Ironman Boulder, the home of triathlon's Rocky Mountain Mecca, offered green hills, swaths of wildflowers, cool temps and a small but select field. Matt Hanson shined with a 7:57:03 winning time and Lauren Brandon proved she is more than a swim star with a 17-minute margin of victory.

All photographs © Talbot Cox

Brent McMahon of Canada rode 4:19:05 but DNF'd the run.

Tim O’Donnell stretches his Aqua Sphere wetsuit on the way to the start. He swam 49:46 – men's fastest split - but 1:03 slower than top woman Lauren Brandon.

PC triathlete Rian Smoak and his team prepare for the swim start.

Standup Paddler leads the pro men’s swim wave to the shore.

Talbot Cox captured the Boulder Reservoir scene in one elegant panorama.

A line of cyclists riding through one of Boulder’s pretty country roads.

Team rider propelled PC competitor Rian Smoak on the bike course.

The grand terrain of the Boulder bike course.

Sam Long fastens his riding shoe before riding 4:08:44 on his way to finish 5th in 8:19:54

Jeremy Jurkiewicz rode 4:42:17 on his way to 9th place.

Lauren Brandon rode 4:38:06 on her way to the win in 9:09:09.

Lesley Smith rode 5:08:36 on her way to 2nd place woman in 9:26:12.

Matt Hanson attacks a long climb on his way to a 2nd-fastest 4:09:17 bike split.

Boulder resident Sam Long was disappointed with his energy but still managed the day’s fastest bike split – 4:08:44 – on his way to 5th place.

Kennett Peterson managed the day’s second-best marathon and finished in 2nd place, 4:32 behind Matt Hanson.

Matt Hanson won it on the run with a race-best 2:48:34 marathon split.

Tim O’Donnell wrapped up a 3:05:32 marathon for 3rd place touching hands with a fan in the finish chute.

O’Donnell’s wife, 3-time Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae, and daughter Isabel, cheered on Tim.

Kennett Peterson hydrates to get to the finish of a 2:54:02 marathon.

Kennett Peterson is spent after his second place finish.