Michal Cohen (F30-34) climbs the big hill

The 6:15 AM swim started largely in the dark.

Swimmers enter lap two.

Swimmers charging up to T1.

Riders struggling up the first climb that rises 2,000 feet over 10 kilometers.

Keren Meretz finished 3rd woman in the Full Israman.

Riding along the Israel-Egypt border midway through the rugged, hilly bike. Women's Full Israman winner Dora Heller says that a recent border raid by terrorists prompted IsraeI authorities to build a much more fortified border fence.

Nitai Zacharya charges one of the steep downhills.

Looking at the Egyptian emplacement across the border - just 100 meters from the race road.

Fixing a flat on the desolate road.

Best friends Osnat Edelman (859) and Daniela Zandanis (863) ride together.

Anders Stampe runs a mile to T2 with a broken chain. The 31-year-old Danish triathlete finished just 5:57 back of the Half Israman winner Lior Zach Maor.

Yoram Levav (M50-54) rides into T2. Note the armed Israeli soldier at the concrete barrier at the top right of the picture.

Nina Pekerman was intense as she swept quickly through T2. Pekerman, a former Full Israman and Half Israman winner, took the women's Half Israman crown this year in a time of 5:43:45.

The rugged bike course took its toll on everyone. This man's friend offers her blank-eyed hero a kiss.

Tough course makes for allies in the struggle. Here Half Israman competitors Merav Mor (F30-34), Eran Shachari (M45-49), Oz Shachari (M18-24) and another runner tackle the steep downhill together.

Lilach Bar-Natan finished 3rd woman overall in the Half Israman.

Amir Nachum (M45-49) runs past the Eilat Marina.

A man is joined by his daughter in the finish chute.

Itay Hirsch (M35-39) just beat the 12 hour mark for the Full Israman.