Hi everyone! Just a few words to give you some impressions right after the race... Globally: a very satisfaying course. The swimming part was more difficult than I expected, mainly because of the cold water- well... for not saying "icy" water compared to what I'm use to swim in in Reunion Island...-. The cycling part was just ok and I definitely liked the run, even though it was challenging. Definitely a great race in a beautiful environnement, with an amazing organisation - thanks to Gui qnd Isabelle Hemerlin... and also all the volunteers who were all so devoted! And above all.... thanks to my wonderful wife who is always there for me to share those amazing moments. Thanks also to Sylvie who came all the way from Grenoble to be here and support me for the first time. This race was very important for me because I was testing how I could deal with a hal-ironman... And I think that the test was good and it's going to be very helpful in the preparation of my next gooal: the half ironman in South Africa in January.

During the awards ceremony for a Hawai running race, a debate ensues among competitors about who is more fit -- swimmers, runners or other athletes. One of the participants, Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy, dream up a race to settle the argument. They propose combining three existing races together, to be completed in succession: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (112 miles, originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). "Whoever finishes first we’ll call the Ironman," said Collins. Fifteen men participate in the initial event held on February 18; 12 complete the race, led by the first Ironman, Gordon Haller. His winning time: 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds.

For the first Ironman of the year in Malaysia, Sylvie, Brigitte, Soizic, Daniel, Jean, Robert, Dominique, Gérard, Philippe G,PhilippeL, Jean Marc and Roberto were at the meeting place !
For some of us, it was the first IRONMAN, and for others, their 19th ironman.
After a long and exhausting trip, we arrived in Malaysia.
The first night was full of emotions, and our motivation was as the top. Among the friends-triathletes from Reunion island, we were 12 races ready to enter this famous and international race « The Toughest show on earth ! » as the organisation says.
From Tuesday February 19th,we ride on the road of this beautiful island of Langkawi.
The route doesn’t seem to be very hard at th e beginning but after 3 laps all of us are persuaded that it’s going to be very really hard! Not only one shade on the road to shelter from the omnipresent sun and the extreme heat!!
No doubt that we’ll have to drink a lot of, even if we’re not thirsty!
If some of us worry a great dealover the swimming, as for me, I prefer to stay the hotel !
Im self-confident for the race !
There WERA ARE « D DAY » ! We wake up at 4.00 am and we go to tattoo numbers.
“How will be the race? That the big question. At the sametime we confort by thinking “THIS IS MY RACE ,I’M GOING TO GIVE ALL THE BEST I CAN, AND TO CONTROL IT IN PEAK CONDITIONS”
… Many surprises this day:
The first one: Imeet number 410, a French friend Rudy Descamps member of the ETC team.
The second one/ Belinda Granger’s kiss early on the morning! It’s a third time I met her on the “ tri-planet”. We make an appointement at the “Challenge France” on may 25th 2008.
Now, I’m at the start, it’s time to go and I’m eady to do my best.
From the very start of swimming I think about the 3800m.Iget out the water with P. LAURET. I’m the 166th over 703 (1H17).
After a quick transition, I take my slice Ironman Cannondale. During the 9th km behing “the sea view Hotel” I think I’ll have to cope the unevenness of the road cut by more or less slopping valleys.......AS TO FOLLOW.....