The last little climb up the Hawaiian Ironman finishing ramp felt like a mountain to Australian paratriathlon star Lauren Parker.
The 33-year-old achieved a major milestone on Friday (AEDT) when she finished the race - the first time she has raced at Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's main island in seven years.
Back then, Parker was an able-bodied triathlete and finished second in the 25-29 age group.
Then in April 2017, she suffered serious injuries in a bike crash.
Parker is now a Paralympic medallist and a world champion, but she had always wanted to return to Hawaii and finish again.
After the 3.8km swim and using a hand cycle for the 180km bike, Parker pushed her racing chair through the 42.2km marathon run.
Her arms just about gave out when it came to the small ramp up to the finish arch.
"I just had to keep moving my arms. It was really hard," she said of the marathon.
"Then that finishing ramp - that was probably the hardest hill in the whole race.
"At one stage I thought I was going to go backwards."
Parker finished the race in an outstanding 12 hours 20 minutes 35 seconds and was the only competitor in the women's hand cycle category..
It was well under the 14 hours she clocked earlier this year in her Ironman-distance debut as a paratriathlete.
"I have high expectations of myself. I had a goal of going two hours quicker than what I did at St George.
"I can't be more happy.
"I'm so happy that I was able to finish in a really good time.
"It's been my dream for the last five years since my accident, to come here and race as a para-athlete ... it's just unbelievable."
Parker is the first Australian woman to finish Hawaii in the handcycle category and she had plenty of support from fellow competitors and spectators during the race.
"It was unbelievable how many athletes yelled out encouragement to me," she said.
After winning silver in paratriathlon at the Tokyo Games, Parker is now focused on the Paris Paralympics.
