Kona

The yearly broadcast of the Ironman World Championship on NBC has proven to be a life-changing experience for many viewers. Many athletes cite the show as the reason they started competing in triathlons in the first place.

Australia's Chris McCormack continues to lead the men's Kona pro rankings thanks to his Ironman World Championship win, while Great Britain's Leanda Cave has taken the top spot in the women's rankings.

The 2010 Ironman World Championships featured newly implemented rules for photographers covering the event. An article published today, Nov. 30, by Bicycle Retailer addresses the controversy surrounding these rules and talks to a few members of the media.

DeBoom chatted with Triathlete.com to give us the inside scoop on what brought him to the pinnacle of the sport and on the next chapter in his pro triathlon career.

South Africa's James Cunnama outran the men, while the United States' Jessica Jacobs built a lead on the bike and held it all the way to the finish line to take the Ironman Florida titles in Panama City Beach, Fla.

The World Triathlon Corporation publicly responded today, Nov. 2, 2010, to the numerous complaints surrounding Saturday's Ironman 70.3 Miami event with a press release.

Three-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington has revealed on her blog that it was a variety of illnesses that led to her illness that forced her to withdraw from the 2010 Ironman World Championship back on Oct. 9.

Seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong will be turning to triathlon and racing in the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, according to his long-time coach Chris Carmichael.

The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced today that it is introducing an athlete membership program, known as "Ironman Access".

Triathlete.com chatted with Wellington to talk about the decision, what’s next for her and how she feels about some of the rumors that have been circulating since the race.

South Africa’s James Cunnama continued his successful 2010 season, while Switzerland’s Nicola Spirig showcased her ITU speed to take the women’s Ironman 70.3 Austin title.

A big topic of discussion in the triathlon community is whether or not three-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington will show up at a race in the next few months after withdrawing from this year's race in Kona due to illness.

See the complete post-race interview with Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack of Australia. Find out how the day played out for Macca and what exactly was said when he shook hands with fellow competitor Andreas Raelert of Germany.

Six-time Ironman World Champion Mark Allen joined Bob Babbitt on set during the week leading up to the big race in Kona.

It's the professionals who gain much of the attention at the Ironman World Championship, but it is the 1800 age group participants that give the event its personality.

Professional triathlete Tim DeBoom has the distinction of being the last American triathlete to claim victory at the Ironman World Championship.

Triathlete.com chatted with 2010 Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae of Australia just hours after her Kona victory.

Here is a look at the results of the top finishers from both the professional and age-group races from the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Despite its name, the Natural Energy Lab segment of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii does little to provide strength to athletes.

hree-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington broke her silence today about her decision not to race at the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

Had enough images of the Ironman World Championship? Of course not! Here's another gallery with more of the highlights of Saturday's Kona race.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

Some pundits say Chrissie Wellington is unbeatable. She has started nine Ironmans and won all nine. There is no doubt that the three-time defending champ is the favorite, but Mirinda Carfrae may be poised to offer the first credible threat to Wellington’s dominance since Chrissie won Kona for the first time in 2007.

Today started off with a bang within the hour before the start of the race: We knew for certain that Chrissie Wellington’s historic Hawaii Ironman run---three that, considering her 8:19 at the Quelle Challenge this summer, felt like it was easily destined for four---interrupted if not over.

The two 2010 Ironman World Champions, Chris McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae, were also the two athletes featured on Training Day. How did they prepare to win the Kona race? Find out in these videos.

Why swimskins might again influence the outcome of the Ironman World Championship.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

Triathlete.com editors have learned a few more details about Chrissie Wellington’s decision to drop out of the Ironman World Championships this morning.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

Check out Aaron Hersh's author page.

riday afternoon was all about the Bike Drop Off are the transition area. The tension was a little heightened compared to the past few days, but laughs and smiles were still abundant as every athlete made his or her way through to drop off bikes and race gear.

Every bike that will be raced tomorrow in the Hawai’i Ironman World Championships had to check into transition today. Pros and age groupers alike trickled into transition area to drop off their bike, helmet and two bags of gear.

On today's TriCenter we're talking to Craig Alexander and Chris Lieto, and finding out why our bodies struggle in hot conditions.

Triathlete.com talked to Felt's Jim Felt about what is new and exciting for 2011.

Get a look at the Specialized Shiv Denmark's Rasmus Henning will be riding on Saturday in the Ironman World Championship.

A preview of reigning two-time Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander's Orbea Ordu he will ride on race day in Kona.

Craig Alexander, Chrissie Wellington, Mirinda Carfrae, Chris Lieto, Julie Dibens, Andreas Raelert and Rasmus Henning answered questions for the triathlon media two days before the IM world championships and although some of the answers were pretty standard, they also had a few surprising and interesting things to say.

As recently as last June, Yvonne Van Vlerken was thought to be the biggest threat to Chrissie Wellington. The Dutch triathlete held the Ironman world record (8:45) and a lethal bike/run combination from her days as a world champion duathlete. YVV wasn’t able to seriously threaten Wellington that year, but her horsepower makes her a serious threat this weekend.

Bob Babbitt chats with the Netherlands' Yvonne Van Vlerken about how she's feeling heading into Saturday's race.

The week leading up to the Ironman World Championship is filled with anxiety and nerves, but the annual underpants run gives athletes a rare opportunity to let loose before the big day. See images of the run below.

Australia's Luke McKenzie stopped by our TriCenter set to talk about the disappointment of withdrawing from this year's Ironman World Championship.

Terenzo Bozzone joines Bob Babbitt on the set of Breakfast With Bob for a little fun before the big Kona race.

On today's episode of TriCenter from Kona we're keeping you in the know with the latest news from the Big Island, getting Matt Dixon's insight on the race, and providing an inside look at the Curse of Pele with Ironman legend Mark Allen.

Editorial Director T.J. Murphy gives his take on what exactly it will take to beat reigning Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington.

Spurred on by advice coming from the likes of Peter Reid and Mark Allen, some triathletes, like Montana’s Linsey Corbin, break a one-month fast from coffee just hours before the Hawaii Ironman cannon goes off.

On this episode of Breakfast With Bob, Denmark's Rasmus Henning talks about his outlook on the 2010 Ironman World Championship, after being forced to race in 2009 with a broken hand.

We gathered seven of the 2009 Age Group Ironman World Champions at the Natural Energy Lab in Kona, Hawaii for a TriCenter feature on what it takes to become an amateur world champion. Meet the athletes in this photo gallery and then watch the feature on TriCenter.

On this episode of Breakfast with Bob, Catriona Morrison joins Bob Babbitt to talk about her second attempt at the Ironman World Championship. Breakfast with Bob is shot in the morning on location in Kona at Huggo's.

The buzz around Kona town is growing every day. Despite the excitement, athletes spent the day training and looking calm and relaxed.

Notes from the ground at in the buildup to the 2010 Hawaii Ironman.

ny of the new Scott Plasma 3’s of Team Commerzbank—outfitted with SRAM Red, Zipp wheels, Garmin electronics, SRM Powermeters, and Profile Design cockpits—would be the envy of most triathletes.

On this Kona edition of TriCenter we recap all of the latest news from the Big Island and find out what it takes to win an age group at the Ironman World Championship.

Australia’s Luke McKenzie announced via his website today that he will not be competing in this year’s Ironman World Championship race.

Reigning two-time Ironman World Champion is the favorite heading into Saturday's race, but he's going to face some tough competition. Who's your pick?

What went down at Dig Me Beach in Kona, Hawaii on Tuesday? Find out in our newest edition of Dig Me Daily.

Chris "Macca" McCormack joined us for a breakfast on the Big Island with Competitor's Bob Babbitt. Macca talks about how he's matured since his first time racing in Kona and what it would mean to him to earn a second title.

No, Michael Raelert isn't racing in this weekend's Ironman World Championship. But, he is in Kona supporting his brother Andreas and taking in the race scene. We caught up with him before an open-water swim.

Check out our all new segment, Breakfast with Bob. In this episode, Bob Babbitt interviews last year's Ironman World Champion runner-up Mirinda Carfrae of Australia.

The 2010 triathlon season has been dominated by Team Trek/K-Swiss athletes and three of the team’s best will be representing the team in the Ironman World Championship this weekend.

We caught up with reigning two-time Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander in Boulder, Colo. before he headed to Kona for this year's race.

Who do you think has the best shot at upsetting Chrissie and taking the 2010 Ironman World Championship title?

As the Ironman World Championship grows closer and closer, the buzz and sheer number of people are growing at an exponential rate in Kona. See photos of pros and age groupers training in the town and enjoying the last few moments of calm before the race takes over the town.

As the big race inches closer and closer, the buzz over at Dig Me Beach continues to grow. Check out the scene from the Kona Pier at Monday's open water swim workout.

We caught up with 2005 Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan before he took on a ride on the famed Queen K.

Australia's Luke McKenzie showed off his new Scott Plasma 3 bike during a moto pacing effort down the Queen K with fiance Amanda Balding. Triathlete.com was there to talk to Luke before his workout and catch some of the pacing action!

Whether you're in Kona to compete in Saturday's big race or are here just to take the atmosphere in, stop by Huggo's every morning the rest of this week to hear Ironman legend Bob Babbitt interview some of the sport's top stars.

American TJ Tollakson shows us his uniquely built Parlee TT bike, which he will ride in this weekend's Ironman World Championship in Kona.

Ironman Lanzarote winner Catriona Morrison is back for her second attempt at Kona. We joined her on one of her last hard workouts before the big race on Saturday.

Rasmus Henning took fifth last year in Kona despite a broken bone. After his big win at the Quelle Challenge in Germany this summer, he is ready to be a major factor this time around.

We caught up with Julie Dibens on what she called one of her first rest days in a long time. On tap for her rest day? An easy swim from the pier.

Three-time defending Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington spent time this morning training on the course along Alii Drive. She spent time to wave to fans and show her signature smile.

As 1,800 of the best endurance athletes from around the world swim the waters of the Pacific before biking and running through the lava fields of Kona this weekend, the mystery of the nature of the island will surround them.

Great Britain's Leanda Cave spent time training in the Natural Energy. We followed along to bring you this training footage.

Wish you could be here training along side the sport's top professionals? We've got you covered. Check out our Dig Me Beach cam from Saturday, Oct. 2. See if you recognize any famous faces.

Triathlete.com spent time with a few Europeans in the week leading up the Ironman World Championship. Rasmus Henning, Dirk Bockel and Martin Jensen were kind enough to let us tag along on a rainy afternoon bike ride down the Queen K.

Check out Matt Fitzgerald's author page.

The crew from Triathlete.com spent the day in Kona, Hawaii mingling and training with pros gearing up for next Saturday's Ironman World Championship event.

We caught up with and followed 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack and 2008 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Terenzo Bozzone on a training ride in Kona, Hawaii exactly one week out from the Hawaii Ironman race.

The Ironman World Championship is only one week away and Kona is transforming to prepare for triathlon's biggest race of the year.