The 2007 U23 World Champion Lisa Norden has matured quite a bit and sits in second place in the Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series. She is currently in Yokohama, Japan and had a few words with slowtwitch before the big race.

Pro and amateur triathletes will be competing in races around the globe this weekend, including but not limited to Malaysia 70.3, Timberman 70.3, Dextro Energy WCS Yokohama and the USAT Elite National Championships. We point out some of the folks to watch.

Today we are introducing you to a saddle from Fizik, a tool from Topeak, news from USAT, a seat post from Lynskey Performance, a cancer ride in Texas and an insane sandwich. Enjoy.

Part 2 of our 2009 Leadville 100 photo galleries features the race towards the finish line.

On an epic day, Eric Wynn represented slowtwitch.com at the Leadville 100 mountain bike event and captured stunning photos.

Up-and-comer Sebastian Kienle tops swift-running Michael Raelert by 51 seconds and breaks Al-Sultan’s course record by 5:52; Yvonne Van Vlerken’s course record 4:42:46 tops Finland’s Tiina Boman by 2:01

Tasmanian pro Joe Gambles follows up his Vineman 70.3 course record with a dominating win at Lake Stevens 70.3; Becky Lavelle outruns Heather Wurtele for a 68-second margin of victory

It seems that there is currently no stopping of Alistair Brownlee. On his home turf in London, UK, the 21-year old Brownlee won his fourth Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series race in as many attempts.

Swiss athlete Nicola Spirig took the title at the London Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series thanks to a very impressive performance on the bike. Emma Moffatt remains as the Dextro Energy series leader.

At age 31, with boyfriend Conrad Stoltz on her crew, Xterra veteran and full time nurse Amber Monforte smashed the Ultraman Canada women’s course record and went quicker than the best Ultraman women’s time set in Hawaii in 1989.

Charlotte Kolters finished right in between Chrissie Wellington and Yvonne Van Vlerken at the 2008 European Long Course Championships in Almere, and would be quite fine with a similar position in Kona later this year.

The heart of this 8-week Ironman campaign, weeks 3 thru 5, is not designed to get you ready for the race, rather for the ultimate “indicator” workouts prior to the taper.

This is the week you’re finally firing on all eight cylinders. By now you’ve got all the meaningful paraphernalia you need for all three sports, and you’re ready to start riding. Good, because your riding starts this week.

This week we have noticed an entry-level wetsuit from Aquaman, a handcrafted frame by Rafael, an interesting Performance music video, valve extenders from Sampson and a suncream from Blue Lizard.

Joanna Zeiger is her sport’s Job of elusive-to-diagnose and tough-to-treat maladies. After winning a four-year battle with back and leg woes, now her toughest opponent is a recurring case of the dizzies.

Mike Caiazzo recently finished 4th at Ironman Lake Placid, but in addition to racing and training as a Pro triathlete he has to deal with his full time hedge fund job and his role as a husband and father. That is a tricky balancing act indeed.

Tri bike fit workshop schedule for the 2009/2010 Fall thru Spring campaign is set, we’re open for registrations. Workshops run from early November thru early June.

The problem with writing a training plan is the fear that somebody might follow it. That’s the case here, with the program we’re going to present. It’s a custom program built and followed by a particular athlete.

The 2009 Boulder 5430 Long Course was a spectacular farewell for race directors Barry and Jodee Siff – four World Champions competing, two race records, a full 1,400 field. Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

Running and swimming? Good, those are the most important events to master. But you want to start riding the bike, don’t you? Let’s talk about that.

Let it never be said that Slowtwitch doesn’t tell you where the rubber meets the road. We deconstruct the tire and explain what conspires to give you good flat protection and low rolling resistance.

Former pro mountain biker Shonny Vanlandingham is now focused on XTERRA racing and will be one of the women to watch at the XTERRA World Championships in Maui this year. Slowtwitch talked to this 40-year old energizer bunny.

Xterra World Champion Julie Dibens smashes course record, edges Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington; Timothy O’Donnell takes fourth 2009 win, sets course record at Boulder 5430 long course

Kiwi Kate McIlroy, a former world mountain running champion and national steeplechase record holder, earned her first World Cup win; Dmitry Polyansky leads Russian sweep of the men’s medals at Tiszauvjaros