Back in 1997, Peter Kotland ran the Ultraman double marathon in an astounding 5:37, a time which no one has even flirted with since. In the 2012 edition, Alexandre Ribeiro of Brazil closed out his sixth victory with a more human but still dominant 6:45:24 run which gave him a 1:05:17 margin of victory over friend and rival Miro Kregar of Slovenia. After taking most of the year off from triathlon to get married and to knock off a sub-23 hour Western States 100, Ultraman record holder Amber Monforte of Reno, Nevada ran a 3rd-best 8:12:06 run to sew up her 3rd straight Ultraman win by a 28:47 margin over Kathy Winkler of Mill Valley, California. Yasuko Miyazaki of Japan ran 7:32:12 – the second-fastest Ultraman women’s double marathon in history -- to place 3rd overall. But Miyazaki’s biggest thrill was accepting a marriage proposal at the finish line from crewman Atsushi Ohkawa.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

Alexandre Ribeiro and rival Miro Kregar led the run at Mile 4. By the end of the day, Kregar saw he had no hope of erasing Ribeiro’s Day 2 lead and surrendered to the Brazilian’s 7:36:55.

Tony O’Keefe, a 51-year-old Canadian military officer, made a remarkable comeback from devastating 2011 injuries to finish 3rd in 25:56:29.

Rivals Amber Monforte and Kathy Winkler start off the double marathon in the pre-dawn darkness at Hawi.

Tony O’Keefe ran 8:25:27.

Gary Wang of Corte Madera, California had his best Ultraman run (8:15:11) and best overall finish (5th in 26:35:30).

Kathy Winkler’s elegant running form.

Yasuko Miyazaki started the day running with Kathy Winkler, and then turned on the heat with a 7:32:12 run – the third-best of the day, regardless of gender.

Kevin Becker of Montreal runs with his pace runner Cassandra Becker and crew member David Ahrens.

Kathy Winkler takes a short lead over Yasuko Miyazaki at Mile 15 before the Japanese runner dropped the hammer.

The irrepressible Suzy Degazon.

Amber Monforte runs the long road home.

Kathy Winkler passes the halfway point of the run.

Ribeiro cools off at Mile 30 of the run.

Ultraman competitor whose jersey sports the motto - Where is the limit? - runs past a roadside memorial.

Atsushi Ohkawa asks Yasuko Miyazaki for her hand in marriage at the Ultraman finish line.

Kevin Becker and his crew had just enough energy for this leap on the beach.

Tracey McQuair of Penticton, BC, Canada, the 2011 Ultraman UK women's champion, finished 4th and stands proud behind the Canadian flag with her crew.

Tony O’Keefe took a quiet satisfaction with his 3rd place finish.

Recently wed Kathy Winkler and Peter McIntosh, her crew chief, hug in the warm late afternoon Kona sun.

Alan Macpherson of Bury St. Edmunds, Great Britain celebrated with a paper plate full of chili beans after 320 miles of Ultraman fun.