Running comes in many forms and at very different velocities. While the clock can measure time spent, it is far more difficult to assign meaning. Who is to say that Victor Del Corral’s 2:37:29 marathon to win Ironman Florida is better than Mark Covert’s 45-year daily running streak that covered 149, 651 miles? So was Alistair Brownlee’s 28:32 10,000 meter run on a track better than his 29:07 to win the 2012 London Olympic triathlon? Sebastian Kienle can dispute with a straight face that the slower men’s runs at Kona this year were every bit as good or better than Mirinda Carfrae’s record-smashing marathon because the men’s bike was more demanding.
It seems likely that all of these examples are better than celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s 5:48 run to wrap up his 14:04 Ironman finish.
But was the feeling of accomplishment inside each man’s beating heart much different?
Safe to say, running is its own reward.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
Valentina Carvalho of Chile has the spirit.
Joe Gambles fights off Andy Potts at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Las Vegas.
Melissa Hauschildt runs to win Ironman 70.3 Boulder
The run of the year – women’s winner and new race record holder Mirinda Carfrae outran men’s winner Frederik Van Lierde at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Her 2:50:38 split was third best on the day including the men.
Jesse Thomas and Leon Griffin duel at Mile 4 of the Wildflower long course run.
Aileen Reid of Ireland runs at the San Diego Super Sprint in March.
James Cunnama ran well to take 4th place, but his 2:52:37 marathon was 2 minutes slower than Carfrae.
Brett Carter runs along the dock at the Cozumel Dolphin Encounter. The timing of this publicity photo was carefully calculated, the scene precisely lit, but this image was not Photoshopped.
Runner passes bear on the run at Pacific Grove.
Dan McIntosh runs on the beach at Cozumel.
Flora Duffy gave her all to maintain second place at the XTERRA World championship. But Lesley Paterson, seen looming behind, caught the Bermudan with 200 meters to go.
ITU runners, flying along the San Diego ocean walk at a 31 minute 10k pace, are of no concern to two lovers.
Running the steep declivity near the end of XTERRA Beaver Creek.
Emma Moffatt took 3rd at the San Diego WTS.
Josiah Middaugh dominated on his home course at XTERRA Beaver Creek.
Ivan Raña’s Kona 2:47:54 run was captured by a multitasking cyclist-photographer tracking the Spaniard as he ran along Alii Drive at the Ironman World Championship.
U.S. Army competitor Nathan Dressel runs at Pacific Grove.
Joao Silva of Portugal runs at San Diego WTS.
Lindsey Jerdonek runs the Boulder Reservoir at sunset.
Valentina Carvalho runs a trail near the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
