Should race organisers provide refunds for cancelled races?
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
September 26, 2025
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September 26, 2025
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
It’s a highly emotive subject and one this column chose to duck during the early throes of the Covid-19 outbreak as tri’s prognosis for 2020 blurred, and hasn’t enjoyed much clarity since. But what now sticks firmly in the spokes is the curious, surely misguided, assertion from Ironman chief executive Andrew Messick in a New York Times article that most athletes he heard from “were not interested in getting money back” from postponed races, which informed Ironman’s decision to not offer refunds.
Perhaps Messick needs to broaden his polling beyond Ironman investors, because this line is likely to raise hackles as much as it raises eyebrows. It’s not that triathletes do not want their money back for cancelled events – in a Twitter poll by Brick Session podcaster Mark Livesey over two-thirds would prefer a refund to deferring – but that the majority understand why it’s not always economically viable.
What they do want, however, which should be within the gift of any race organiser, is to be treated in a fair and reasonable manner, with communication lines kept open and honest responses from those in charge. What they’re less keen on is some kind of post-truth flannel that pretends no-refund rationale is customer preference.
Right-minded triathletes understand that event organisers cannot issue full refunds without the risk of jeopardising the future of the business. Often smaller race organisers, possibly because they can be more personable in their communication, receive more grace from spurned entrants because of the perception of tighter cash flows and aborted credit lines. But make no mistake, Ironman is not immune to the financial pressures either.
If it paid out millions in refunds instead of an increasing list of deferred races, it would hit major liquidity problem. Sources tell me staff have been reduced to working four days a week with a concomitant 20% reduction in salary, with senior management taking bigger percentage cuts as the company prioritises safe working conditions and jobs. It’s not alone among firms in this and few customers would quibble if this was open testament. We are, after all, in unprecedented times. However, there are a couple of caveats.
Firstly, cancellation insurance can be sought for a pandemic, albeit at great expense. For example, it’s understood The All England Lawn Tennis Association, which organises Wimbledon, will recoup almost half its losses from cancelling the 2020 event thanks to the $2 million pandemic insurance policy it has taken out every year for the past 17 years. The premium might seem high, but is dwarfed by the $141million pay-out according to Forbes (Report: Wimbledon’s Organizers Set For A $141 Million Payout After Taking Out Pandemic Insurance). Either this type of foresight seems almost unique among event companies or privately run businesses are keeping details withheld because a chunky pay-out changes perspectives on how customers and employees are treated. As for Ironman, it doesn’t have a valid policy, or if it does, it’s keeping schtum. We have asked.
The second is the moral stance of the company to shoulder more of the burden, by offering the option of a partial refund, for example. The current offer of a race deferral does still see Ironman take a hit (as it eats up future spots it could have sold, although potentially with lower future demand). But many triathletes, who have already paid for travel and accommodation and cannot make the rescheduled dates, feel it is they who pay the heaviest price.
A more cynical view still is that Ironman is only protecting its interests. Its Initial Public Offering flunked and it’s a debt-laden business agreed to be sold as a cash purchase to Advance, a family-owned group, but with co-investment from Orkila Capital, a private equity company. It needs to make the balance sheet look good for the sale to go through, and customer satisfaction and long-term reputation don’t factor highly here.
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The overarching point is that the financial health of Ironman, or any other events company, is really only known to its core stakeholders, and it’s down to trust that they’re attempting to do the best for their customers, while planning for a grisly trading environment. Armed with this knowledge, triathletes will continue to pay their money and make their choice, but even if the financial impact of cancellations can be stomached by the individual, it’s a sucker punch to claim – as Messick has – that it’s their preference.
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November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
WWE has announced a few additions to the lineup for tonight’s episode of Raw.
WWE Champion Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre will face off in six-man tag team action tonight. Orton will team with The Miz & John Morrison against McIntyre & Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods).
McIntyre, The Miz, and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt have recently been positioned as potential challengers for Orton’s title. Miz holds the Money in the Bank briefcase and tried to cash in after McIntyre laid out Orton last week, but McIntyre stopped Miz. McIntyre said he’s going to be the person to take the WWE Championship from Orton. Later in the night, Orton dropped McIntyre with an RKO after McIntyre defeated Miz & Morrison in a handicap match. The Fiend’s laugh then played to close the show.
Kingston & Woods appearing on Miz TV with Miz & Morrison, Raw Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Nia Jax in a non-title match, and Ricochet vs. Mustafa Ali have also been added to tonight’s show. Plus, Jeff Hardy, Riddle, and Elias will face off in a triple threat second chance qualifying match to determine the final member of Raw’s Survivor Series men’s team.
A Moment of Bliss segment with McIntyre as the guest was originally announced for tonight’s show but is no longer listed on WWE’s preview.
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
We’re all struggling with lockdown at the moment – and many of us are missing the motivation and inspiration that having race goals in the diary provides. So for this reason, 220 have partnered with the Castle Virtual Series to bring you a fantastic competition, as well as some early-season races to keep you motivated!
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The Castle Virtual Series aims to bring you fun races with a dose of healthy competition to give focus to your training while we’re all social distancing. There are a range of distances taking in duathlons as well as single-discipline run events and categories for the kids to get involved, too. Do each race you enter in your own time over the race weekend, then submit your proof (Garmin, Strava etc) in time for the live awards ceremony, held on Facebook on the Monday evening after the race weekend! There’s even the chance to print out a medal, order a t-shirt and get involved on social media.
The next race weekend is the VE Day Anniversary from 8-10th May, then after that it’s the Luck Of The Irish weekend from 22-24th May. Visit castletriathlonseries.co.uk to sign up, with kids’ race spots starting from just £5. Plus, 20% of entry fees will go to charity partners Macmillan Cancer support.
To launch this partnership we’ve got together with the team at Castle Tri and their sponsors to put together a prize package including eace entry for the Luck Of The Irish weekend, a race t-shirt, a year’s subscription to 220 Triathlon, a limited edition KitBrix bag and hydration goodies from High5 and Active Edge!
To enter,
Enter via Facebook: – You must ‘Like’ both @220triathlon and @castletriathlonseries
– Share the post https://bit.ly/2z3VOu8 and tag 3 friends
Enter via Instagram: – You must ‘Follow’ both @220triathlon and @castletriathlonseries
– Share to your story www.instagram.com/ and tag 3 friends
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Winner:
The winner will be announced during the VE Day 75th Anniversary Prize Giving on Monday 11th May, 6pm Live on on Castle Triathlon’s Facebook
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
Separate work and ‘normal life’
Helen: “While triathlon is our main job and makes up a big part of our lives, we try to ‘leave it at the door’ and not bring it into the house, even though it all happens under the one roof. Marc stops being the coach, training partner (whatever other role he plays in supporting me in my training) and I try to stop being the athlete and we become ‘normal people’ – whatever normal is anyway!
“You have to have a switch of mindset and carry on with daily life, especially now during the Covid-19 situation. This is more easily said than done but now we have kids it’s less of a choice and more of a necessity.”
Have a combined goal and focus
Helen: “Setting and workings towards a mutual goal has meant Marc and I are always striving towards the same things and on the same page, even if we’re working on things separately.
“Whether this be setting goals for my training, or the managing of the properties that Marc does or Marc’s other coaching, we do it together. Doing this together means we jointly plan time to accomplish each goal, including managing the family and household around them.
“This brings both positives and negatives when it’s good we’re both happy but, when things start going badly, it can get to both of us.
“When things aren’t going so well, we find that we need to focus on distractions or a secondary goal together, that brings us both back up.”
Find common ground in what you love
Marc: “We like to do the same things. We would swim, bike and run regardless, and we enjoy doing this together and it’s more fun when we’re both fit. That common drive and interest brings us together. In the past we thought of training as a job, but now we consider it a privilege.
“That said, with kids, sharing this common ground is more about enabling each other to keep up with what they love. We make plans and create schedules to help each other manage all the elements and ensure the kids are engaged by the other. There is a lot of tag-team wrestling so to speak on the family, and we ‘tag’ each other in multiple times a day to enable sport, training and work.
“Take some time to plan a schedule that you both stick to. It needs to create the time each need, but also balance time together and, if you have kids, allow for spending quality time with them.”
Be aware of who and what you are to each other
Helen: “After 2012 we were challenged on how we worked together so we could become more effective. Marc and I had never planned to be ‘coach and athlete’ in addition to husband and wife, and now mum and dad.
“The elements of support that come with being athlete/coach were spilling over and impacting on being husband and wife, which made sense. Being aware of this and how it impacts on our environment has helped us mange our lives more harmoniously.
“It was something we’d never really thought of, but it’s helped us find the best way of managing work and life that creates the right environment for both.”
Make sure to have time apart
Mark: “Right now, no doubt everyone is getting a little bit more irritable with the person next to them, and this is probably doubled or tripled if there are kids.
“Make time for yourself and, when you can, get up an hour or so earlier and get your exercise done (or whatever is your own personal passion and joy) and similarly later when the kids or your adult housemate have gone to bed.
“Also, when planning your schedule, make time for each other, to be able to spend time catching up with the friends and family you’d each normally individually or combined catch up with that help enrich your life, or even let you vent about the others in the house!
“Time for yourself and time with others is key to a healthy balance when living under the same roof.”
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For Marc and Helen, the current situation of spending 24/7 together is something that is now normal, but it’s also something they had to work on over the years to make work smoothly. For everyone else, it’s a crash course, but hopefully their advice can be a helpful starting point for others who now find themselves in the same situation. Rather than see this as a challenge, Helen and Mark hope that using these simple points can help bring families closer together.
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
The aim is to help prevent swimmers from getting into difficulties in open water – especially as the majority of locations will not have lifeguards – and putting extra pressure on already stretched emergency services.
The COVID-19 Guidance to Open Water Swimmers is being hosted on the SH2OUT website and includes:
Information on where to swim and accredited venues
Six key steps to consider before going on an open water swim at unsupervised locations
Assessing risk due to weather conditions and water temperature
Advice on wetsuits and equipment
Course planning and the safe entry and exit of the water
Plus, recovery and nutrition.
Jane Nickerson, Swim England Chief Executive, said: “It’s imperative that even the most seasoned of open water swimmers reads through this advice and follows it carefully.
“Not knowing the temperature of the water or how strong the current is could lead to swimmers struggling and in need of emergency help.
“That’s something we’re keen to avoid at all times but even more so in the current situation.
“We’re pleased to have worked so closely with British Triathlon and RLSS UK on this guidance to ensure our members can enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings safely.”
Andy Salmon, Chief Executive of British Triathlon, said: “We would encourage anyone considering open water swimming over the coming weeks to think before doing so and read our advice very carefully.
“During these unprecedented times, it is vital that we think of others before ourselves and make sure we neither risk the spreading of the Covid-19 virus or place unnecessary burden on emergency services.’
“We would also urge swimmers to comply with government guidance on social distance and travel.”
“Royal Life Saving Society UK Chief Executive Robert Gofton said: ‘We are extremely concerned that people will now rush to get into open water without proceeding with caution and understanding the potential life-threatening implications.
“If you are not used to swimming in open water, we strongly urge you NOT to start now unless you can do so under supervision and guidance.
“Open water sites, including beaches, are not currently supervised. There is no one to help you if you get in trouble and emergency services may not be able to get to you in time.
“Please stay sensible, know your limitations, and please enjoy the water, safely.”
The RNLI has warned that there are currently no lifeguards on beaches and anyone who goes sea swimming must “understand the risks and take the necessary steps to keep themselves safe.”
Meanwhile, the three organisations are also due to publish advice for venues on the safest way to operate in line with social distancing measures in the near future.
“They are also encouraging people to use facilities as close to where they live as possible.
This advice is for England only and aimed at individual swimmers as club activity is not currently permitted under the Government guidelines.”
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How to restart your swim training when lockdown eases
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
Formed of a checklist similar to the ‘mountain code’ used in Norway to keep people safe in the mountains, the swim code includes advice on choosing an appropriate place to swim, why a swim buddy is important and how to approach water of different temperatures.
To launch the swim code, 220 Triathlon‘s Editor Helen Webster interviewed Norseman Safety Director Jorgen Melau and HUUB Design CEO Dean Jackson about open-water swimming, safety, gear and their plans for summer.
You can watch or read the Q&A interview here:
Plus find the Norseman swim code here:
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How to restart your swim training when lockdown eases
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
One such triathlete experiencing the Spanish lockdown was the Girona-based top pro David McNamee, Britain’s highest-placed male in Ironman World Championship history and a man with one of the fastest long-course run legs in triathlon.
With that running gait unlikely to be seen on the race course at least until September, the Scot has been improvising from his city centre balcony, including doing an improvised 10km after his first virtual Ironman experience.
Isolation goals https://t.co/UjILJyukN1
— David McNamee (@DavidMcNameetri) April 15, 2020
“I just have to focus on what I can control,” says the 32-year-old to 220. “Having no idea what will happen with the race season is frustrating but it’s not something I can control. But I think this experience will be a wake-up call to how we take so many things for granted. I know personally I’ll never take for granted again the fact that I can travel the world doing something I love with very little restriction. And it’s been nice seeing how the triathlon and cycling community here in Spain have been supportive of the ban on outdoor exercising. People have adapted to the situation and supported the government’s decision.”
Like in Britain there’s been a widespread awareness of the role frontline workers are performing during the crisis, as well as heightened bonds between neighbours. “Every night we clap for the frontline workers,” says McNamee, who’s planning to be race ready by September. “That and a lot of shouting between balconies as people try and communicate. I developed a daily conversation with one of my downstairs neighbours while I was on my turbo and he was in his garden walking around in circles.”
Spain is gradually opening up some of the world’s strictest lockdown restrictions, meaning that McNamee and professional athletes can train outdoors with little restrictions. It also meant McNamee experienced his first outdoor run in 49 days. “It was like Christmas morning as a child. I did a 10.3k steady run which was painfully beautiful.”
Freedom Day:
– I ran 10.3k. It was the most beautiful training session of my life.
– Celebrating by having cake for breakfast (obviously porridge too)
– Same again tomorrow? #free pic.twitter.com/UtQr9bIfJu
— David McNamee (@DavidMcNameetri) May 2, 2020
Here’s David’s key advice on training through the lockdown…
BUILD MENTAL STRENGTH
I learnt to set myself some small simple goals to achieve each day that I could control. So, training wise, that was mainly cycling based but then I’d also target doing something else like reading another chapter of a book or making a certain meal for lunch or dinner. Write these down so that you can look back and see if you did or not.
SET GOALS
Set yourself targets that you can control. For me, over the coming months, I’ll now focus on getting my run fitness back and then, hopefully soon, that’ll include swimming as well.
UTILISE TECH & COACHING
I was never a fan of Zwift until this experience, but I’ve now been converted. Also having a coach has been crucial during the lockdown, and I’ve been speaking to him more during this time than I would even coming into races.
SWIM TRAINING TIPS
For the swim, I use resistance bands most mornings to try and keep some arm strength and a feel for the movement.
BIKE TRAINING TIPS
A mixture of Zwift races, including a 17.7km time-trial which was probably the hardest I pushed myself during this period. I also focused on leg strength so did, for example, intervals of 5 x 8mins at just below FTP and 70 cadence.
RUN TRAINING TIPS
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After my treadmill blew up, I started skipping a lot. In terms of strength and conditioning, a lot of core work focusing on foot mobility and upper-body strength, with plenty of press ups.
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
Ironman have announced, in conjunction with host city partners and authorities in Hawaii, United States and Taupō, New Zealand, that due to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the 2020 editions of the World Championship and 70.3® World Championship cannot take place on their originally scheduled dates.
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The Ironman World Championship will now take place on February 6, 2021 returning to its historic original race month and marking 40 years since it first took place in Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaii. While a new date for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship has not yet been determined, teams are working diligently with local and national officials and authorities to secure a date for early 2021.
Similar to 1982, there will be two editions of the IRONMAN World Championship in a single year (February and October) to accommodate athletes who qualify during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
As a result of the continued impact of COVID-19, the qualifying window for the 2020 edition of the Ironman World Championship has been extended to provide further qualification opportunities. The most up-to-date information on overall qualification details for the Ironman World Championship can be found at www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.
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For more information and event details for the IRONMAN World Championship, please visitwww.ironman.com/im-world-championship. Further updates on the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship can be found atwww.ironman.com/im703-world-championship.
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
You don’t need to have completed a triathlon to participate; and, all those who complete the survey will be entered into a series of prize draws. There are already loads of individual prizes in the mix, collectively worth more than £7200, with the prize pool growing day-by-day. The next prize draw takes place in a few days. So, the sooner you complete the survey the more chance you have of winning!
In addition, everyone who completes the latest survey will be given access to an exclusive list of discount codes from a number of TIA member companies. The codes will be shared (with all who opt-in to receive them) in late May 2020 – as a thank you for taking part.
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>>> Click to give your input
November 11, 2020 | News | No Comments
This means German and European professionals and age group athletes can not only fight for victory in DATEV Challenge Roth, but also for the German or European crown over the 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle and 42.2 km run.
“It is a huge sign of respect for the triathlon district of Roth that the governing bodies have approached us to host both championships here,” said Felix Walchshöfer, of Team Challenge. “The region will do everything possible to be a great host for the double championship.”
There is a special allocation of entry spots for the sold out event for the European Championships. 200 of the 3,400 places have been reserved for the ETU and will be given to the national associations. All athletes who have already registered for DATEV Challenge Roth 2021 from Germany and Europe and who hold a valid membership of their national associations can take part in the European Championships. Athletes should contact their national body for further information on eligibility.
Renato Bertrani, ETU president said, “It is with great pleasure and excitement we announce the 2021 Long Distance European Championships will take place on the iconic long distance course in Roth. Still in my mind are the memories, back in 2012, when for the first time we held our European LD Champs in collaboration with Challenge in Roth. In the extremely difficult period we are currently living in, such positive news is greatly welcomed.”
This is not the first time Roth has hosted the European Championships. In 1987, Detlef Kühnel and his team hosted the title fights over the middle distance. Challenge Roth was once again the venue for the European Championships in 2012 when Rachel Joyce (GBR) and Timo Bracht secured the wins.