ERIC BAKKE Maj. Bill Conner of Vista, who donned Marine attire in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on Saturday, crosses the finish line. Conner, 35, trained mostly while serving in Iraq.

The Vista resident didn't disappoint, wearing camouflage pants, a green T-shirt and boots for the entire 112-mile bike and marathon run.

For the bike, Conner, 35, had clip-on cleats put on the bottom of his boots by a mechanic at Nytro Multisport in Encinitas. He also wore a Kevlar helmet during the ride. He wore separate boots on the run.

Conner, who finished in 13 hours, 25 minutes, drew a variety of responses from racers and spectators.

“Man, that's incredible.”

“You're an inspiration.”

“I got a couple, 'Oh my gawds,' ” he said.

One frequent comment annoyed him. Repeatedly, people yelled, “Go Army!”

Recalled Conner: “I'd say, 'Marines.' Or I'd ignore 'em.”

Conner, who received a lottery spot for Ironman Hawaii, did the bulk of his training for the event during his fourth deployment, in Iraq.

He wore what Marines call “utes and boots” during the race as a dedication to all military personnel who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“The secondary reason was to remind everyone that we still have Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “As hard as that (race) day was, it was easy compared to what those Marines go through on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“(They put in) full 17-hour days, wearing full body armor. I didn't have to worry about anybody shooting at me. I didn't have to worry about any IEDs (improvised explosive devices).”

Conner was greeted at the finish by two of the 12 finishers from the original 1978 Ironman Hawaii. Retired Marines Tom Knoll and Henry Forrest saluted Conner as he crossed the finish line.

Don Norcross: (619) 293-1803; don.norcross@uniontrib.com