Madame Pele and the World Triathlon Corporation presented some of the biggest surprises, great racing, and new records. But most of all the race presented passionate triathletes living their dreams on the biggest stage in the sport.
Related galleries
2010 IM Hawaii race gallery - part 1
Kona 2010 - Friday / bike check-in
Kona 2010 - the slowtwitch gathering
Kona 2010 - the underpants run
Kona 2010 - a Wednesday gallery
Kona 2010 - a Tuesday afternoon gallery
Kona 2010 - a Tuesday morning gallery
All images are © Timothy Carlson / slowtwitch.com
Chris Lieto posted a race-best 4:23:17 bike for the lead at T2, But after a brave try, by Mile 10 of the run he was fading to 11th place.
Denmark's Rasmus Henning was a pre race co favorite but little things going wrong added up to a disappointing 24th place.
Switzerland's Karin Thuerig has cycling gold at the world time trial championships and Olympic bronze, plus triathlon wins at IM Switzerland and Powerman Zofingen. On Saturday, she broke Paula Newby Fraser's 17-year-old Ironman Hawaii bike record with a 4:48:22 split which led her to 6th place.
Chris McCormack sponges cool water on his head at Mile 10 of the run, preparing for his late race duel with Andreas Raelert.
Andreas Raelert copies brother Michael's cooling strategy - wide open race jersey. Raelert's 2:44:25 run was 4th best and left him second to Macca at the line.
2000 and 2001 IMH champion Tim DeBoom hung in to finish the run with fellow two-time champion Normann Stadler in 33rd and 34th places.
Julie Dibens ran as if the headless horseman were chasing her, but in the end her 3:16:12 marathon could not hold her lead off the bike and was no defense against the brilliant run of Mirinda Carfrae.
Mirinda Carfrae - her groundbreaking 2:53:32 run set a record and gave her a 7 minute margin of victory over Caroline Steffen.
Virginia Berasategui of Spain thought her injured ankle would prevent her from finishing. But she gutted out a 3:08:30 marathon and finished 4th.
Age group man runs past one of Kailua-Kona's colorful murals on Palani Drive.
Age group man salutes a spectator while running up Palani.
Macca's cool tactics in the final mile won him a second Kona victory.
Macca's clan shares a joyous hug.
Defending champion Craig Alexander's 2:41:59 marathon could not make up his deficit off the bike and he took 4th.
Pete Jacobs of Australia exults in his stellar 2:41:05 marathon that gave him a 9th place finish.
Chris Lieto gives thanks after his brave race left him a proud but beaten 11th.
Clemens Coenen of Germany celebrates his 25th place in 8:41:33.
Tim DeBoom helps fellow two-time Ironman Hawaii champion Normann Stadler after they finished in identical 8:46:29 times in 33rd and 34th places.
Mirinda Carfrae connects with the adoring crowd after her impressive winning performance.
Caroline Steffen of Switzerland cannot quite believe she finished second in her professional debut at the biggest Ironman in the world.
