Kona 09 Race Day Part 1 – Swim
Tension, impatience, relief and sheer exuberance fill the air when the waiting is done and it's time to slip in to the waters of Kailua Bay and await the cannon's blast. For triathletes, the dawn of Ironman Hawaii is birthday, Christmas Day, graduation day, wedding day all wrapped into one big aerobic test of physical readiness and personal character. Awaiting the start, some cope by meditation, others make a few jokes, others retreat into a wall of silent focus before they go out into the blue sea and bright yellow sun to confront the inevitable dark places within themselves that scream "Quit!"
Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson (image one by Herbert Krabel)
Related other galleries
Kona 2009, the men on the bikes.
Crowie runs to his second win.
More Kona 2009 images from Friday
Kona 2009 images from Thursday
Kona 2009 images from Wednesday
Images from the Parade of Nations
Heavy weighs the crown of the defender. The cool demeanor of 2008 champion Craig Alexander shows he is a man of steely nerve. Photo by Herbert Krabel
Members of Germany's powerful Commerzbank team grab a moment of rest in front of a painting of the famed Hawaii warrior-king King Kamehameha.
Water safety volunteers ready their paddleboards on the beach beside the King Kamehameha hotel.
The fabulous Fernanda Keller of Brazil celebrates 23 years in the sport with another start at Kona.
Six-time champion Natascha Badmann, who is in tune with the spirit of the Big Island like no other visitor, meditates before the start.
Luxembourg's Dirk Bockel, who led the Beijing Olympic Triathlon off the bike, stretches before another, longer test,
Faris-Al-Sultan, the 2005 champion, enjoys a joke.
Normann Stadler, the 2004 and 2006 champion, helps Commerzbank teammate Jan Raphael get his race jersey on.
A friend helps 2008 second place finisher Yvonne Van Vlerken zip up.
Virginia Berasategui can't help show some of her Basque exuberance. The energy held all day for a third place finish.
A Navy warship made a stop at the Ironman.
Fans lined up at dawn for a good seat on the seawall.
Standup paddler serves as the sheriff of the swim.
Rasmus Henning and Chris McCormack bob in the water, ready for the start.
The fierce charge of Kona's aquatic Light Brigade.
Surfers and lifeguards help funnel the pack into the course.
John Flanagan wins the swim, if not the war.
Andy Potts charges out of the water in second.
019
Chrissie Wellington posts a fine 54-minute swim on her way to a record breaking finish.
Swimmers emerge from bright sun-dazppled water on to the stairs that lead to their bikes and the rest of the journey.
