Episode 151: What Comes After Kona? New Races, Challenge Roth and Off-Season Training

Send us Fan Mail The World Championships are behind us, but apparently triathletes are incapable of actually taking an off-season. This week on Another Triathlon Podcast, Jenna-Caer (@jennacaer) and Josh (@joshmvernon) catch up after the chaos of Kona and look ahead at what comes next. Josh is recovering from Berlin, preparing to pace the New York City Marathon and suddenly talking about doing his first full IRONMAN. Jenna-Caer has landed a Challenge Roth spot, which means the return to triathlon training has officially begun after a year spent racing pretty much everything except triathlon. They also get into post-marathon recovery, strength training, coaching yourself versus hiring a coach, what athlete data can actually tell us, the lingering fallout from Kona, professional athletes choosing whether to finish or DNF, new IRONMAN race announcements and what is happening with the rest of the T100 season. Highlights • Josh’s recovery after the Berlin Marathon • Getting ready to pace the New York City Marathon • Why easy really needs to mean easy after a major race • Strength training during the off-season • Heavy strength before bike sessions • Low-cadence bike work for strength and durability • Josh considering his first full-distance IRONMAN • IRONMAN 70.3 Lake George entering the calendar • The rumoured IRONMAN Montana race • Jenna-Caer getting a Challenge Roth spot • Returning to the pool after months away from swimming • How strength and core work can improve swim body position • Should a triathlon coach coach themselves? • What athletes actually want from their coaches • Using TrainingPeaks data, heart rate, power and decoupling to spot problems • Post-Kona reactions from professional athletes • The debate around finishing versus DNFing as a professional • How the IRONMAN Pro Series changes that decision • The financial reality of racing Kona as a professional • T100’s long gap between races • Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the Qatar Grand Final • Influencer racing and where promotion crosses into clickbait • Matt Choi going sub-10 at IRONMAN California • Supertri’s approach to clubs and community • Team Mauna chasing the top of Division One • The 2027 Team Mauna Cozumel training camp • New IRONMAN 70.3 races in Lake George and Utah • And, somehow, backyard ultra racing enters the conversation Post-Kona Reality The Kona buzz is starting to fade, but the reactions from professional athletes continue. Some athletes have spoken about disappointment or even embarrassment when their race did not live up to what they knew they were capable of. That also brings up a bigger conversation around DNFs. For a professional athlete, finishing is not always as simple as proving you are mentally tough enough to reach the line. If continuing a bad race compromises recovery and prevents an athlete from racing for prize money a few weeks later, there is a legitimate financial decision involved. The IRONMAN Pro Series changes that equation. With significant season-ending prize money available, simply reaching the finish can potentially move an athlete several positions in the standings and dramatically increase their payout. Solveig Løvseth’s fight to the finish in Kona was the ultimate example of how much those points can matter. The Cost of Racing Kona Kona is not cheap. Even professional athletes who receive race access still have travel, accommodation, food, equipment and professional licensing expenses. For athletes outside the very top of the sport, showing up to a World Championship can mean spending thousands of dollars with no guarantee of earning anything back. The crew discusses whether World Championship prize purses should potentially pay deeper into the professional field as the cost of competing continues to climb. Where Did the T100 Momentum Go? After a huge championship stretch in triathlon, the T100 calendar suddenly feels very quiet. The next races are: Dubai, November 14 Saudi Arabia, November 28 Qatar Grand Final, December 11 The extended gaps make it difficult to maintain a season-long narrative, particularly after the energy generated by 70.3 Worlds and Kona. Team Mauna Is Coming for Division One Team Mauna is growing again for 2027, and apparently the group has decided it wants a target. After moving from Division Two into Division One, the unofficial goal is now to start chasing the top of the club rankings. The fun part is that every athlete contributes. You don’t need to be chasing podiums or World Championship qualifications. Simply racing under the team name contributes to the club and gives everyone something to rally around. And judging by the team’s World Championship results, things are moving in the right direction. Cozumel Training Camp The Team Mauna training camp is heading back to Cozumel in March. The camp is open to everyone, whether you’re a Team Mauna member or not. The setup includes accommodation at an all-inclusive resort, coaching, supported training, nutrition on course and an apparel package. Multiple coaches allow athletes to split into different ability groups, with lead coaches, sweepers and SAG support helping make the camp accessible whether you’re an experienced racer or still getting comfortable riding a tri bike outside. And most importantly, it’s Cozumel. Train, eat, recover, repeat. New IRONMAN Races IRONMAN has also been busy filling out the North American calendar. IRONMAN 70.3 Lake George has been announced for June, taking over a spot on the calendar after the loss of Western Massachusetts. IRONMAN 70.3 Utah is also returning in a new location in Orem. And then there’s the one Josh is watching closely: the expected announcement of IRONMAN Montana. A downriver swim, fast bike potential and scenic run? The first full-distance race might be getting dangerously real. Quickfire Q&A What is Josh’s likely first full IRONMAN? Potentially IRONMAN Montana. What race completely changed Jenna-Caer’s 2027 plans? Challenge Roth. Coach yourself or hire a coach? Still under debate. Biggest off-season focus? Strength, consistency and rebuilding durability. Most important coaching metric? Not one metric. It’s the trend across power, heart rate, decoupling and athlete feedback. Is the Kona buzz gone yet? Absolutely not. Does Team Mauna want the top Division One club ranking? Unofficially, very much yes. What random endurance rabbit hole are we watching now? The Backyard Ultra Team World Championships. Follow the show 📸 @anothertriathlonpodcast Host, Jenna-Caer Seefried, @jennacaer Josh, @joshmvernon Fede, @fedemultisport Presented by @maunaapparel Support the show Stay connected with us! Follow us on social media - @anothertriathlonpodcast with hosts Jenna-Caer, Fede and Josh to keep up with the latest. And if you have any burning questions for the coaches, feel free to shoot them over to [email protected]   https://www.instagram.com/anothertriathlonpodcast/