Question: Hotel during Ironman Triathlon

Below is an email question we received from one of our readers:

My husband is competing in the Kona Ironman, Oct 10th. I need a local's advice on where to stay that is family oriented. We have two kids (5 & 6 yrs). I'll be by myself most of the time while my husband is focusing on the race. We'll be in Kona Oct 3-11th.

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Answer: The Royal Kona Resort hotel is right on the water in downtown Kailua-Kona -- I just stayed there not too long ago - great hotel with plenty of parking. The main attraction here is the excellent location -- smack-dab in the middle of Kailua-Kona town, right on Alii drive -- just a short walk from the swim portion of the race.

A more-family oriented hotel (and one of our favorites) is the Hilton Waikoloa Beach Resort up in Kohala -- about a 20 minute drive from Kailua-Kona. Lots of family-friendly amenities, numerous beautiful pools with water slides, man-made lagoon with sea turtles, etc., but further from the race...

I guess the first thing you'll need to decide is what area are you looking for a hotel. For more information, read our article about Where to Stay on the Big Island.

Kona Ironman Triathlon World Championship

The World Championship IronMan course on October 11th will sends competitors on an open water swim across the Kailua-Kona Bay, 112 miles around the entire island on a bike, and a grueling 26.2 mile marathon run along the beach and dried lava beds. The temperature should be in the low 80s, but that doesn’t offer much relief considering the island’s humidity and the piping-hot lava fields that flank portions of the trail.

To get to the starting line in Kona, you must either be very lucky and get yourself a spot through the lottery, or very talented, and win yourself a qualifying spot at one of the qualifying events held around the world.

Tens-of-thousands of triathletes try to get one of those coveted Ironman spots every year. Only 1,800 succeeded.

This is race week and the crowds have gathered in normally serene Kailua-Kona town to watch this sporting marvel. The Big Island offers rugged terrain (dried lava fields, steep volcanoes), and diverse climate zones (hot and humid coastal zones and dry deserts, even cool and damp mountains). This is the mother of all races and a true test of athletic fortitude.

Kona has been suffering from vog, which is similar to fog, but caused by volcanic eruptions going on over the other side of the island ann the toxic gasses that are released.

Every day around midday, the haze sets in and so does the humidity which will make running along Alii Drive even harder. It seems to just hang around the city but as soon as you head out of town on the bike course the sun comes out and it's a beautiful day.

Good luck racers!