The diary is, due to the exhaustion of all of the team members short this evening. Let's start with the very upsetting news that the warhorse has had to pull up lame. In the end, it was none of the physical exertion of the challenge but a rogue virus that has done for him. A virus has laid him low and he woke up this morning with a soaring temperature (37.6, although in truth it was probably at least a couple of degrees more!). His condition worsened during the day and it is with a heavy heart that we have waved him goodbye this evening (the hope is that he will recuperate in time for London next weekend). John, we miss you.

As to the race itself, the race times of the team are set out below:

• Patrick - 3.09 (awesome performance from the red hot favourite). It was perhaps the thousands of wolf whistles that inspired him but, even so, an incredible performance.
• Conrad - 3.27 (noone believed it but independent witnesses have confirmed that the big man bossed the race from start to finish
• Angus - 3.33 ( typically strong from the ironman)
• Rob - 3.40 (not bad for a guy who worked 40 hours straight through until 8am yesterday morning)
• Giles - 3.41 ( he stayed with Conrad until mile 20 but could not keep pace with the Le Grande Fromage)
• Leon - 3.46 (would have been 3.10 had it not been for the wind catching in his chest hair the whole time)
• Seb/Rhys - 3.52 - crossed the line holding hands (although swiftly disengaged when spotted by some of the supporters). Again, awesome from the injured pair of the group
• John D - 3.55 (would have been 20 minutes quicker but for having to start at the back of the race (due to some appalling marathon bureaucracy).
• Will 3.59.38 (pure class and style, enough said).

So, buoyed by a clean sweep of sub-4 hour times and the agony that was a series of post race massages from Roberto (Leon's screams raised hotel security from their mid afternoon slumber), we move towards tomorrow's 75 mile cycle. Knackered but at peace.

But before we go, let's not forget the efforts of the elite team, their times were as follows: