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A decade or so ago, some Israeli triathletes wanted to create an endurance challenge that could rival the rigors of Gerardmer, the UK Ironman in Wales, or the thrill of Kona. Twenty hardy souls took off on the course centered around the resort city of Eilat on the Red Sea, at the tip of the wedge of land known as the Negev desert. Though the years, organizers have made the full Israman subtly harder each year until the course now boasts of nearly 10,000 feet of climbing on the 112-mile bike course that skirts the city and roams through nearby mountains. The run lays a trap for the already weary competitors, as it starts at a transition high in the mountains and is primarily downhill. But just ask the winners how the shock of running downhill for epic distances feels at the end of their Ironman bike and you heard terms like "feels like knives," "shatters the legs" and you understand there is no escape from Israman's challenge.

On Friday morning at 6:15, the original field of 20 has grown to 1,100 thanks in large part to teams and the addition of the half Ironman distance event held concurrently with the classic Israman. This day, three-time Ironman winner and 2009 Ironman World Championship runner-up Chris Lieto will be contending for the half distance and Ironman glutton Petr Vabrousek of the Czech Republic will be fighting with defending champion Tom Marmareli of Israel for the full distance crown.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson