IM Hawaii on TV last Saturday

I watched the Iron Man Championships on TV Saturday.

I kept track of the the stories.

The Winner, Chris McCormick, 6th year he targeted this race to finally win it. Took 2nd last year. Last years winner dehydrated on the bike and went out early in the run, you got the impression from pre race comments these two guys didn't really like each other, but the guy who dropped out was at the finish to meet the winner and give him a hug.

Women's Winner, can't remember name, had been a British sponsored missionary before picking up tri's, ironically she taught people how to get water to their village, she looked good and was built more feminine than most pro-female triathletes. I say this because looking at her you would not have picked her to win. Her first Hawaii trip.

Third place guy. Big dude by Ironman standards, said he weighs 8 to 10 kg more than most competitors. I assume most competitors are close to 160lbs. This makes him 180+. He was tall and skinny, built a little like me with less in the mid section. He talked about not being able to get the heat off. He wore all white. His shirt was long-sleeve, some type of special material that kept him wet. He also wore what appeared to be knee high socks, he looked a little weird in his get up.

List of human interest:

• Early 20's kid that almost died five years ago from a nasty car wreck. He finished.
• Navy Seal doctor, 30 yrs old, finished his 6 IM. He looked the best of the non-pro's they showed.
• 65 yr old woman. She made it, I believe also won her age group.
• Dude who had been a rugby player, had lost his legs(below knee) in a car accident. Very stout fellow. Had tried other IM's, finally made it under the time limit. I still think those springs could be an advantage, I also get the impression that good paraplegic athletes are sponsored and have a huge support group, with coaches and such.
• 65 yr old legally Blind grandfather. Had a young guy with him the whole time. Bicycle built for two, and strapped to the other guy during the run. He almost tripped as he came up the finish ramp, forgot to tell him about the incline, I guess.
• The pro who finished 4th last year, locked up at mile 10, but refused to quit because he said he would finish unless for a medical reason. He walked the last 10 miles saying that it would show disrespect to the age groupers by not finishing.
• Heart breaker, when a 40ish Japanese woman didn't make the bike cutoff, by three seconds. They were screaming at her to run across the line but she couldn't get her legs moving after biking. The poor volunteer(race official) that had to tell her she couldn't start her run.
• Other heart breaker was the 77 yr old nun who didn't make the bike cutoff. I remember her from last year. She has done it 20 times. She opened up the 75-79 age group two years ago. She was the last person to be in before midnight last year.
• Finally, our inspiration. They showed a guy coming out of the water. I think the term is man-boobs, a lot of flab around his chest. He easily had to be the biggest guy in the race. He was very excited just finishing the swim. The final person they showed finishing this race was him. He was big. I assume over 250lbs, but probably only 5'10". Incredible, because he looked good coming across the line.