We call this feature The Weekend Box as it allows us to add other interesting items and not just races, and this weekend it is indeed the other items that dominate this post Kona week edition.

A sad accident

When you think your week has gone wrong please do remember that it could have been worse or actually that other folks have it worse. That is actually also true for Nate Peterson whose ride was stopped by a squirrel and made him hit the deck hard. He then asked a friend to snap a picture while he was waiting for the ambulance to arrive and thus the sad memento. Nate ended up with a broken collarbone, a couple broken ribs and some lung issues from the accident, and sadly the squirrel did not survive the accident. So please be careful out there.

Iron Hugo Kona signage

A big shout out to the folks from the Dallas Fort Worth Tri Club for some of the best signs in Kona during the Ironman World Championships, all in support of Hugo Zelaya. But these signs that were seemingly everywhere with very funny lines were surely inspiring others too and making passersby smile. "Run like her husband is coming" etc were among those and we snapped a picture of this one as we left town on Friday. Nice work Iron Hugo supporters.

One wash and done

One Ironman World Championship souvenir mug did not last very long and the owner tweeted the very sad looking picture after the first dish washer round. We surely hope that this was an exception and folks are enjoying various hot beverages from their mugs as they read these lines. But the owner of the mug below had a good attitude about it and that is usually the best way to tackle such issues.

Josh Amberger and Lisa Marangon rule Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie

Josh Amberger smacked one out of the ballpark on the bike with a monster 2:10 bike effort to take the 2013 Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie title. Sam Appleton's race best 1:15 run brought him closer but Amberger still had an almost 4-minute cushion at the end. Lisa Marangon also dominated on the bike to take the women's title in 4:30:49 over a relatively tiny field.

"This is surprisingly the best I've felt all year. I've been expecting an outcome like this for a while, and anyone who has followed my season has probably seen hints of this performance along the way. I'll always try and race from the front, this is just the first time it's all gone to plan. I couldn't be happier," said Amberger to slowtwitch.

Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, Australia / October 20, 2013
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run

Top men

1. Josh Amberger (AUS) 3:56:48
2. Sam Appleton (AUS) 4:00:11
3. Joseph Lampe (AUS) 4:00:11
4. Tim Berkel (AUS) 4:01:35
5. Casey Munro (AUS) 4:02:50

Top women

1. Lisa Marangon (AUS) 4:30:49
2. Andrea Forrest (AUS) 4:40:54
3. Holly Ranson (AUS) 4:52:52


One more thought

This sign on the sidewalk between Lava Java and the Frisky Seal (formerly Lulu's) was likely meant for triathletes in Kona and we actually heard it from many locals that some of the visiting triathletes are not very friendly and quite inconsiderate. That may be true for some locals too, but we are actually the guests and are thus much more obvious. So don't be crabby in Kona - and even if you are not in Hawaii. A smile goes much further.