In October of 1988, Triathlete Magazine published a year-by-year review of the first decade of the Hawaii Ironman, written by then-editor, C.J. Olivares. Ironmanlive.com correspondent T.J. Murphy --- also former editor of Triathlete --- revisits the special edition's tribute, "10 Years of Ironman."

Ironman I
Date: February 18, 1978
Location: Waikiki Beach, Oahu
Entry Fee: $3 
Starters: 15 
Finishers: 12
Winner: Gordon Haller 11:46

Gordon Haller wins the first Ironman in 11:46

"John Dunbar, a former Navy Seal, leads most of the race. But during the run, he becomes dehydrated and exchanges the lead several times with Gordon Haller, a Honolulu cab driver. Dunbar's crew gives him some beer, and within minutes, he is drunk and delirious, stumbling into parked cars. Haller pulls away from Dunbar decisively at 21 miles, and goes to cut the tape, running the last five miles in an amazing 31 minutes."