Fiona Docherty, 2003 Powerman Zofingen Duathlon world champ, and Heather Fuhr, 1997 Ironman World Champion, finished 1-3 at the 2009 XTERRA Trail Running Worlds. Max King took the men’s title.

In today’s What We Have Noticed we feature a few stocking stuffer / inexpensive Christmas gift ideas. Hand warmers from LL Bean, a yoga mat from Gaiam, a funky transition towel from Target, a water bottle from Kor and a book about racing weight.

The 171.4-mile bike on Day 2 of the Ultraman goes from Volcanoes via the 3,600-foot Kohalas to Hawi. Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

Patrick Vernay wins the 2009 Ironman Western Australia in Busselton and takes the title back from Timothy Berkel. Gina Ferguson repeats in the women’s race after also having won that event in 2008.

The 25th triathletic circumnavigation of the Big Island of Hawaii day 1 gallery. Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

People come and people go, but there’s always a story within each beating heart of the folks that tackle the 320 daunting miles of the Ultraman trail.

As an intellectual exercise I asked myself who, over the course of their lives, have made the most money in, or from, the sport of triathlon. It’s not who you probably think.

Shanna Armstrong takes 6th Ultraman title, comes within 2:57 of 20-year-old race record; Ann Heaslett smashes run record; Alexandre Ribeiro takes 4th win.

With Thanksgiving behind us we can now think about gifts for friends, family and ourselves. Along those lines we noticed a Capo Forma jersey, Überhund aero bars, Bontrager tri shoes and a couple of interesting books.

Rutger Beke bounces back from an injury that forced him out of Kona to win Ironman Cozumel in 8:18:40; Yvonne Van Vlerken cruises home 10th overall to take women’s title in 9:06:58.

Five-time Ultraman women’s champion Shanna Armstrong leads Kathy Winkler; Richard Roll leads Mike Le Roux, Alexandre Ribeiro on Day 1 of Ultraman

Shanna Armstrong smashes Day 2 bike record and leads Swiss Gigathlon champ Trix Zgraggen by 16:53; Ribeiro’s bike gives him with 23-minute lead over Mike LeRoux and 37 minutes over Peter Kotland.