In a time when many companies cut budgets and take away perks, the Rev3 group is stepping up to the plate in a different way. They announced $125,000 of additional prize money for the 3 Rev3 events.

When we train for a big event we sometimes forget the world around us. But sometimes the world catches up with us when we least expect it, and that was especially true for 2 athletes who raced in this weekend’s Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach.

WTC requires pros to pay $750 annual fee which will ensure complimentary entries to regular Ironman ($550) and Ironman 70.3 ($300) events in 2010, puts members on list for random drug testing, sets time standards for Ironman qualifying and prize money.

US National Champion Matt Chrabot won his first ITU World Cup with a kamikaze charge on brutally hot and hilly bike course in Huatulco, Mexico. Japan’s Ai Ueda took the title in the women’s race.

Kirill Kotshegarov, 23-year-old Estonian, takes lead with race-best 4:28:03 bike and hangs on to win in 8:24:29; Belgian Sofie Goos combines 2nd-best 4:52:24 bike and 3:11:29 run to win Ironman Florida in 9:08:38.

The new Abu Dhabi Triathlon is coming up in March and we were there to check out the course and the surroundings.

IMG announces new race director Bill Burke for May 30 Escape from Alcatraz, former Escape RD Terry Davis and Tri-California start up new Alcatraz Triathlon August 29, and Dave Horning sails ahead with 30th Annual Ultimate Escape on June 20.

For a couple months now there have been rumors about a new triathlon in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and today the race was finally unveiled. Race date is March 13, 2010 and two unique distances can be conquered on that day in a very unique location.

Courtney Atkinson defended his title and teenager Emma Jackson won her first major victory over more experienced rivals at the famed Noosa Triathlon in Australia.

Desiree Ficker, 2006 Ironman Hawaii runner-up, is 10th overall woman, 2nd American woman; Meb Keflezighi first US men’s winner in 27 years at NYC Marathon.

The Frazz comic strip has given many of us a laugh as the stories seem to take pages out of our lives. Jef Mallett from Lansing, Michigan is the man behind Frazz and he recently published Trizophrenia – Inside the Minds Of a Triathlete.

Today What We Have Noticed a popular applesauce from Europe, running shoes from Rockport, a race repair kit from Vittoria, and a statement t-shirt from Typetees.

At the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships, Max “Rocco” Renko won the 18-24 age group and posted the 3rd fastest age group time overall. This young Austrian athlete is not only very fast, he also has quite a few things to say.

The 2009 XTERRA World Championships in Maui were captured for slowtwitch by Eric Wynn.

We’re going to start varying effort levels, week to week. But first, let’s talk about wetsuits. At some point you’ll want to consider investing in one.

I wage battle with one of our committee members to see who can email the other fastest when we get a new entry. He’s ahead, and we are both pathetic.

The USA’s Timothy O’Donnell trumped his big win at St. Croix 70.3 with gold at ITU Long Distance World Championship at Perth; Great Britain’s Jodie Swallow smashes the field by 11 minutes as Rebekah Keat takes silver.

Eneko Llanos avenged his somewhat disappointing Ironman Hawaii performance with a superb win at the 2009 XTERRA World Championships in Maui. Julie Dibens captured her third title in a row with a dominating performance in the women’s race.

Joanna Zeiger, the 2008 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, comes back from baffling mid-season dizziness syndrome to win Longhorn Ironman 70.3 Austin in impressive time. Aussie Richie Cunningham defends title with a 1:48 margin over Brian Fleischmann.

After an exciting first year of their new World Championship Series, the ITU adds Sydney, Seoul and Budapest, but drops Washington DC and leaves North and South America off the seven-race 2010 schedule.

What kind of bikes were the top 15 pro women riding at the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii? Slowtwitch has images and details of the women and their machines. Well, we have pictures and data of the top 10 and information but no pics for 11-15.

Christian Mueller was the fastest overall age grouper in Kona this year with a 1:00:21 swim, a 4:47:09 bike and a 3:08:11 run for a 9:01:32 total time. That was good enough for 32nd place overall and thus a great bib number for 2010.

With the Maui 2009 XTERRA World Championships coming up this weekend, many eyes will be on Conrad Stoltz, Nicolas Lebrun and last year’s winner Ruben Luzafa. One dark horse on not so many lists is Richard Ussher.

Today slowtwitch.com looked closer at the top 15 male runners at the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships. Check out the running shoes and strides of these amazing athletes.