Dubai, the high-rise jewel of the United Arab Emirates, welcomed a small but talented pro field and a sold out field of age groupers to its well-run Ironman 70.3 contest. Strong winds led to a shortened swim in the protected waters of the Jumeirah Marina and mild midwinter temps left all hands tired and happy.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

Caroline Steffen rode a women’s 4th-best 2:19:55 on her way to 2nd overall.

Pro men step toward the Jumeirah Marina swim start.

Pro men take off on the Marina swim past luxurious yachts.

Daniela Ryf posted the women‘s-fastest 2:17:21 bike split on her way to the win.

Terenzo Bozzone rode 2nd-fastest 2:04:28 bike split and finished 4th overall.

Jan Frodeno sliced through the brisk winds to a day’s best 2:02:33 bike split and the $20,000 win.

Nick Baldwin of the Seychelles rode 2:08:22 and finished 6th.

Jaroslav Kovacic led a large Slovenian contingent with a 2:07:54 bike split and a 5th place finish.

Miquel Blanchart of Spain rode 2:14:11 on his way to 8th place.

Josh Amberger rode 3rd-fastest 2:05:21 and took 2nd place.

Frodeno charges past the Jumeirah Beach Hotel a mile from T2

Josh Amberger shows excellent run form as he held off Bart Aernouts and Terenzo Bozzone for second place.

Bart Aernouts and Terenzo Bozzone engaged in a sizzling duel for 3rd place. Aernouts prevailed, 1:15: 06 to 1:15:28.

Brad Williams of the U.S. ran 1:20:54 and took 7th place.

Balazs Csoke of Hungary ran 1:22:52 and took 12th place.

Daniela Ryf ran a women’s 2nd-best 1:20:52 on her way to a $20,000 victory.

Caroline Steffen held off a late run surge by Kaisa Lehtonen to hold on to the runner-up slot by 2 seconds.

Renee Baker of Australia ran 1:32:52 and finished 10th.

Kaisa Lehtonen of Finland ran a women‘s-best 1:18:35 half marathon but fell 2 seconds short of Caroline Steffen and 2nd place.

Jocelyn McCauley of the U.S. ran 1:24:12 and finished 4th.