Culture

Since Roth, Germany, started hosting iron-distance events in 1988, both male and female pros have broken eight hours nine times on Roth’s course. Make that ten; both Andreas Raelert and Chrissie Wellington set new world records today, at 7:41:33 and 8:18:13 respectively.

Germany's Andreas Raelert made his Challenge Roth debut by breaking the world record for fastest iron-distance race. His time of 7:41:33 came thanks to a 46:18 swim, a 4:11:43 bike and a 2:40:52 run.

Americans Ben Hoffman and Melissa Rollison took the titles at today’s Ironman 70.3 Muncie race in Muncie, Ind.

Americans Matt Reed and Sarah Haskins win in Minneapolis for the third year in a row.

A short list of some of the potential medal contenders for 2012—and those who could upset the status quo.

CNN Fit Nation 6 Pack team member Kas Seerla joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his show to talk about the challenges of tackling open-water swimming.

Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker crushed the record for fastest Ironman by going 7:45:58 to take his sixth-straight Ironman Austria victory on Sunday, July 3. The former record of 7:50:27 was set by fellow Belgian Luc Van Lierde back in 1997. Triathlete.com chatted with Vanhoenacker after his record-breaking performance to find out how he felt heading into the race and the plan as heads into the 2011 Ironman World Championship.

Chris McCormack appeared on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” last month to discuss the notion of pushing the body to the limits with Dr. Oz. In the interview, host Bob Ley asks Macca about the mindset of “if you’re not injured, you’re not training hard enough.”

Meet the CNN Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge 6-Pack—a group of six newbie triathletes currently training for the Nautica New York City Triathlon held August 7.

Canada’s Simon Whitfield has a gold medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics and a silver from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At Agua Bendita, the difference is in the details … lots of details. Handmade in Colombia (of Spanish materials), Agua Bendita's line of boutique swimwear has flare to spare. Highlights for 2011 include animal prints, Earth tones, and embellishments galore. Consider it recovery wear for the week after Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico or, in this case, Ironman South Africa.

A memorial 5K is taking place in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday, Dec. 10. All proceeds will benefit the Sally Meyerhoff Foundation—an organization dedicated to providing shoes and clothing for the less fortunate.

"The world’s largest iron-distance triathlon” is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend. Challenge Roth will take place on July 10th, 2011 with over 3,300 athletes and 600 relay teams from 61 countries.

Set your DVRs to record these Ironman events this month.

With the recent additions of Ironman Mont-Tremblant and Ironman U.S. Championship (aka IMNYC) to the northeast area, rumors have been circulating that the close-by Ironman Lake Placid may cease to exist after 2012.

Rasmus Petraeus pulled off a small upset at the inaugural KMD Challenge Aarhus today.

Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker crushed the record for fastest Ironman by going 7:56:58 at today’s Ironman Austria triathlon.

Lukas Verzbicas to compete in the Junior World Championships in honor of his good friend, elite triathlete Kevin McDowell, who is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Flying to a triathlon next month? Good news: In celebration of the 2011 Tour de France, all bike fees will be waived on JetBlue flights for the month of July.

Almost halfway through the Series, professional triathletes Alicia Kaye (USA) and Andy Potts (USA) are the current points leaders.

Was Harry Wiltshire working to deter Javier Gomez's race in order to benefit his British teammates, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee?

More than 1,000 competitors will take part in the event.

Tomorrow’s Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon, an Olympic-distance race in the Life Time Fitness Series, features the strongest pro field in the race’s seven-year history.

Nothing could keep Alistair Brownlee (GBR) from retaining the European Championship, not even technical difficulties.

Emmie Charayron (FRA) once again reigned supreme as a European champion, this time in the women's elite division at the 2011 ETU European Triathlon Championships.

The Philadelphia Insurance is adding extra safety measures after an athlete drowned at last year's event.

Today at the offices of Philadelphia Insurance, the 100 company employees who are racing the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon this weekend were treated to a lunchtime panel Q&A with pros Andy Potts and Tyler Butterfield, and challenged athletes Willie Stewart and Scout Bassett.

Colorado's Peak-to-Peak Highway bike ride is a popular route for triathlon celebrities such as Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington.

Chicago's Leon's Triathlon will be broadcast for viewers on Comcast channels throughout the country.

It depends who you ask.

June 23 is Olympic Day, celebrated by more than 160 countries. It was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894. The purpose of today is to celebrate and promote fitness and well-being.

ACHIEVE Kids Tri Inc. has launched a 2011 summer program that allows kids to experience the swim/bike/run lifestyle.

Triathlon was one of the first London 2012 events to sell out in the public ticket allocation process, however there are still many free to view areas along the course for spectators, ensuring the event will be one of the most memorable of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

On Sunday, Sarah Groff of Hanover, N.H., became the first American woman to ever podium at an ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series event by coming in third at the series’ race in Kitzbühel, Austria.

WTC has announced a partnership with the United States Marine Corps. As part of the deal, September's 70.3 world championship race in Henderson, Nev. will now be known as the Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3.

Enjoy the following gallery of Tim O’Donnell, which features some outtakes from our photo shoot with him in Tucson, Ariz.

Chris McCormack weighs in on his race in Kitzbühel and what's ahead as he goes for the Olympics.

Southern California is gaining a new half-iron distance race. The inaugural Orangeman Triathlon will take place in just a few months on Sept. 25, 2011 and will span Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel.

Non-drafting triathletes swam, biked and ran through historic Washington D.C., while the sport's top drafting athletes competed across the world in Kitzbühel.

Findlay stays undefeated for the season while American Sarah Groff breaks through with a podium spot.

More than 3000 triathletes are will be participating in tomorrow’s Washington, DC Triathlon, now in its second year and part of the 5150 Triathlon Series.

Alistair Brownlee leads nearly wire to wire while reigning Ironman world champ Chris McCormack drops out.

Matty "Boom Boom" Reed is apparently opening Boom Yogurt Bar in Boulder, Colo., in August.

Florida-based pro Sara McLarty, known as one of the strongest swimmers in short-course triathlon, will be racing this Sunday at the second-ever Washington D.C. Triathlon, an Olympic-distance race now part of the World Triathlon Corporation-owned 5150 Series.

If you’re like us, you’re eager to catch Chris McCormack’s return to ITU racing in Kitzbühel, Austria, on Saturday. (If you’re more into M-Dot races than ITU, it’s time to start watching!)

A pack of cyclists were on a weekly midnight ride in Los Angeles when a suspected drunken driver plowed into their group around 2 a.m. She sent some riders “flying into the air” and at least one dragging under her car, according to ABC News in Los Angeles.

Chris McCormack's return to the ITU and a strong contingent of racers should make this weekend's Kitzbühel race one for the ages.

Susan Lacke bridges the communication gap between endurance athletes and everybody else.

2XU has announced a partnership with Ironman to be the preferred supplier of compression apparel at Ironman and 70.3 events.

The general entry spots for the Ironman US Championship, set to take place in New York City and New Jersey on August 11, 2012, sold out within 12 minutes of registration opening this morning.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) held its fifth annual Hearts and Hope gala in New York City on June 8, 2011.

Ten days before the Redondo Beach Triathlon I decided I wanted to become a triathlete. Ten days later I crossed the finish line of my first triathlon. Follow my Try at a Tri series and learn how you can turn into a triathlete too.

In the past several years, indoor riding has become a bona fide trend at the elite level of the sport, and that trend has begun to trickle down into the age group ranks.

Ironman triathlete Asker Jeukendrup has been named the Global Senior Director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

American triathlete Sarah Haskins has been named the Athlete of the Month by the United States' Olympic Committee.

XTERRA veterans Conrad Stoltz and Shonny Vanlandingham won the XTERRA East Champion in Richmond, Va. on Sunday.

It was another busy weekend of racing for professional triathletes across the world, with many athletes raced for the second week in a row.

Conrad Stoltz, 37, of South Africa and Shonny Vanlandingham, 42, of the United States won the 13th annual XTERRA East Championship in Richmond, Va. today.

Three-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington faced tough competition from fellow Brit Leanda Cave, while Australia's Paul Matthews cruised through the day at Ironman 70.3 Kansas.

American TJ Tollakson made a statement on the bike, while Mirinda Carfrae raced on tired legs to take the wins at today's Ironman 70.3 Eagleman triathlon in Cambridge, Md.

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