Well, it’s all over except for the drinking, dancing and sore muscles tomorrow!

The Runner finished about 5pm today with a time of 10 hours and 20 minutes. Not too shabby! He was 126 to finish overall (out of 1600 entrants) and 25th in his age group (but who is counting!). He also finished first out of everyone in his triathlon club, which is pretty cool! He also took 30 minutes off the time he did in Busselton eighteen months ago! If I sound like a proud, boasting, gloating fiancée, it’s because I am.

I am exceptionally proud of him. On a day where I have spent the better part of 17 hours watching people compete, I am in awe of him and the other 1599 competitors, they are all impressive and inspiring. There was a blind man who competed with a guide, a 68 year old man who did his first ironman today, a guy who borrowed a bike because he was hit by a car on his bike recently, people who looked like they never exercised who managed to do the whole 140.6, and someone else who has done 75 ironman races. Seriously.

In short, it’s an inspiring place to be. Not inspiring enough to get me in the water or on a bike but its amazing. I’ve seen people fall over on hills on a bike, propose to their partner, dance over the line and collapse into the arms of the official at the end.

They’ve all completed an amazing feat today. They are all ironmen. And their persistence, willpower, courage, and determination are an inspiration. Well done!