The 36-year-old will make his debut at the Hawaiian Ironman triathlon world championships on Sunday (AEDT), five years after he ended his 226-game career at Essendon.
Make no mistake, this is a big deal. Zaharakis will join a select club of former AFL players who have raced in Hawaii, including Port Adelaide's Michael Wilson and West Coast's Beau Waters.
The 35-39 age group is notoriously competitive and Zaharakis qualified for triathlon's most famous race by finishing 30th overall at this year's Ironman New Zealand.
But Zaharakis is no Olympic triathlete.
That would be his partner, Natalie Van Coeverden, who raced for Australia in Paris and continues to be among the world's best long-course triathletes.
Asked who is the top sportsperson in their relationship, after they became an item earlier this year, the ex-AFL star laughed and replied "not even a question".
"Considering she's the Olympic triathlete and she's won five (long-course) 70.3 races this year - and she's beaten me in every single one we've done together - she definitely takes the cake," Zaharakis told AAP.
"I have no qualms about saying that.
"Nat's come from a swim background, from five years old, and I'm not a swimmer. I love getting in the pool with her and she absolutely crushes it.
"The benefit is we train together and it really works. It's awesome, we push each other. I have to try to keep up."
This is handy, given it is often said that humility is a key to success at the Hawaiian Ironman.
Along with the distances - 3.8km ocean swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run - Hawaii is particularly brutal for its lava fields that radiate heat and the tropical humidity, plus the Pacific Ocean trade winds that often hammer triathletes during the bike leg.
"The whole day is basically preparing you for the last 12km on the run," Zaharakis said.
Given this is his first time at Kona, as a competitor or spectator, Zaharakis plans to race conservatively, with no time or performance goals.
He has three Ironman triathlons planned for next year, so this debut is part of a bigger plan.
"For me now, it's just the complete unknown," Zaharakis said.
"A few people I've spoken to said it took them maybe three or four times racing Kona to fully know the course.
"That's why I've come here with such an open mind, not set any expectations."
16°C