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We camped out just past the Kona finish line as the sun was setting to ask athletes one question: What fueled you to the finish? Their answers were funny, heartbreaking, and totally candid. All photos by Danny Weiss.
My family. I felt horrible all day. They got me through to the end.
My pop died a week and a half ago and he did it. He got me through.
My two boys who are 9 and 10, Gabriel and Joao.
Just pure determination. I had a really bad run, issues with my stomach. I didn’t want to quit. It’s the first time I did this–I worked seven years for this. It’s just life-changing. I was in a bad place in my life and it was my goal. I never thought I could do it–I couldn’t swim seven years ago!
Channelling all the wonderful people I’ve been with these last two weeks in Hawaii. All my squad back at home. It’s been a long time coming. [A friend interjects that she has one breast, and she holds up her F*CK CANCER bracelet.] I had the best race ever!
My five-year-old Thea!
Michelle and Nick! And Coach Roch Frey.
Inca, my black lab dog at home. I imagined she ran back from the Energy Lab with me today. And my husband at the finish.
Family and volunteers!
I just turned 50 this year and have been doing tris for 33 years. I did Ironman in the ‘90s then stopped doing them, then figured I’d come here and do it once before my second 50 years!
My family and the sacrifices they’ve made for months so I could come here. (Translated from French)
My wife, my kids. My training partners in Taiwan. I won’t quit. /
The beer in the finish! The faster I run, the faster I get my beer.
My preparation before, and the volunteers who worked so hard.
The training. It’s about the training. You dig deep. I love the race, I want to do it justice.
My family. All 11 of them here–brothers, sisters, kids. And my coach. All of them.
On the bike the wind was difficult. The weather today is good! (Non-native English speaker.)
It was a hard bike–windy. On the run the temperature was ok. Hot then cloudy. (Non-native English speaker)
My son. He’s 19 years old.
These two guys! I want them to reach for the stars when they’re older and see what it takes. It takes hard work. There’s no easy way.
Pure determination and grit. And my family.
My two daughters. They were here 18 years ago. Twenty years ago I crossed the finish line with them. Today it couldn’t come any sooner–I wanted to see them. I love this game. What a great day this was–what a struggle. What a surreal experience!
I’ve got the coolest family in the world–they let me do this stuff. It’s not easy to do without support. My 10 year old niece, Presley, has Rett Syndrome. It’s a rare genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls and leads to severe impairments, affecting their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe easily. I wear her name in a purple heart on my tri suit for every race. And for this race, a purple ribbon and flower on my bike. Presley drove me to the finish line.
My family, my Ohana. My husband. My older son and my gender-neutral youngest. They’re 22 and 16 and they’re amazing. And my two German exchange students, too. They’re my German sons and I love them all to bits and pieces.
Just being here. It’s such an honor to be here knowing all my friends and family are here.
There’s a couple here doing their fifth one and I train with them. And my mom in England–she’s waking up now! I was thinking about her a lot. And a lot of cake!
I had to get it done, I didn’t care about time or place.
Just for me! To be able to feel to the max, to feel all of the emotions. (Translated from Spanish.)
I have a huge support crew because I live here. All of my family and friends were out here!
Cheering–very good! (Non-native English speaker)
In my previous Ironman here in 2015, I was walking the marathon due to heat stroke I got on the bike. So my objective was to finish in style–no walking, just go easy, pick up the pace in the last 10 miles. I didn’t start my Garmin during the swim and that ended up being lucky because mentally it would’ve hurt my race–I was last out of the water in my age group, but I was able to win 15 places on the bike!
The thought that there’s ice cream at home. And my entire family.
A lot of fear I wasn’t going to make the bike cutoff! I had some medical issues out there. I don’t know how I got here today. It’s my sixth time.
The feeling of love and gratitude for being able to be here. My family and friends. I feel privileged. Madame Pele might’ve played a role too.