
Karen Smith produced an outstanding performance, reminiscent of her Ironman World Championships age group win in Kona, to comfortably win her 50-54 age group ( 41 in age group) at Sunday’s Ironman Hamburg. In doing so she finished an impressive 12th amongst all women participants and ahead of a number of the professional women in the field.
The race was reduced to a duathlon as the high temperatures Europe has been experiencing meant that the algae count in the water made the swim unsafe and the swim was replaced by a 6km run.
Karen completed the first 6km run in 27 min 04 secs, the 2nd fastest in her age group and then produced an impressive 5 hr 03 min 36 sec bike at an average of 35.29km an hour for the 180km which put her into the lead in her age group.
Karen then consolidated her lead with a very quick 3 hrs 33 min 44 sec marathon to finish in 9 hr 14 min 02 secs.
Allowing for perhaps an additional 35 mins if there had been a swim, this equates to around a 9hrs 50 min Ironman ; impressive !
Meanwhile in Canada, Dianna White took on her first Ironman at Ironman Canada in Whistler, BC , a tough course, and completed the course in 15 hrs 02 min 58 secs and 39th out of 64 in her 35-39 age group.
Dianna completed the swim in 1hr 35 min in 61st position in her age group but moved up to 45th after the bike with a 7hr 59 min 22 sec split. She then completed the 42km run in 5:15:41.
Congrats to Dianaa ; you are an Ironman Finisher !