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While Michael Raelert pulled an upset and upstaged his older brother Andreas's impressive second place debut last year, Julie Dibens redeemed two disappointing fourth place finishes and fulfilled a long held dream to win a world title on pavement. Along the way, Raelert smashed last year's already impressive world record time by six minutes with his 3:34:10 clocking and Julie Dibens broke the four hour barrier for women at the 70.3 distance by 27 seconds with a 3:59:33 mark. However easy the course itself may have been, bereft of hills as it is, the sheer speed left a lot of high quality wreckage outside the top 10. A pre race chilly northeaster whipped up waves and chop, forcing WTC officials to move the swim from the open Gulf to the protected waters of the harbor.

Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

Michael Raelert pulled an upset, Julie Dibens redeemed two disappointing fourth place finishes and fulfilled a long held dream to win a world title on pavement and along the way, records were set and many renowned triathletes were humbled at the Foster Grant Ironman 70.23 World Championships in Clearwater.

Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

More Ironman Hawaii winner images by Timothy Carlson ranging from Tim DeBoom's post 9/11 victory in 2001 to the "I love Taco Bell" Faris Al Sultan win in 2005.

This era begins with Tim DeBoom’s stirring repeat victories in 2001- 2002, marking the return of an American champion to follow in Mark Allen’s footsteps 7 years after The Grip abdicated his throne. In a preview of Normann Stadler’s coming attractions, Steve Larsen’s dominatingly fast 4:33:32 bike into killer winds in 2001 hinted that male cyclists would no longer remain in a supporting role. Stadler fulfilled that omen, broke the paradigm that the men’s Kona battle always goes to a runner’s, and fulfilled a generation of German uberbikers’ dreams with a killer bike and a solid run to glory in 2004. This is also the apex of the Swiss Miss’s greatness as Natascha Badmann took her third through sixth Kona titles in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. During this period, only Canadian Lori Bowden broke Badmann’s string, overcoming a 7-minute deficit to Badmann with a 3:02:10 run in 2003. While Badmann’s 3:13:45 run in 2003 dropped her to second and gave false credence to the canard that she could not run – Natascha’s 3:06:25 marathon in 2005 that trumped Michellie Jones’ 6-minute lead erased those doubts. The shockingly fast race day domination by Nina Kraft in the 2004 women’s race seemed like an earthquake as the great Natascha Badmann wondered if her time was past when she arrived in T2 20 minutes down to Nina the Machina. The good aspect of Kraft’s post-race EPO positive, quick admission of guilt, subsequent two-year ban and prolonged period of disgrace and atonement was that drug cheating at Kona seemed to have a terrible risk-reward ratio. The bad aspect was not so much the dark cloud that visited the Ironman’s previously pristine rep, but the fact that Badmann was robbed of the well-earned privilege of basking in the winner’s adulation on Alii Drive. In 2005, Faris Al-Sultan proved once again that Ironman Hawaii was a multicultural domain when he became the third German and the first man of Arab heritage to take the Kona title.


All images © Timothy Carlson

The Windy City, home of the Cubs and White Sox, the Bears and the Bulls and the Blackhawks, Soldier Field, Harry Caray and Mike Ditka, one of the world’s fastest marathons, a NASCAR race track, and a 2016 Olympics finalist bidder, is also home to the world’s biggest triathlon. On August 30, Jan Caille’s Chicago Triathlon celebrated its 27th edition, welcoming more than 9,000 age group competitors over two days in events ranging from the McDonalds kids triathlon and a Super Sprint event on Saturday to a sprint and Olympic distance race in Sunday. All in all on the big final day, there were 57 age group waves that included the newly created Accenture Paralympic Challenge for 25 men and women from the Challenged Athlete Foundation, a category for police, elite amateurs, Clydesdales and Athenas, relays, and a sprint mountain bike division.

But when all is said and done, the lure of triathlon Chicago is the thrill of swimming in Monroe Harbor where your family and friends can cheer right next to you on the seawall, bike on the superfast Lakeshore Drive past Chicago’s world class glass and steel architectural wonders, and run though Grant Park and around the Shedd Aquarium with an unparalleled vista of Chicago’s waterfront and skyline. It’s an living ribbon of people in multicolored neoprene and formfitting spandex wrapping up one of the world’s great cities as well as conceptual artist Christo ever could.

Photo gallery by Timothy Carlson

The Chicago Triathlon is a North American non-drafting classic with a history of recognizing triathletic greatness throughout its 27-year history. Winners have included Hall of Famers Spencer Smith, Simon Lessing, Craig Walton, Chris McCormack, Mike Pigg, Greg Welch, and top rank women like Michellie Jones, Joanna Zeiger, Emma Snowsill, Karen Smyers, Barb Lindquist and Becky Lavelle. Sunday, Matt Reed and Sarah Haskins joined their ranks with great performances, aided in part by the unfortunate crashes of Andy Potts and Julie Dibens. The swim in the close quarters Monroe Harbor, the bike along the steel and glass canyons of speedy Lakeshore Drive, and the run around the aquarium all offer an urban amphitheater unparalleled in the sport.

Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

The 2009 Leadville 100 mountain bike race was won by Lance Armstrong in a new course record time. The women's race was won by Rebecca Rusch. We had shooter Eric Wynn present to capture the feel of this increasingly popular marathon event. Part 1 of 2.

Here is a link to part 2

All images are © Eric Wynn

As the race continued, the intensity increased and the fans and spectators were treated to quite a show. Along the way Lance Armstrong crushed the course record by over 15 minutes, just as Dave Wiens did in 2008, and just as Wiens had done in 2008, Lance crossed the line in 2009 with a flat tire. The record was 6:45:45 and now stands at 6:28:50, thanks in part to some very strong fellow Trek riders pushing the pace. Part 2 of 2.

Here is a link to part 1

All images are © Eric Wynn

Someone said that Wildflower was so tough it was the equivalent of a 3/4 of an Ironman. Throw in typically tough international fields, the rugged rolling hills on the bike plus Nasty Grade, and the rugged hilly trails filled with rocks and off camber single track, and the four hour mark for men stood for 23 years until Simon Lessing broke through. After Lessing, the deluge as Terenzo Bozzone smashed that mark to smithereens in 2006 with a 3:53. The race is known as the Woodstock of Triathlon as thousands of enthusiastic fans jam the campgrounds to cheer on the pros and doughty amateurs, with the finishers ranging from 4 to 8-plus hours. It's unique ands one of the great triathlon challenges on the planet.

The Wildflower Olympic distance event used to be the default Collegiate National Championship before they had to share it. Now the field is more Pacific-centric but it’s near that quality. It has also always attracted some of the best age group triathletes in the US to its tough hills, bright sunshine and warm camaraderie. Also, the eccentricity level is equal to or better than Saturday’s half Ironman-distance test.

When it started, the Boulder 5430 Long Course was a red-headed stepchild to the classic, sold out Boulder Peak triathlon. The first year they tried a full Iron-distance race and entries were scarce. The first time organizers tried a half-Iron distance event, there were 250 entries. But with small but very elite fields and a gorgeous course, race directors Barry and Jodee Siff nursed the long course to an artistic and business success, culminated with a sold out field of 1,400, four World Champions in the elite field (Chrissie Wellington - Ironman, Joanna Zeiger Ironman 70.3, Julie Dibens - Xterra and Leon Griffin – 2006 ITU Duathlon short course), and two blazing fast course records (Tim O’Donnell’s 3:45:51 and Julie Dibens’ 4:10:58.) All on a mild, sunny day in triathlon’s Rocky Mountain Mecca. With the sale of their Boulder races to the World Triathlon Corporation, Barry and Jodee bid a sweet, well-done adieu to one of the sport’s great races.

Timothy O'Donnell and Catriona Morrison came away with great wins at the 2009 Ironman 70.3 St. Croix. Photographer Ramon Serrano captured great images of the event.


All images are ©Ramser1photo.com

Greg Bennett and wife Laura Bennett were riding high in 2007 when he scored a perfect 5-for5 wins in the Life Time Fitness Olympic distance series and won $500,000 in prize money and bonuses. That same year, Laura won $200,000 at the inaugural Hy-Vee triathlon and also took home a sponsor’s Hummer. Being intelligent, family-oriented types, they didn’t blow all their prize money on fancy clothes and buying drinks for all the swells in all the usual watering holes. Instead, they built a beautiful house in Boulder’s gorgeous Wonderland Lake area and went about their business.

In Laura’s case, that meant making her first Olympic team and making creative training choices to sidestep a malfunctioning leg and take home a top American 4th place at Beijing. In Greg’s case, that meant overcoming an early season slip to take his third straight Life Time Fitness series crown and beginning to build their coaching business, starting with a strong 8th place finish at Ironman Hawaii for budding Swiss star Matthias Hecht under Bennett’s direction.

In 2009, Laura has spent the better part of the year getting her pre-Beijing injuries in line. Greg himself was out of action with leg troubles until July when he opened up with a cautious third place at Minneapolis and took a strong win at New York in the second round of the Life Time Series. But Greg’s year took a turn for the worse when he got hit by a daydreaming driver just a mile from home after an exhilarating 55-mile training ride up Boulder’s mountains.

A busted nose, cut and bruises on his leg and a badly twisted shoulder put Bennett back on a long road to recovery. Five weeks after the hit, Bennett was able to swim and bike and run again, aided by an intense regimen of recovery.

Photo gallery by Timothy Carlson

Matt Reed took the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis against some stellar competition and after a very tough finish sprint. The women's race was won by Sarah Haskins, who did not have to sprint at the end as she had a comfortable 2 minute lead at the end.

Eric Wynn was up and close in Minneapolis to take images of the athletes and their surroundings.

All images are © Eric Wynn

www.erycwynn.org

Slowtwitcher John McGovern joined Clas Bjorling, Jonas Colting, Bjorn Andersson and a few other folks at the 2009 Tour of Sweden training camp. They encountered long days in the saddle, stunning vistas, all kinds of weather, a variety of food, reindeer, drunks and more. New friendships were born, extraordinary fitness was gained and quite a bit of weight was lost. Plus there are endless stories, some of them were told by John McGovern on the Slowtwitch home page, but others will forever be kept secret. But you can enjoy these impressions of the 2009 Tour of Sweden training camp.

Links to John McGovern's daily updates.

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With her three Ironman wins in 2008, Belinda Granger moved up into the realm of Ironman-distance stars. Her 11 victories at the distance include three Ironman Koreas, two wins at Ironman Malaysia and Ironman Canada, and single triumphs at Ironman China, Ironman Lake Placid and Quelle Challenge Roth. Her bike is deadly, and sports a 4:48:08 Ironman bike split PR to back it up. And, while finishing 4th at Roth last year, she cracked the nine-hour barrier.

But in addition to her triumphs, the 38-year-old Australian star recently displayed that she is as tough as anyone in the sport. After three Ironman wins in 2008, Granger was ready to rumble at Ironman Hawaii but found her right leg going numb and her bike split and overall finish were nowhere near her accustomed level. After three months of diagnostic detective work, doctors discovered that she had a thickening of the wall of the external iliac artery, which restricted blood flow to the leg. Granger opted for surgery, which required doctors to use a part of a vein from her lower leg to repair the artery. But before the surgery, Granger elected to defend her Ironman Malaysia title. Somehow she managed to finish the bike leg 20 minutes ahead of her opposition, with just 25 percent of the usual blood flow in her leg, and set a new course record.

After successful surgery in February, Granger had to completely cease swim, bike and run training. Three months later, she outdueled 2006 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Samantha McGlone to win the Honu Ironman 70.3 in Hawaii. In July, she felt ready to challenge former Team TBB member Chrissie Wellington at Quelle Challenge Roth. But after she got hit by a car, Granger could only struggle to a disappointing 5th place finish.

Back in Boulder to train, Belinda and husband Justin Granger settled into the hard work necessary to try for an Ironman Canada three-peat. This photo gallery contains a week in the life of final training sessions in the triathlon Mecca of Boulder.

Timothy Carlson picked out his favorite triathlon images of 2008 and divided them into 3 galleries.
Starting with the National Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Carlson captured the fiercest of competitions, the joy of victory and the agony of a not so prefect race.



Part 2 of "Best of 2008" is right here.
Part 3 of of "Best of 2008" is right here

All images are © Timothy Carlson 2008

The second part of Timothy Carlson's favorite triathlon pictures of 2008 continues with the World Championships in Vancouver, Canada and touches a few races in Colorado.



Part 1 of "Best of 2008" is right here.
Part 3 of of "Best of 2008" is right here

All images are © Timothy Carlson 2008

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

Little kids as young as three years old wear floaties on their arms and get to walk through 40 yards of shallow water for the swim. With anxious parents hovering nearby in case of a fall, they dry off, put on helmets, and get on everything from Princess style bikes with glittery pink tassels and training wheels to tricycles and round a parking lot. The run for these pre-kindergarteners consists of a 60-yard out and back holding on to a parent’s hand When needed. At the finish, 2008 elite winners Joanna Zeiger and Simon Thompson hand out green finishers’ yo-yos. By the time the 13-14 year old waves starts, some kids blitz through a 200-yard swim, a 4-mile bike and a 1-mile run with ferocity, others survive with unconquerable smiles.

Many athletes who competed in the 2009 Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, hustled to Boulder, CO later that day to race the 2009 Boulder Peak triathlon on Sunday. For many pros though that just meant to return home immediately after Saturday's event to the big Boulder triathlete town. Timothy O'Donnell won the men's race and Mary Beth Ellis took the women's title.

All images © Eric Wynn www.ericwynn.org