Copenhagen resident Aleksander S. Markovic was honored with the race's very
first number 1. The honor was thrown to a vote and Markovic, who authors
Denmark's most popular triathlon blog, out polled Belinda Granger. He
rewarded the faithful with a 9th place finish in 8:31:07.

The elite wave hit the water a few seconds before 7 AM disappeared into grey
skies, gray waters and gray rain.

Age groupers and relay participants, including local hero Rasmus Henning, swelled the entries to 1,600.

Just up the coast, cyclists ride past a statue dedicated to polar explorer Roald Amundsen, who now seems to be perpetually staring out to the horizon of the Baltic.

Belinda Granger, riding hard in this shot, has been known to crack the 5-hour mark, but this day a sensitive stomach and a flat conspired to leave
all the women's two wheel glory to winner Rebekah Keat, who stormed to a 4:48:04.

Copenhagen's technically demanding bike course isn't all windmills and tulips. Here's a very tight corner around a tree set a few inches from a narrow country road.

Denmark's rising 26-year-old star Martin Jensen was favored, but a second flat ended his hopes for a first big win. Photo by Brian Rasmussen.

This is where Tim Berkel made his break - about 120 kilometers into the
ride.

Danish friends and families gathered every kilometer or so to toast the riders as the course wound inland on the way back to the city.

Refueling on the run demands some agility.

Think Denmark is all flat? This climb rises 350 feet at a 5 percent grade and must be negotiated three times.

Denmark's greatest gift to world design is the Sydney Opera House, done by neophyte Joern Utzon in 1957. But master designers abound today, as witnessed by these granite, glass and steel cubes that capture all the subtlety of light inherent in Copenhagen's lovely waterfront.

After a sub-par bike, Belinda Granger ran to second place past lone of Denmark's mighty navy ships.

Tim Berkel runs under the glass and steel of the Royal Library on his way to a 2:46 marathon and a five minute margin of victory.

A young woman racing with an eclectic modern mash of bold color runs past the very historic Christianborg palace, site of five former structures which housed the royals and often fell prey to fires.

Tim Berkel raises his arms high with pride after attaining his second
Ironman distance victory.

Rebekah Keat milks the moment, running down the finish chute with six minutes in hand under nine hours, accompanied by several lovely balloon bearers, one of whom is the lovely Caroline Henning, daughter Rasmus and
Anita.

Keat was so focused on the chase for her first Ironman-distance win in three years that she ignored this nasty gash on her knee until she received first aid in the medical tent at the finish.

After the tumult and shouting of the overall winners quieted down, the age
groupers continue the serious business of finishing the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2 mile run.

One dedicated runner glides past an advertisement mural extolling Denmark's rural and coastal pleasures.