Episode 2: Penalties, Run Battles, and If No One Watches a Race in the Desert Did It Even Happen?

This week, Race Ranger CEO and co-founder James Elvery talks to Tim about how the blinking lights draft detection technology works and how it could work in the future. Then, we get into absolutely everything about the problem that plagues triathlon: drafting and draft packs. What are the drafting rules on the bike. Is it really a problem? Pro drafting v. age-group drafting. (One of those two is un-solveable.) And how Race Ranger works technologically and psychologically to maybe possibly potentially deter athletes from drafting. Listen and follow Triathlonish on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the show on Youtube. * (1:59) - Just a few last follow-ups from Kona: the DNF rates, the age-group feedback, and how much money should pros be paid. * (16:48) - The drafting debate: Is drafting in non-draft triathlon that big a problem? * (22:14) - James Elvery on the details of Race Ranger in the pro fields * (43:23) - What the data shows, how the pros feel, and the Zajonc Model of Social Facilitation * (54:40) - James Elvery on bringing Race Ranger to age-groupers * (1:10:58) - Will it work? * (1:16:56) - Bad Week/Good Week

The day after the race, Sid joins us for a behind-the-scenes broadcast perspective from here in Kona. We dissect: * The wild women’s race: Should Ironman have a procedure or policy for when athletes collapse? Did we learn nothing from last year? * Vince Luis’ epic retirement — first and final Kona. Drop the mic and leave. * All of your on-the-ground questions: * How the broadcast works from the motos * If Ironman’s operational changes were net positive * Drafting, drafting, drafting * And, then, the other part of Kona Week: the industry news, activations, and gossip * Plus, we talk to Salomon about why they’re getting into triathlon and if we think it will work Did you know this year’s theme was unity, togetherness? Now you know. Listen and follow Triathlonish on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the show on Youtube.

Kelly reports from the ground in Kona — with interviews and insights from the brand press conferences. Why are there so many brand events and schedules this year? And after a quick update on the non-Kona news of the week — including Alistair Brownlee’s analysis of the accuracy of VO2 estimates on smart watches, for some reason — we dive into all the industry news from Kona. * Who is being overlooked in pre-race media * What are the actual race numbers — and why aren’t they as big as was originally promised * Why are there so few women and will Ironman’s new initiative solve that * Are there really jellyfish * Are athletes really banned from biking on certain roads Although we’re not doing a preview (because you can get that so many other places), we know you have predictions. So enter our podium predictions contest. Listen and follow Triathlonish on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the show on Youtube.

This week, Tim & Kelly cover two big topics: * Absolutely everything that happened at the World Triathlon annual meeting and racing in Pontevedra. * What you need to know about how anti-doping works — and what that means for whereabouts violations. See Ironman’s 2025 doping report here & World Triathlon’s 2025 report here. Listen and follow Triathlonish on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the show on Youtube. * (1:08) - What happened at the World Triathlon Congress? A follow-up. * (5:11) - The latest updates about the World Triathlon Tour * (16:16) - The LA28 Olympic course — see it here * (19:20) - Hyathlon? Hybrid racing? The update * (23:37) - Tim’s final World Triathlon news from Pontevedra * (26:42) - The actual World Championship racing, a ramp collapses, and whether Kelly’s right to get confused * (39:30) - How the anti-doping system works — because it seems like no one understands * (42:08) - Why Ironman signed on as a WADA signatory * (45:18) - In-competition v. out-of-competition testing * (48:30) - “If they can’t find you, they can’t test you” * (50:58) - What the h*ll is whereabouts, how does an athlete get a whereabouts violation, and what information are they required to provide * (57:55) - How you could manipulate the system * (1:05:15) - Is there a better way? * (1:10:09) - Bad Week/Good Week

Last week was all about 70.3 Worlds, so this week is all about World Triathlon: the WTCS Finals, the World Championship “festival” in Pontevedra, and most importantly the World Tri Congress. What the h*ll is a Congress? Why have there been two years of Congress drama and controversy? How has that all led up to this week’s big annual meeting? Good questions! Tim Heming read hundreds of pages of documents, talked to almost everyone involved, and is ready to explain it to us. The World Triathlon Congress meets on Wednesday (tomorrow) in Pontevedra, ahead of the World Championship racing, and will vote on proposed Constitutional changes + hear updates on the state of the sport. Episode #2 is all about World Triathlon. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the show on Youtube. * (2:20) - One last thing about Nice: Listener feedback and insight from the 70.3 Worlds Championships episode * (10:14) - Now: World Triathlon! What is a World Triathlon Congress and why the big annual meeting matters for regular triathletes * (12:23) - How did we get here: Tim tries to explain the scandal over the World Triathlon presidential election and the fallout, and Kelly translates it for Americans * (23:08) - A quick chat with the Norwegian federation head * (27:00) - Which brings us to … the World Triathlon constitutional changes being proposed * (38:18) - Other important World Tri Congress things: budgets, broadcasts, and changes coming * (45:30) - World Triathlon claims Hyrox under its umbrella? Hybrid racing? Hyathlon? * (50:20) - The actual World Championship racing: Who could win and how * (1:00:58) - Good Week, Bad Week picks