Lots of fireworks on the marathon – Patrick Lange of Germany broke Mark Allen’s 26-year-old run mark and Daniela Ryf broke her Kona run PR by 9:46 with a 2:56:51 split.
by Tim Carlson, October 15, 2016
After becoming the first man to win Olympic gold and the Ironman World Championship, Jan Frodeno discovered that a Kona repeat is tougher still.
The finish line at the Ironman World Championship in Kona is filled with exultation and exhaustion, pride and humility, and above all, relief.
With top rival Mirinda Carfrae in full health and at top speed, Daniela Ryf is fully recovered from over-racing exhaustion and ready for a duel for the ages.
Jan Frodeno and fellow German Sebastian Kienle are strong rivals and good friends – and they will likely duel to break a 1-1 tie in Kona victories.
Tidy whiteys and other scandalous undergarments take over Alii Drive two days before the main event. Photo gallery by Timothy Carlson and Tuula Rodgers.
The 2016 Kona festivities open with popular kids duathlon and triathlons and finish with the Parade of Nations on Ali’i Drive, Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson.
Will Ryf recover from her overloaded midsummer Ironman schedule? Will Rinny stay healthy until race day? Will their anticipated duel live up to expectations?
Jan Frodeno and Sebastian Kienle will finish 1-2 but everything else is up in the air with many worthy contenders who could upset the applecart.
Mirinda Carfrae discusses her disappointing DNF last year, her search for a 4th Kona victory and an anticipated showdown with defending champ Daniela Ryf.
Marino Vanhoenacker built a 3:35 lead with a race-best bike split and sealed the deal with a 2nd-best 2:55:26 run to win by 7:05 at Ironman Chattanooga.
Back in form after a longstanding knee injury, Danish star Helle Frederiksen unleashed a sizzling bike split to earn a 9:21 margin of victory at Ironman 70.3 Augusta.
Kirsten Kasper of the U.S. and David Castro Fajardo of Spain won their first ITU World Cup titles at Salinas, Ecuador.