Dolphin Boy Chases Lance on Queen K.

Off work today. Dusted off my Ironman bike. Drove out to Hualalai @630am and parked at North Kukio Beach. Cool crisp morning. Sun trying to peak around Mt Hualalai. I prepare for battle. Haven't been on my bike in months. Only swimming and running lately. What would motivate me to get up so early on my day off and cancel my plans for sleeping-in? Ahhhh, some guy named Lance Armstrong is tearing up the Queen K and has been seen opening up a can of whoop ass on Kaloko Rd. (now called Alpe D'Kaloko, sea level to @4500')

I prepare my WMD (weapon mass destruction) in hopes I can at least ride for a few minutes with this amazing athlete they call Lance. All you need to say is "Lance" and everyone who hasn't been living under a rock will know who you are talking about!

I head out of Hualalai(655am) and turn right (south) on Queen K. Lance begins his rides at 7am from Kukio entrance to Queen K Hwy. I try to plan my timing in hopes of seeing him and his secret service in follow car. He rode North day before so I take the chance he will turn South towards Kona. I'm looking for a white BMW X3 SUV, his Secret Service vehicle tucked in behind him. I ride past Kukio (south) but nothing. I turn around and head north back to Hualalai entrance. I stop and turn around and BAM there they go heading South. Target Aquired! This leaves me little over half mile behind. Of course I lite my fuse on WMD in hopes it will rocket me towards my target!

Hmmmm, someone turned on the fan. Little head wind as I roll up hill towards Cemetery. Keep them in my sights but looks like I'm gaining. I am hammering trying to catch them and feel fine. Must be adrenaline thing I keep hearing about. Kinda like pushing a stalled car off railroad tracks as impending death is rattling towards you! In all my Ironman training and racing I've never pedaled so hard. I am gaining. Slowly narrowing the gap. Now I can see Lance on bike in front of BMW with another rider and motor scooter. I get really close near airport. One motor scooter is pulled off side of road. (They are photographers) The only thing going through my mind is, I sure hope he hits all red traffic lights entering town and for once I pray he will have a mechanical issue that would slow him. But I keep narrowing the gap. At airport I pull within about 300 yards! Now is my time to really put the hammer down because I believe they may turn left onto Hina Lani (start of Kaloko) and head up hill. If he does, I will never be able to catch him. He rides 38X28 rear cassette. I'm on my tri-bike and my WMD does not do hills very good!(okay, it's not all about the bike!)

Almost to Hina Lani. I pull with-in 100-150yards of them. Then something happens. I totally loose them in all the traffic. Big buses and trucks block my laser guided missile and target is lost. My guess they turned up Hina Lani for mountain climbs. I was finished. I had toast for breakfast and now I'm literally toast. Burnt toast as I turn around disappointed with myself for not timing my start correctly. I ease myself back to Hualalai knowing Lance won't be back this way until around 12noon. I'm off work Sat. Perhaps I may try again? If I pull this off, it just may "trump" my performances at Hawaii Ironman!!!

While writing this blog I realize how my New Year is starting off way better than I expected. I had a very bad 2008. However, like I previously mentioned there are about 4 people on my "would like to meet list before I croak"! Jimmy Buffett, met him on Waikiki Beach surfing. Great guy with laid back island attitude. Lance Armstrong, came within 100 yards. But I won't give up. How often does the best athlete in the world ride in your backyard? The Pope, haven't met him yet but chances are I won't see him riding a bike in front of the Popemobile anytime soon! And finally the 4th person would be any sitting US President. (Obama would be awesome, hey he visits Hawaii on occasion but his Secret Service is the real deal. Perhaps his daughters will want to play with dolphins again, hence I need to go back to work at Sea Life Park or Dolphin Quest and keep my fingers crossed!)

My year is going well. I played Basketball with Adam Sandler during his visit over the holiday season. And of course my episode of LOST (3rd episode) coming up in about a few weeks (first Wed in Feb). (I wore my Livestrong yellow wristband during the filming, until they noticed it on day 2 and said get rid of it! Sorry Lance!!) I also received some "fan mail" from mainland Lost fans!! Pretty cool. Still trying to land a role on Magnum PI movie in Hawaii. Will keep you posted.

Time now to follow Lance and his comeback for 2009. His Astana team is set and they are one powerful force for this years Tour de France! If Lance doesn't win I'm sure one of his teammates can get the job done!!

Off work Sat and my plan to fire up the WMD again. I believe Lance has recovery rides this weekend on TT bike. I think he departs for Australia on Monday for Tour Down Under. Wishing him all the best. Maybe I will have to fly to France in July if my mission fails in Hawaii.
We are friends, we just haven't met yet!! hahaaha!

Dolphin Boy!

Burnt Toast!