The Kona marathon wore down many great triathletes. But some, like Mirinda Carfrae, Chrissie Wellington and Caitlin Snow of the women, and Pete Jacobs, Craig Alexander, Timo Bracht and Andreas Raelert among the men, ran as if with the wings of Mercury. Yet all who finished this Ironman overcame what seemed like the gravity of the planet Jupiter over those long last miles.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

Andreas Raelert manages to look noble while passing the absurd man in a banana suit running along Alii Drive. Raelert's 2:47:48 marathon brought him home with 3rd place.

Chris Lieto came within 9 seconds of Normann Stadler's bike course record, but unlike 2009 he did not start the run with a 10 minute lead on the fast runners. A tapped out 3:55:00 run brought him home 29th.

Craig Alexander combined his usual 51:56 swim, the 2nd fastest 4:24:05 bike and 2nd fastest 2:44:03 marathon for a new course record 8:03:56 and his third Kona win.

Pete Jacobs outran Craig Alexander last year 2:41:06 to 2:41:59 and he outran Crowie 2:42:29 to 2:44:03 in 2011. Jacobs' improved bike this year boosted him from 9th to 2nd.

European Ironman 70.3 champion Andi Bocherer of Germany was in the hunt with a 51:49 swim and 4:25:46 bike until he dropped to 8th with a 3:01:44 run.

2010 Ironman Wisconsin winner Joe Gambles started strong but wilted with a 3:12:56 run to finish 20th.

Matt Reed had a tough day at the office with a 4:43 bike and 3:09 run.

After Julie Dibens pulled out, last year's runner-up Caroline Steffen inherited the lead. But leg problems that interrupted her training left her with a 3:15:17 run and 5th place

Without the 4-minute bike penalty that dropped him to 8th last year, Dirk Bockel combined a 51:44 swim, a 4th-fastest 4:24:17 bike and 6th fastest 2:53:04 run for 4th.

Timo Bracht seemed primed to break into the top 3, but a 53:37 swim left him off the main chase pack and a 2:47:26 run brought the talented German a disappointing 5th.

After his wins at Abu Dhabi and Ironman France, Frederik Van Lierde of Belgium seemed ready for prime time Kona. But after a 4:31 bike, he overheated and DNF'd on the run.

Andy Potts had a good news and bad news bay at Kona. The good - he was top American. Bad, he was 17th. The good, he dominated the swim by 2 minutes with a 49:44. The bad, heat wore him down to a 3:07:20 marathon.

Chrissie Wellington loads up with core cooling goods at the Palani aid station.

Ever wonder how Wellington bikes and runs so fast? Look at those calves!

Mirinda Carfrae on her way to a new women's run record of 2:52:09.

Leanda Cave had a breakthrough 3rd place Kona finish capped off by a 3:06:36 run.

Peter Vabrousek cools off at the Palani aid station on his way to a 3:16:55 marathon and a 30th place finish. This was just one of his 14 Ironman distance events this year!

Rachel Joyce was 6th in 2009, 5th on 2010 and 4th this year thanks to a 53:56 swim, 4:58:57 bike and a 3:09:55 run.

The legendary six-time Kona champion Natascha Badmann of Switzerland on her way to a 3:16:44 marathon and a 14th place finish in 9:31:21 at age 45.

Linsey Corbin flying down Kuakini.