Ironman World Championship in October 2007 - two years after being told she would never run again.
Carolyn, from West Kensington, London, qualified for the World Championship by winning the Female 25–29 age group at the IRONMAN UK competition on August 19th 2007 - beating the existing course record by 21 minutes in the process.
But unlike many serious triathletes, Carolyn is still only in her first year of triathalon and has to find time to for 17 - 20 hours of training a week outside of her busy full time job with internet portal AOL. And even more impressively, she was told she would never run again in March 2005 after being diagnosed with post-viral chronic fatigue following a bout of viral meningitis.
But the challenges she faced only made her more determined to succeed:
Carolyn said: “I didn’t want to believe the Doctors, so after 7 months off training I went for a short run and ended up in bed for a week recovering. So I waited a month, and only ended up in bed for 4 days – which I saw as progress”
Carolyn then built up her strength over the next year, finally making a comeback to competitive running at the Rome Marathon on 17th March 2006 – the anniversary of her diagnosis with post-viral chronic fatigue. Carolyn competed against 1574 other athletes at IRONMAN UK, the UK’s only official World Championship qualifier, going on to claim the only World Championship qualifying slot for her age group. The Hawaii championship will feature athletes covering a combined total of almost 250,000 miles on race day.
The Ironman is a long distance triathlon in which participants cover 226kms or 140.6 miles broken down into a 3.8km or 2.4 mile swim, 180km or 112 mile cycle and a 42.2km or 26.2 mile run completed consecutively.
Alison Boon, Race owner of Ironman UK said: “What Carolyn has achieved is nothing short of remarkable. To achieve this result in her first year of triathlon whilst holding down a demanding job is a great testament to her dedication”.
All the Athletes training for the Ford IRONMAN World Championships are expected to cover over a million miles – 40 times the circumference of the earth at its equator.
Carolyn said: “I can’t wait for the Hawaii Championship. Race morning is one of the most electric times with 1500 athletes waiting nervously to start a race to the finish line 140.6 miles ahead”.
She continued: “I’ll give the competition my best shot. I’ve learnt that almost anything is possible with the right attitude and determination”
Carolyn’s achievement is so significant that she will be the subject of a triathalon TV feature for Channel 4, ESPN and Fox TV.
A blog, photo archive and video coverage of her training and the competition are available at www.AOL.co.uk now, so supporters can keep up to date on her progress and achievements.
AOL is so impressed with their employee that they are also sponsoring Carolyn for the event.
Video: http://uncutvideo.aol.co.uk/videos/day/d242ce6c9c638f504f00fd231f5eb1f7?index=0
Blog: http://journals.aol.co.uk/ironcaro/my-journey-to-ironman/
Pictures: http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/ironcaro/
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors For an interview with Carolyn or further information, please contact Alex Wood on 0207 861 3013 or awood@resonate.uk.com.

7 MORE SLEEPS!!!!! 03 October 2007

So I have been working on my plans for the race which is really starting to get me fired up!! I am definitely getting into the zone as Sam calls it :) The zone for me is somewhere that I really get centred and focused on my race and I visualise all the things I am going to do and how I am going to absolutely kick butt and meet all of my race day goals.

We fly out next Wednesday, so a week to go! I had the film crew in here on Monday filming me at my desk which was great, they just asked lots of questions around how I got into triathlon and how I manage a busy work and training schedule. The presenter, Rob Walker, is very good, made me feel very relaxed. I checked out his website, he has done some cool things! http://www.robwalkertv.com/

Sam and I are meeting them tomorrow to do some cycling. Sam freaked out when I told him that he would have to be on national TV in lycra hee hee hee!

Apparently it is a beautiful 30 degrees every day in Kona at the moment, so the acclimatisation is going to be interesting! Corinna, Antoinette, Sam and I or CASC as I have started calling us have a gruelling 22 hour flight with a stop over in San Francisco to get there. I am really worried about my ankles and legs swelling up, it always happens when I fly so I am committed to stretching every hour on the flight and moving around.

Leanne has kindly put together a map showing where each of us are staying, each with our own TV show that has been filmed in Hawaii. Maybe I should think about getting my hair cut short? :) So Baywatch Hawaii is James & Kaisha, Magnum PI is Steve, Fantasy Island is Leanne and Dan and Hawaii 5-O is CASC. As Leanne pointed out if anyone complains, it could have been worse. Godzilla and Jurassic Park were also filmed there :)

My aim this time is to race for myself and not have to be picking off other competitors. I have 3 main goals:
1) Complete the race in sub 10:50 - this means a 15 min improvement on my qualifying time
2) Run a sub 3:25 marathon - this is a 5 min improvement on my IMUK time. As it stands at the moment, I have the fastest marathon qualifying time in my age group and ideally I want to have the fastest run time on the day.
3) Secure a top 20 place in my age group

Saying that, my race plan actually has me finishing in 10:38. The distances are the standard IM distance, 3.8km swim, 180km bike and a marathon, or 42.2 kms. I have an advantage in that the IMUK course is considered one of the most difficult ones to qualify on because it is so hilly, each one is difficult for different reasons and Kona is going to be tough because of the winds coming in off the lava fields and a combination of the heat and humidity. I am really going to be calling on my body to remember all that run training I used to do in the heat in Australia. The breakdown of my race is as follows:

Swim 1:20
T1 5 min
Bike 5:45
T2 3 min
Run 3:25
Total time 10.38

The race starts at 7am Hawaiian time, or 6pm UK time or 3am Sydney time on Saturday 13th October. I am sure you have better things to do on a Saturday night/morning, however if you really wanted to you could check out the action online at http://www.ironmanlive.com/ and http://www.ironman.com/