Gallery: Queen K Action With One Week To Go

Maik Twelsiek rides alongside 2005 Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan during a Team Abu Dhabi group ride. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Rinny tells all to Triathlete.com and plays down the idea that she's "the favorite." 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Triathlete.com contributor, soigneur, and chief mechanic Julie Dibens earns her keep by buffing Mirinda Carfrae's bike. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Mirinda Carfrae's Felt DA is outfitted with a Quarq power meter. Saturday's race will be the first time the 2010 world champion records power data during a full Ironman. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

Tim O'Donnell uses a variety of zip ties to anchor his water bottle cage to the rails of his ISM saddle. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

The pool for the rest of the family. Sunrise at the Mauna Lani Bay hotel. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Faris Al-Sultan talks Ironman with Triathlete's Steve Godwin. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

Germany's Maik Twelsiek isn't racing in the 2012 Ironman World Championship. Instead, he's supporting his Abu Dhabi teammates and training with wife Hillary Biscay. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Faris Al-Sultan is going after a top-five finish in this year's Ironman World Championship race. He won Ironman Austria last June, in a time of 8:11:31. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Team Abu Dhabi, led by Faris Al-Sultan and by Maik Twelsiek rolls out of the Mauna Lani Bay hotel and toward Hawi. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

TO, Rinny, and Julie Dibens. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

The road to Hawi was resurfaced during the summer of 2012. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Linsey Corbin stands on the pedals of her "Kona bike" during a Sunday ride. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

Joe Gambles is looking for a breakthrough in his second go at Kona. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Triathletes break at the Kawaihae Market & Deli on Sunday, October 7. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Linsey Corbin on the return from Hawi. Corbin won June's Ironman 70.3 Hawaii (and set a course record) on the same stretch of highway. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Mounted on a Cervélo P5, Rachel Joyce climbs to Hawi. Joyce finished fourth in the 2011 Ironman World Championship. Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

The Queen K is a seriously dangerous place—especially during race week. Heads-up! 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii.

After a morning ride to the bike turnaround in Hawi, Linsey Corbin knocked out a treadmill run at the Mauna Lani Bay hotel. 2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy