As we used to say in the 70s, “This is the first day of the rest of your life.” Have a peace sign tank top and a Keep on Truckin’ bumper sticker? Great, you’re ready to start your first day of tri training.

It’s been almost 20 years since this schedule debuted, aimed at the rank beginner wanting to compete in a triathlon. With a spruce-up, here it is back on the Slowtwitch servers.

Michael Lovato used a 2:10:29 bike split to win the Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island by a very narrow margin over Richie Cunningham and Cam Brown. Michellie Jones took the women’s race with a bit of more of a cushion.

Not to be outdone by youngster Alistair Brownlee, Emma Moffatt now has won her third Dextro Energy World Championship Series title in a row. A speedy transition and an even speedier run helped her cause.

Ronnie Schildknecht and Sybille Matter used home court advantage to win the 2009 Ironman Switzerland. The second place finishers in both the men’s and the women’s event also hail from Switzerland.

Final Complete Story: Chrissie Wellington smashed the Iron-distance world record with an 8:31:59 finish at Quelle Challenge Roth, with a women’s world-best-ever 4:40:28 bike split. Germany’s Michael Goehner wins men’s title.

Timothy Carlson’s late line for the 2009 edition of the historic, world’s fastest Iron-distance triathlon. Remember, even if you are enterprising enough to find a sporting palace willing to take your wager, following these odds will be hazardous to your wallet.

Matt Reed shows he’s a man with range, as the urber-tall 70.3 specialist (the half-giraffe?) outduels A-list short coursers. Sarah Haskins is an A-list short courser, and proved why

Young Brit Alistair Brownlee appears unbeatable these days as he now has won three World Championship Series races in a row with his victory at the 2009 Kitzbühel Dextro Energy Triathlon today.

Greg Bennett, nursing an injury, will give Life Time his best shot. Potts and Reed are the odds on favorites. Haskins, Wassner, Lavelle headline women’s field

Wellington, Csomor head powerful women’s field targeting Van Vlerken’s 8:45:48 world best Iron-distance time set at Roth last year. Normann Stadler is favored over defending men’s champ Vernay.

Leanda Cave, the dark horse with a world championship pedigree, and Erika Csomor, the odds-on second favorite: Portraits of two challengers to Chrissie Wellington at Quelle Challenge Roth

Quelle Challenge Roth: A Tuesday crash in which the proud 11-time Iron-distance winner Belinda Granger was hit by a car left her with sore abs, fingers splinted, and resolved to tough it out at Roth.

Looking back and to the future: In the final chapter of a two-part interview, the Dane whose name means Thunder Bear reflects on the meaning of his sporting career, his future with his growing family and new directions in work.

After a 110-mile train ride north from Munich, the Roth traveler changes trains in historic Nuremberg on day 2.

The pilgrimage to the classic Quelle Challenge Roth triathlon is a total experience to be cherished. Day 1 images from Munich.

In the last few months a few new TT bikes came out that virtually dated many bikes that seemed quite exciting not so long ago. Some of these machines are not available to the public, but the Giant Trinity Advanced SL soon will be.

It’s race morning, the weather appears to be cooperating, and we’re ready for a crackerjack race. The Slowtwitch coverage of the Life Time Fitness race is ongoing.

We just noticed a new aero helmet from Giro, limited edition glasses from Oakley, an inspiring and helping image print and a BAMF shirt from true-motion.

Lauren Groves earned her biggest paycheck to date when she finished a very close third at the recent Hy-Vee triathlon. She also helped her Canadian team win a bronze medal at the ITU Team Triathlon Championships a day later.

Timo Bracht defeated a stellar field on his way to take the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championships in Germany in a course record time of 7:59:15. Sandra Wallenhorst took the women’s title in 8:58:08.

Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker took his 4th Ironman Austria title today in a course record time of 8:01:38. Bella Bayliss recorded her second sub 9 hour Ironman performance as she won the women’s title in 8:50:13.

A tribute to Torbjorn Sindballe for a decade of triathlon excellence by a Dane called Thunder Bear. Photographs by Timothy Carlson.

After a couple of fourth place finishes at 70.3 Florida and Kansas this year, Amy Marsh finally climbed to the very top of the podium at the Buffalo Springs 70.3 event in Lubbock, TX last weekend.