Parys Edwards second on return to racing at IRONMAN 70.3 Durban

When I wrote an article on Friday called When the weather strikes..., I hadn't at that point forecast that race format changes would also be required at IRONMAN 70.3 Durban.

The PRO race start was delayed due to rough sea conditions - but for Age-Groupers, they didn't get to swim at all, their event amended to a bike-run format.

Great Britain's Parys Edwards won this race last year as part of a run of seemingly hitting the podium every time she raced, but she has been quiet of late due to injury, so it's great to see her back out there. While she was last of the five Pro women starters with a 35:04 swim (eight minutes behind renowned water queen Lucie Zelenkova), Edwards went to work on the bike and set the fastest bike split by approaching two minutes to reach T2 in second place, just over two minutes down on eventual winner Annah Watkinson (RSA). Running very similar times over the half marathon, Watkinson crossed the line three minutes clear with ClaIre Horner (RSA) a further ten minutes back.

Winning last week at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire, Matt Trautman showed no hangover from that effort with a course record-breaking victory

IRONMAN 70.3 Durban - Sunday 19th June 2016
1.9km / 90km . 21.1km

MEN

1st - Matt Trautman (RSA) - 3:53:36
2nd - James Cunnama (RSA) - 4:06:47
3rd - Freddy Lampret (RSA) 4:09:13

WOMEN

1st - Annah Watkinson (RSA) - 4:35:41
2nd - Parys Edwards (GBR) - 4:38: 48
3rd - Claire Horner (RSA) - 4:48:22