The final set of Timothy Carlson's favorite images of 2008 covers the 30th anniversary of the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, the 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida and returns to Hawaii for the Ultraman World Championships.
Part 1 of "Best of 2008" is right here.
Part 2 of of "Best of 2008" is right here
All images are © Timothy Carlson 2008
The 30th cavalry charge swim start at Ironman Hawaii.
Crowie, Faris Al-Sultan and Macca emerge from the chaos of the swim. As it turns out, the 2008, 2005 and 2007 champs.
Chrissie Wellington, never again the dark horse, took control at Mile 20 of the bike, then made up for an 11-minute stop for a flat - thanks to Rebekah Keat.
Bryan Rhodes leads a chase pack 40 miles into the bike.
Faris Al-Sultan had not fully recovered from early season woes, but his form was classic on Alii Drive.
NBC helicopter stalks Craig Alexander on his way to Kona glory.
Andy Potts finds redemption with his 7th place Kona debut after deep Olympic disappointment.
Shingo Tani feels the joy.
Chrissie Wellington celebrates her second triumph by doing the Blazeman Roll.
Chrissie sheds tears of joy holding her crown to the sky.
Terenzo Bozzone blazes into the swim at Clearwater.
Joanna Zeiger led virtually wire to wire wins her first World Championship – at age 38 - at Clearwater.
Terenzo flies into the lead on the bridge and withstood a late charge by Andreas Raelert to take the 2008 Ironman 70.3 World Championship at the tender age of 23.
Ageless Joe Bonness flies with a smile on the run.
Andreas Raelert failed to make his third Olympic team, but earned his World Championship silver with a 1:10 run, zooming past eight rivals.
Andy Potts (6th) finds it’s often a thankless task to try for a Kona-Clearwater double.
Ultraman looks primal slogging through a 10km swim.
Peter Kotland flies past bright tropical red flowers on the first day bike. Kotland took 4th in his return to the 320-mile event 11 years after his 5:33 double marathon:
Todd Crandell rides along Ultraman’s Red Road, a volcanic vent throwing a steaming cloud in the background.
Alexandre Ribeiro’s young son paces his father (right) and Miro Kregar (center) at Mile 34 of the final day’s double marathon at Ultraman.
