2nd Place in Ironman Zurich

Finally I am really back into Ironman racing! Yesterday was my first finish in an Ironman since more than one and a half year ago (my victory in IM Arizona). Happily I could maintain my good shape of 5 weeks ago in Stein. With a solid race I could move up into 2nd position at the finish line.

I had a good feeling in the water and am happy with my result, especially if compared to the other girls as most swim-times were on the slow side. The bike was not as good as in Stein yesterday. I had in mind to be about 5 to 10 minutes faster on this course, but the legs were painful and I really had to push hard all the time to move up a little in the field. But again I proved myself that off-the-bike I can run well, even with sore legs. My feeling about the 3.07 marathon is that I still can improve, especially given the fact that we have been quite precautious in my running training last half year (about 60 to 70 km/week) after last years’ injury-season. But even with a slightly better race I still would have been placed 2nd. Former cyclist and time-trial World Champion Karin Thürig was riding an amazing bike split and ran a very good 3.04 marathon. If she can maintain or improve this level towards Hawaii, she definitely will be in the mix for a top spot in Kona. Talking about Hawaii: also my qualification is done now, so I can focus on my preparation in coming 11 weeks.

Extreme Endurance Athlete Felipe Bastos may go Undefeated this Summer

Last night Felipe Bastos won, for the 2nd time, the Nature Coast Twilight Triathlon. Felipe noted, “The last time I raced this even was in 2006, and prior to the event I had serious doubts as to my ability to repeat the win – 4 years is a lot of time.”

Knowing he’d have serious threats from the local sprint specialists, he decided to attack the course from the gun and solo at the front. His strategy worked well as he exited the swim with a small lead, but long enough that he had a 5 second gap at the beginning of the bike. He used it to my advantage, putting his head down and riding 28 mph for the first 4 miles in order to build a comfortable margin.

The strategy worked. At the bike turnaround he had a 40 second gap to 2nd and 3rd place (working together to catch me). He increased that lead to nearly a minute at the end of the bike ride, and ran alone to finish with a 50-second margin at the finish line, beating His time from 4 years ago by 30 seconds, and beating the winner from the past 3 years in the process.

He will be racing next at the Amelia Island Triathlon on August 7, his last weekend in Florida before heading back to Alabama to resume his last year in law school. He hopes to win again and leave Florida undefeated. So far he has won the Crystal River Triathlon, the Jacksonville Triathlon and the Twilight Triathlon. He also finished in the Melon Run 5k and 5th in the Inverness Cross Country 5k. It’s been a very rewarding summer so far!

Follow Felipe Here:

Blog: www.felipebastos.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/felipebastos
Twitter: www.twitter.com/felipebastos1

IMTALK – Best Ironman Podcast Around!

Check out IM Talk Podcast, where Extreme Endurance Owner Sandy Kellin talks about the benefits of Extreme Endurance. Great Show!

http://www.imtalk.me/home/2010/7/19/imtalk-episode-219.html

Finished Vermont 100 in 26:52:53

I have been having a pretty bad year as far as racing goes. Good runs were few and far between. When I registered for the Vermont 100 I had major doubts. I heard about Extreme Endurance through a a post on facebook and decided to give it a try. I took it for 3 weeks before the race, looking for anything that would help me finish within the 30 hour cutoff. I felt great and finished in 26:52:53!
Thanks!”

Marge Ascari

Lance Ventures Into Ironman

not about the bike: Lance Armstrong will be hitting the water and putting on his running shoes as well as cleats when he ventures in to Ironman.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The American competed in the multi-discipline event before he began his illustrious cycling career that saw him win an unprecedented seven Tours.

And with the Radio Shack rider too far off the pace in this year’s event to pose his customary threat to the podium his thoughts have already turned to what comes after.

“The first thing I have to do is to compete in a half Ironman to test myself,” said Armstrong.

“Because of my age and I would rather not compete in Olympic distance. Those triathletes who dispute this distance achieve speeds that I cannot get close to.

“What is clear is that if I want to be competitive, I have to focus on the longer distances as they often have tougher cycling sections and that would benefit me.”

Though Armstrong, who recovered from cancer back in 1997, is an able swimmer and runner his strong suit in the swim-bike-run would obviously come on the second discipline where Ironman’s non-drafting rule would also assist him.

Whatever comes next for Armstrong, he is adamant that a return to the Tour de France is not something he would consider, despite his emotional attachment to it.

“This Tour will be my last race of three weeks,” he said. “I would give me a chance in a triathlon but do not know how fast I could go.”

Original Story Here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/triathlon/7890257/Lance-Armstrong-to-return-to-triathlon-after-last-Tour-de-France.html

Extreme Endurance Cyclist ranked number one in Taiwan

Extreme Endurance user Lee Rodgers recently won the Singapore National Championships, and he is also ranked number #1 in Taiwan right now. His Team Fuji-Asia have has been battling it out in Asia, helping Lee get to the podium.

Check out his finish!

Ironman Win by Wallenhorst

Playing catch up

Defending women’s champion Sandra Wallenhorst found herself playing catch up after the swim, made even more challenging for her because wetsuits weren’t allowed in the warm water of the Langener Waldsee. The woman she was trying to catch was Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen, who powered her way around the bike course here and enjoyed a six-minute lead over Wallenhorst starting the run.

The anticipated duel between Wallenhorst and Yvonne van Vlerken appeared to be ready to start as the two entered T2 within feet of each other, but Wallenhorst flew out onto the run course and stayed clear of the Dutchwoman for the entirety of the marathon.

While van Vlerken would get to within a few minutes by the halfway point of the marathon, the real drama of the day came as Steffen managed to hold Wallenhorst until about 34 km. Wallenhorst had to run a three-hour marathon to get passed the determined Team TBB athlete. By then van Vlerken started to fade, which meant Steffen’s nine-minute 3:08 marathon PB was more than enough to get her to the line in second. Van Vlerken made it to the line in third, followed by impressive age grouper Silvia Balbach and Diana Riesler.

Women’s top 10
1. Sandra Wallenhorst 9:04:27
2. Caroline Steffen 9:06:42
3. Yvonne van Vlerken 9:10:21
4. Silvia Balbach 9:23:10
5. Diana Riesler 9:27:37
6. Katja Konschak 9:31:57
7. Joanna Lawn 9:36:12
8. Susan Dietrich 9:39:12
9. Meike Krebs 9:42:28
10. Nina Pekerman 9:47:24

Complete Story at www.ironman.com