5430 Long Course

When it started, the Boulder 5430 Long Course was a red-headed stepchild to the classic, sold out Boulder Peak triathlon. The first year they tried a full Iron-distance race and entries were scarce. The first time organizers tried a half-Iron distance event, there were 250 entries. But with small but very elite fields and a gorgeous course, race directors Barry and Jodee Siff nursed the long course to an artistic and business success, culminated with a sold out field of 1,400, four World Champions in the elite field (Chrissie Wellington – Ironman, Joanna Zeiger Ironman 70.3, Julie Dibens – Xterra and Leon Griffin – 2006 ITU Duathlon short course), and two blazing fast course records (Tim O’Donnell’s 3:45:51 and Julie Dibens’ 4:10:58.) All on a mild, sunny day in triathlon’s Rocky Mountain Mecca. With the sale of their Boulder races to the World Triathlon Corporation, Barry and Jodee bid a sweet, well-done adieu to one of the sport’s great races.

Boulder neighbors Chrissie Wellington and Brooke Davison are great friends. The Ironman world champion took second to Scrabble and bike training partner Julie Dibens, and the mother of three took third.

Timothy O’Donnell took one big puff on his asthma inhaler before walking out and setting fastest swim, bike and run for a new course record.

A golden-orange sun leaves a reflection on dark mauve waters just after dawn.

Boulder pro and Retul exec Lars Finanger took 5th.

Julie Dibens and Timothy O’Donnell both set course records after this obviously effective pre race stretch.

The pro wave inched well past the line before the starting horn.

Defending champion Simon Thompson exits the swim, then got discouraged with a drafting stand down penalty.

Chrissie Wellington chases after Dibens’ race-best swim but never caught her. A fan offers encouragement to speed inspired by a famous incident where a local bear wandered on to the course.

Chrissie Wellington chases Julie Dibens in the early morning sun.

Chrissie Wellington bikes past the lansdmark yellow barn on state highway 36 at Nelson Road.

Defending champion Joanna Zeiger gave it her all, but collapsed on the run and was taken away in an ambulance.

David Thompson surrendered his 2007 course record to O’Donnell, but his 2:02 bike split mark stood. Here, Thompson flies in an extreme aero position on his way to 4th place.

Timothy O’Donnell en route to a 2:03:44 bike split.

O’Donnell’s 1:15:16 half marathon was fastest of the day.

David Thompson pushed hard but after a 2008 hernia still hasn’t quite returned to his 2007 form. Here he hydrates on his way to a 1:19:47 run and 4th place.

Julie Dibens only dropped 2 minutes of her 5:30 lead off the bike to Wellington on the first 6.5-mile run lap. Later Dibens ran through pain to hold on to a 1:20 margin of victory at the finish.

Wellington’s race-best 1:24:54 run wasn't enough to overcome Diben’s great bike.

Julie Dibens paid the price of victory for her remarkable 4:10:58 finish and upset win over Wellington.

Wellington congratulates Dibens for her Thursday Scrabble win and Sunday long course victory

Barry Siff was filled with a lot of emotion on his last day as 5430 race director.