2012 Ironman Arizona
Ironman Arizona boasts the best North American Fall weather, excellent Kona qualifying points, exotic cacti and a spectator friendly three-loop bike and run. For Ironman winners like Leanda Cave, it offers a great chance to get Kona qualifying validation out of the way early. And for many pros and age groupers, its largely flat terrain offers a good chance for an Ironman PR – if the desert winds are calm and weather mild.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
After three near-miss runner-up finishes, Montana pro Linsey Corbin finally nabs her first Tempe triumph and her third career Ironman victory.
Leaping into Tempe Town Lake.
Tempe offers a great bridge amphitheater effect for the age group mass swim start.
Pros men charge off in an impressionistic blur.
Meredith Kessler and Haley Chura (left) made up 5 minutes on this male pro.
After her stirring Ironman World Championship victory a month ago, defending Ironman Arizona winner Leanda Cave took it easy and finished 6th – mission accomplished on validating her 2013 Kona entry.
Meredith Kessler rode 4:53 and came to T2 with a 7-minute lead on Purple Patch Fitness teammate Linsey Corbin.
Ironman rookie Nils Frommhold of Germany rode the 3rd-fastest 4:22:45 bike split on his way to victory.
Paul Matthews of Australia rode 4:24:31 on his way to 2nd place.
TJ Tollakson rode 2nd-fastest 4:19:03 on his way to 3rd place.
Age grouper at speed in the desert.
PC Competitor rounds the turnaround on the bike course.
Matthias Hecht ran a disappointing 3:05:46 to finish 14th.
Linsey Corbin erased a 7-minute deficit at T2 with a race-best 3:05:54 marathon to win 2012 Ironman Arizona in 9:01:41.
Corinne Abraham of Great Britain ran a 3rd-best 3:11:44 marathon to take the final spot on the podium.
Mathias Hecht of Switzerland (14th) and Mathew Russell of the U.S (8th) duel midway through the run.
TJ Tollakson of the U.S. works hard to cool off near the end of his 2:56:01run to maintain his 3rd place finish.
Nils Frommhold had the fastest run but took the time to cool off on the final lap.
Nicolas Hemet of France celebrates his 16th place finish.
Purple Patch Fitness teammates Linsey Corbin and Meredith Kessler, coached by Matt Dixon, celebrate their 1-2 finish.
