Even though the sun sets on racing, there are still about six hours to go. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
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Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Canada’s Alexandre Boule on the bike. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Germany’s Dirk Niederau. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Australia’s Ian Lack. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Canada’s Carl Desruisseaux. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Germany’s Jan Selnes. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
A group of athletes make their way down the Queen K. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Team Hoyt. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Team Hoyt. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes march through the Energy Lab, the toughest part of the marathon course. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
An athlete runs through the Energy Lab. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
That’s one way to cool down! Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The volunteers are a huge part of the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes run in and out of the Energy Lab. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
A busy time on the Queen K. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
South Africa’s Helen Susannah Webb was the first visually impaired female athlete to complete Ironman South Africa. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
American Ellen Hart on the run. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes on the Hoka One One run course. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes get much needed hydration and nutrition at an aid station at the 2017 Ironman World Championship. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes do anything and everything to stay cool on the blazing marathon course. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The Energy Lab remains busy as the suns start to set on race day. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Poland’s Wojtek Szeliga on his way to a 11:43:04 finish. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
After the Energy Lab athletes are in the homestretch of the marathon. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Even though the sun sets on racing, there are still about six hours to go. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
This year more than 110,000 athletes vied for a slot to the Ironman World Championship, and 2,350 athletes earned the right to race in Kona. Here photographer Paul Phillips shares images from the epic day of racing on Oct. 14.