Articles by Tim Carlson

Triathlon’s version of Mardi Gras is the Kona Underpants Run, which began as a quasi-outlaw dash down Ali’i Drive in outrageous outfits and now has drifted into a mainstream tradition.

The formal festivities of Ironman week begin Tuesday with the splash and dash kids races, followed by the parade of nations and the opening of the expo.

Will there be another German Kona triumph? Or will a member of the Spanish or the Belgian commandos prevail? What about a North American man?

David Plese ran a race-best 2:43:38 to edge Antonin Blokhin and Yvonne Van Vlerken led four women who broke the 9-hour barrier to win Ironman Barcelona.

Ai Ueda of Japan won her second ITU World Cup in Mexico, and Richard Murray of South Africa won his 4th consecutive ITU podium with a win at Cozumel.

Taylor Reid of Canada overcame a 5:56 bike deficit with a 1:16:11 run and Lauren Goss of the U.S. erased her 4:00 bike deficit with a 1:23:02 run to win Silverman 70.3.

Odds are this race will be a showdown between Mirinda Carfrae and Daniela Ryf but Madame Pele may have a wild card up her sleeve, opening up the women’s win to the rest of a very strong field.

Race officials postponed this weekend’s IM Maryland due to projected severe weather impact from Hurricane Joaquin. Event tentatively rescheduled for October 17.

Last weekend Matt Chrabot engaged in one of the closest duels in Ironman history. He lost by an official 2 seconds to Kirill Kotsegarov at Ironman Chattanooga.

Kirill Kotsegarov edged Matt Chrabot in a pulse-pounding, finish line sprint, and Carrie Lester of Australia won the women’s title by 12:46, at Ironman Chattanooga.

Timo Bracht won his 9th Ironman with a 2:22 advantage over James Cunnama, and Daniela Sämmler outran Emma-Kate Lidbury to win by a 7:01 margin at Ironman Mallorca.

Flora Duffy led wire-to-wire, and Ruben Ruzafa’s race-best mountain bike leg edged Francisco Serrano’s better swim and run to prevail at ITU Cross Triathlon Worlds.