The Kona Germ(an) Free Handshake: How Not to Get Sick in Hawaii

Sunset in Kona, October 3rd, 2007

Tonight at Lava Java on Ali'i drive, we ran into Graham Crocker (doing his 3^rd Ironman next Saturday) who is pictured here with his wife, Sue Crocker, the school teacher & triathlon super support crew. Graham is a former Olympic-distance world champion - and a very fast swimmer.

Sue is "shaking hands" with another Aussie Triathlete, Michelle Downs, who is doing her second Hawaiian Ironman this year (4^th Ironman in total) - out of only 8 total triathlons. Last year in Hawaii, she applied the brakes a bit too hard as she entered the bike-to-run transition and went end over end on her bike, fracturing her collar bone - but she still finished the race with the gravel and blood (fifth place in the in 18-25 age group).

This is the official Ironman "Germ-Free" handshake and you'll see many people shaking hands fist to fist because no one wants to get sick the week before the Ironman.~