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Lisa Norden-- London 2012 Olympic Triathlon Preview Video

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Switzerland's Caroline Steffen on top at ITU Long Distance World Triathlon Championship

A killer bike leg helped Caroline Steffen to her second ITU Long Distance World Triathlon Championship, as she turned a lead at T2 into a world title winning margin ahead of Denmark's Camilla Pedersen and Great Britain's Jodie Swallow in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
 
Steffen - who also won this title in 2010 - paid tribute to the Spanish crowd, as thousands lined the streets to cheer on the elite and age-group athletes in Spain's basque country.
 
"Of course I'm very happy, it's another title, my second one, I'm really glad I had a good race today," she said. "I never saw as many people on a race course before. It was unbelievable on the bike and on the run."The eventual medallists emerged right from the start in Spain, as Swallow exited the water first, with Pedersen and Steffen just a few minutes behind. While Swallow pushed the pace at the front for the first lap, Steffen took the lead at the start of the second 60km lap and didn't look back. She left T2 with a six minute lead on the field, and with the third-fastest run split of the day, it was more than enough to hold on to win. Steffen crossed the line for gold in a time of 6 hours 4 minutes and 17 seconds, a full five minutes ahead of Denmark's Pedersen who claimed her first ITU World Championship medal.

Australia's Chris McCormack wins the 2012 ITU Long Distance World Championship

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain (July 29th 2012) - Australia's Chris McCormack wins the 2012 ITU Long Distance World Championships, over the 4km swim, 120km bike and 30km run in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain today.

Australia's Chris McCormack added the ITU Long Distance World Championship to his already impressive resume with a stellar run leg in Vitoria-Gasteiz on Sunday, bettering Spain's Eneko Llanos and Luxembourg's Dirk Bockel over the 4km swim, 120km bike and 30km run.
 
The 1997 ITU World Champion and two-time Kona winner said it was one of the most special wins of his career, largely thanks to the huge crowd gathered in Spain's basque country.
 
"It was incredible...there was so many people on run course today and it really made the run fast," McCormack said. "It's a fantastic victory for me, I've won lots of races in my life but this one is very special."

Video Preview: 2012 Olympic Triathlon Course

The 2012 London Olympics Triathlon is just days away. The women's race is scheduled for August 4th and the men's race for August 7th. But if you are curious about the course that the men and women will race...just check out the video above.

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The pros and cons of working out early....very early

Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Time to wake up and get moving.  Maybe you use the beeping alarm, music alarm or some other form of AM torture set to get you up before any decent person should be.  Whatever you use, if you are human, getting up before daylight to get a workout in is a tall order.  If you do that day after day, it’s even harder.  Add in family, kids and a job and it’s almost impossible without a psychotic episode.
 
Some people avoid the AM workouts by hitting the pavement or pool over lunch, after work or before bedtime after dinner.  It’s a tough balance when you have your plate full with a busy day already to squeeze in an hour ride or hour and a half BRIK workout.  Forget about a 7 hour century ride.
 
Let’s think about the morning workout.  Get a cold shiver at losing some sleep?  Check out some pros and cons for the zombie workout.

Ben Greenfield passes along some important race lessons from the Tiger Triathlon

As a pre-race tune-up before I go defend my gold medal at ITU Long Course World Championships in Spain, I dropped into the Tiger Triathlon.

This race is advertised as a "quarter Ironman".

Which basically seems to be a 1K swim, a 40K bike, and an 8K run. I'm not quite sure how the math on that works out with the run part, but whatever - I'm in!

So I showed up on race morning with 2 kids, 2 dogs and my wife (bless her heart, once I took off on the swim she was left with all 4 of them) and with the help(?) of my 4 year old boys set up transition area in a blistering 20 minutes, with barely enough time left over to put on my brand new Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit (thanks B70 guys!) and rush down to the water.

The swim horn sounded and we were off. Here's where I remembered an important lesson:

Review: A new 7 passenger Mercedes-Benz GL for the luxury loving endurance athlete

The new second generation of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL will be at your local dealership in the fall of this year.

For 2013 Mercedes-Benz has completely revamped the model line including the V8 Mercedes-Benz GL 450, 550 and the diesel BlueTec 350.

Our sister blog (TFLcar.com) recently had a chance to drive all three version of the GL in New Mexico both on and off-road and came away impressed by the list of luxury and safety items that are now both standard and available on the biggest 7 passenger luxury SUV in the Mercedes Benz lineup of new cars.

Check out this first drive reviews as they put all three versions of the newest Mercedes to the test.

U.S.A. triathletes to compete for Long Distance World Titles in Spain this weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Ten recent national and world champions highlight a team of more than 100 athletes representing Team USA at the 2012 International Triathlon Union Long Distance Triathlon World Championships on Sunday in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

All athletes will complete a 4-kilometer swim, 120-kilometer bike and 30-kilometer run with action beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time with the elite wave. The first age group wave is set for 8:40 a.m. Visit triathlon.org for more information on the event.

Team USA features more than 100 age-groupers who qualified for Long Distance Worlds at the 2011 USA Triathlon Long Course National Championships held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., or the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon. Six athletes who won age-group national titles in 2011 are on the start list:

Overall and F35-39: Jolene Wilkinson (Boise, Idaho)
M35-39: Jerome Isakov (New York, N.Y.)
Masters and M40-44: Dave Slavinski (Point Pleasant, N.J.)
F50-54: Julie Malliet-Nowak (Mount Hore, Wis.)
M55-59: William Martin (Gaithersburg, Md.)
F60-64: Dorothy Rich (Manakin-Sabot, Va.)

In addition, four medalists from 2011 ITU Long Distance Worlds, held in Las Vegas suburb Henderson, Nev., are aiming for top performances in Vitoria-Gasteiz - world champions Armand Moini (18-19, Davis, Calif.), Ben Greenfield (30-34, Spokane, Wash.) and Roger Little (70-74, Bedford, Mass.); and silver medalist Kyle Welch (50-54, Sunnyvale, Calif.)

Team USA is comprised of the nation's top amateur triathletes who represent the United States at each ITU world championship event.

Photo Credit: 2011 National Champion Jolene Wilkinson joins more than 100 U.S. athletes set to race on Sunday. (CIMAGES/USA Triathlon)

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Video of the day: Triathlon Live coming to a U.K. city near you during the summer's London 2012 Olympic Games

Vancouver, Canada - 'Triathlon Live' will be launching shortly in the UK at eight locations during this summer's London 2012 Olympic Games. The live hubs will allow fans and novices alike the next best experience to competing in the triathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as the opportunity to cheer on their national teams via the big screens at each location.
 
Triathlon Live will appear in eight major UK cities during the triathlon events of the London 2012 Olympic Games from Saturday 4 August to Tuesday 7 August. Triathlon Live will run for the entire duration of the Games at "Triathlon HQ" in Hyde Park at BT London Live. Triathlon Live will feature big screens and 'Give it a Tri' event spaces, offering community triathlon events and broadcasts of the events on the giant screens at each of the following locations:

Bristol - Millennium Square - August 4- 7
Cardiff - The Hayes - August 4- 7
Coventry - Millennium Place - August 4- 7
Edinburgh - Festival Square - August 4- 7
Leeds - Millennium Square - August 4- 7
Leicester - Humberstone Gate - August 4- 7
London Hyde Park - BT London Live - July 28 - August 12
Manchester - Exchange Square - August 4-7

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Photo of the day: IM champ Chrissie Wellington gives stand-up paddle boarding a try in Miami

It looks like IM champ Chrissie Wellington is enjoying here time away from Ironman racing. According to the press release that came along with these photos today:

"Four-time Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington is no stranger to open waters, but she took her water skills to a new level last week in Miami when she learned to paddle board during the Oakley Learn to Ride at the Muscle Milk Fitness Retreat. Wellington was part of the event that included two days of exclusive and unique fitness instruction from the world’s top athletes and trainers.

She was joined by pro surfer Erica Hosseini and SUPcore creator Noelle Kozak who taught the triathlete how to brave the waves and stand-up paddle board during the Oakley Learn to Ride on the shores of South Beach."

Team EverymanTRI TransRockies Run 2012: The joy of trail running revealed

Probably like you, I grew up playing and watching sports, putting posters of my elite idols on my bedroom wall, and reading intently about team dynamics, shattered course records, and the accomplishment of what seemed physically impossible.

In other words, in whatever sport I followed, the elite were a pack of immortals that existed solely on screen, in print, and on my pedestal.

In my 20's, when I started marathoning, I was turned on by the notion that I, as an amateur, would be able to compete in the same race, at the same time, as my heroes.  In what other sport is this possible?  Even with a few corrals separating us, I felt privileged to be sharing the road with professionals.

In my 30's, when triathlon had my attention, the thrill was even greater, because I was actually standing in the same transition area pre-race, readying my gear.  I was so close to those I admired, I could see what brand of sunscreen they use.   And often on an out-and-back course, I witnessed the battle for podium as they hauled ass back in my direction.   Pretty exciting stuff for a sports nerd.

Aussie Triathlete Erin Densham wins last ITU race before the London Olympics

Hamburg, Germany (July 22, 2012) - Erin Densham (AUS) added another highlight to her already stellar year on Sunday, this time pulling away from Emma Moffatt (AUS) and Sarah Groff (USA) in Hamburg to record her second ITU World Triathlon Series win of 2012.
 
It was the third time Densham had raced in Hamburg and her first podium, and she said it was brilliant to win in front of the great Hamburg crowd.
 
"It is awesome, they are always out, they are so passionate, and they do drive you on," she said. "It's just great to race here."
 
While Densham's other win in Sydney this year started with a strong swims, this time she came out of the water almost 30 seconds behind the leaders Pamela Oliveira, Moffatt, Groff, Aileen Morrison, and Rachel Klamer and was 20 seconds down leaving transition despite having the fastest T1 time. But in a busy first bike lap, Densham managed to get herself into the 19-strong lead bike pack, as did Anja Dittmer, Ricarda Lisk and Kate Roberts.

The "I Don't Have Enough Time To Do A Sprint Triathlon This Weekend" Workout

Triathlons can take time.

You gotta register, possibly get a hotel room, drive to the race, unpack, set up transition, wait for the race to start, race, wait for awards, sit through awards, then pack again and go home.

Sure, part of racing is that rich, social experience, and the cool medal you get, but sometimes time just doesn't permit racing!

So, here's a challenging, "I Don't Have Enough Time To Do A Sprint Triathlon This Weekend" workout. It will leave you gasping for oxygen at the gym just as if you’ve crossed the finish line of a sprint triathlon, and give you a similar training effect.

South African Richard Murray wins his first ever ITU World Triathlon race

Hamburg, Germany (July 22, 2012) - A plan to go all out in the run carried South Africa's Richard Murray to his first ITU World Triathlon Series win in spectacular style, as he blew away everyone except Javier Gomez and then outsprinted him in the final few hundred metres in Hamburg on Saturday.  Germany's Steffen Justus excited the home crowds, taking bronze in a furiously fast race in Hamburg.

"I think it's probably the most spectacular one of the whole series, just because of the crowd and the ambience, and because Hamburg city is so amazing," said Murray. "It was amazing running with Javi, it was definitely an amazing experience."

Review: Simply Hydration is a clever & useful new water bottle

When you’re out running long distances, fluids are a must.  You need to stay hydrated to stave off heat exhaustion, cramps and bonks in general.  Even when the temps are below freezing, you need fluids.
 
It’s easier when you’re on group runs with planned aid stations or running around developed areas with at least water fountains here and there.  Fluids are aplenty and mobile hydration isn’t as much a necessity.
 
But, what if you’re on a lone 18 miler that leads you on long open roads with no water fountains or aid stations to speak of?  What if you race using your special hydration mix that’s more than the standard sports drink?  How do you carry what you need?
 
There are several options for water bottle belts.  Some have small bottles that hook on at various points on the belt.  Some will support a large water bottle situated to minimize bottle movement and chafing.  Some runners even use water bladders in specially designed backpacks for long runs.

Last chance for Team U.S.A. Olympic triathletes to race before the Olympics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With six Americans on the start list, the final ITU World Triathlon Series stop before the 2012 Olympic Games is set for this weekend with the Dextro Energy World Triathlon Hamburg.

With the London Games on the horizon, the sprint-distance Hamburg event features a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run. The men's race is set for 12:25 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, followed by the women at 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.