After 35 years, the Ironman competition may need to rethink its title to incorporate its Ironwomen. After all, the women of the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii yesterday put on an incredible performance.
The remarkable 78-year-old Harriet Anderson finished the race with three minutes to spare (Ironman competitors have a maximum of 17 hours to finish). Anderson has completed the Kona Ironman more than 20 times, including in 2010 when she broke her clavicle mid race. After getting cut off and crashing during the bike ride, Anderson picked herself up and completed the race by walking the entire marathon. This year, Anderson was the only woman in the 75-79 age group.
An Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and full 26.2 mile marathon.
Australian Mirinda Carfrae won the overall women’s Ironman World Championship title for the second time, and set a women’s record time of 8:52:14.
Carfrae ran the marathon more than 8 minutes faster than any of the other top ten women, and faster than eight of the top ten men.
Mirinda Carfrae’s fiance, Tim O’Donnell, finished 5th overall in the men’s race. Carfrae jumped into his arms after crossing the finish line. Referring to the prize money she was receiving, an ecstatic Carfrae told the crowd, "I'm getting married in two months -- I think I'll be able to cover the wedding bill."
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