Rob Moorhead Lane, Fiona Ford's partner, sent us this report from the start.

Well, I am here in Hawaii and the race has started, waking up this morning at 4:15am and getting down to the pier was a surreal experience, and one I definitely will be thinking about in April in Arizona when I next line-up to try to grab a slot at the big race that is the Ford Hawaii Ironman world championships.

Fi got to the pier in good time and went through the ritual of getting her bike ready for the race to come. Watching the machine that is the organisation of this race it is amazing to think that they can muster so many volunteers for this race year after year. The swim start was a spectacular affair and with the sun coming up over the volcano and the Hawaii blessing ringing out over the water and then BOOM the cannon sounds out for the pro swim start.

Fifteen minutes later and BOOM, there goes the age group start. 45 minutes later and the first pack of pros came in with a large pack off the front containing the favourite for the mens race, Chris McCormack, and Michellie Jones, the current champ in the ladies race. A few minutes later the current mens champ Normann Stadler came in, then no more than a minute later a huge pack of pro athletes came in led by none other than Scott Neyedli. Fi came out some 10 minutes later around 1 hour 5 mins.

Out onto the bike and I saw Scott, Leanda Cave, Jo Carrit and Fiona all looking good as they headed out onto the legendary Queen K, all is looking good for a fast race as it seems to be quite still today, although without the wind it means there is major heat here today and it is going to be HOT out in those lava fields.

Ed: of course, as those of us following the race online already know, the whole race has turned upside down since Rob wrote this!! We will have a full report up post-race in time for your breakfast reading.