By Betsy:
The finish arch, early evening
As a roadside cheerleader, I spent the day hollering encouragement to strangers, often not able to discern if they were men or women. Swimming, cycling, running…many folks look the same…helmets, goggles, tight clothes. You’d think it’d be easy to tell men from women as they ran or swam, but they are a gaunt bunch and the men often padded their shirts to protect their nipples from chafing. So, everyone was “Sweetheart” as I cheered them along their way.
Man or woman? Trim physiques in tight tri-suits can make it hard to tell!
All athletes begin at the same time and they are given 17 hours to complete the Ironman. Kathryn swam, biked, and ran for 11 hours, 22 minutes. Around 8 pm at the post-finish line, we (Kyle, Ollie, her dad and I) gathered Katie and her bike. Kyle rode Katie’s bike back to the house and Ollie rode Kyle’s rental bike, a one-speed beach cruiser that Kyle valiantly rode during the marathon and texted us how the 5 Dynamo teammates were doing. We then met the Dynamo Team for pizza and beer near the finish line with a few hours to kill before the return for the final 90 minutes of Kona 2012.
The return to the finish line at 11 PM is important–it is a badge of honor, a duty, and a privilege to honor the oldest, most challenged, and longest-suffering competitors as they cross the line.
For results and time breakdowns, check out this site: Kona Results
Sunset over the bay from the finish line around 6:45 PM. Racers run the remaining hours in the dark, although street lights cover the last 8 miles or so.