Defending Ironman Champion

Chrissie Wellington defended her Ironman World Championship Title in Kona.

Just what does this mean... The race takes 9 plus hours to complete, more time than you spend at a 9-5pm job. She started with a 2.4 mile swim, jumped on her bike for a 112 mile ride and then finished the day with a marathon (26.5 mile run).

The conditions in Kona are anything, but pleasant. Rough, twirling winds, 1,700 competitors. Bodies tangling together in the long ocean swim. And don't forget the marathon run.

Chrissie was in a strong spot entering into bike race. Unfortunately, things didn't go as smoothly as she had hoped on the bike. She got a flat tire, delaying her 10 minutes. Another competitor tossed her a canister to fill air in the tire. She was extremely grateful for this.

Her reaction, "I dealt with this with a smile. That's all you can do!" said Chrissie at a post race press conference.

Nonetheless she went on to win the race and defend her title from 2007.