New Ironman Coverage Bans All On-Course Photography and Video

This article initially appeared on Triathlete

If you have been planning on carrying sensible glasses throughout your subsequent Ironman or posting a mid-race replace in your followers, assume once more. Ironman’s 2026 update to its official competition rules features a preemptive smackdown on athletes who use recording gadgets (together with cell telephones, video cameras, GoPros, and sensible glasses) to seize images, video, or different visible content material in the course of the race.

What is the brand new rule on recording throughout an Ironman or 70.3 triathlon?

Communication gadgets like two-way radios have lengthy been banned on track for Ironman and 70.3 races. In 2017, the race collection updated its policy to accommodate the rising use of cell telephones and smartwatches by athletes for knowledge assortment and monitoring, saying the gadgets could be allowed as long as they aren’t used for communication functions. In different phrases, you possibly can carry your telephone, however not use it in what Ironman known as a “distractive manner,” or “making and receiving phone calls, sending and receiving text messages, playing music, using social media, and taking photographs.”

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Fast ahead virtually a decade, and readability has now been added to incorporate “taking video” on its record of what constitutes utilizing expertise in a “distractive manner,” together with an outright ban on amassing images or movies throughout a race – no matter how it is collected. Specifically, the up to date rule states:

“Using any device (e.g., including without limitation, cameras, phone cameras, video cameras, glasses, etc.) to capture photographs, video, or other visual images during the race is prohibited. Athletes using any device in this manner will be disqualified.”

In different phrases, no selfies, no GoPros, no sensible glasses, and positively no livestreaming your race, whether or not you are utilizing a smartphone or not. The coverage is meant to keep up the integrity, focus, and security of the aggressive setting for all individuals.

What can I exploit my telephone throughout an Ironman or 70.3?

If your telephone is a essential a part of your race-day setup, do not fret – you possibly can nonetheless carry it for sure capabilities throughout your Ironman or 70.3 race.

Tracking & instructions

GPS monitoring capabilities for navigation are nonetheless permitted throughout an Ironman, offered the machine is secured and never actively manipulated. Sharing your location along with your assist crew remains to be permitted, as is utilizing your telephone for turn-by-turn navigation.

Bike pc capabilities

Though utilizing a telephone as a motorcycle pc was once banned in-race, Ironman has since relaxed its rule, as long as the machine is securely mounted to the bike (in different phrases, no holding your telephone with one hand whereas badly steering with the opposite).

Emergencies

If you are carrying a telephone throughout a race and are available throughout an emergency, comparable to a crash or an athlete in misery, utilizing your telephone to name 911 is suitable, however not whereas in movement. Do not use your telephone whereas using or operating; as a substitute, cease to alert emergency suppliers. This will not be solely in your security and the security of these round you, but in addition to permit dispatchers to make use of your cellphone location to find the incident.

What you possibly can’t use your cellphone for in an Ironman or 70.3

Though a cellphone could also be good to have for some athletes, it is sometimes not an important piece of triathlon gear. In some ways, carrying your cellphone throughout a race is usually a distraction and a literal weight in your jersey pocket. We advocate leaving your telephone behind on race morning, however should you insist on carrying it, know you will not be capable of use it in most of the methods you are accustomed to throughout a typical coaching day. For that purpose, many coaches advocate getting ready in your race by not utilizing your telephone throughout exercises, to permit your self to adapt to a phone-free expertise. (Screen time can ruin your workouts, anyway.)

Texting or calls

The urge to reply to a partner’s apprehensive “WHERE R U?” textual content whenever you’re off your predicted tempo might be sturdy, so as a substitute, use a monitoring app like “Find My” on iPhone or “Location Sharing” on Android. Then flip your notifications off at some point of your race.

Playing music

You would possibly get hyped by your Backstreet Boys/Metallica/EDM playlist, however you will must sing it to your self. Marathon and path runners may be stunned to seek out that headphones, earbuds, and different listening gadgets are banned at Ironman and 70.3 races (and the overwhelming majority of triathlons), as are exterior audio system.

Taking images

Even a fast mid-race selfie might technically get you disqualified. Remember: There are loads of skilled photographers on track documenting your race, alongside along with your assist crew (who will little doubt be taking hundreds of thousands of images and movies each time they spot you on track).

Taking video

Ironman’s 2026 rule replace expressly prohibits the usage of video recording gadgets on-course. That helmet-mounted GoPro is a no-go, as is carrying sensible glasses or carrying your telephone to report your self crossing the end line. (We promise, individuals will nonetheless consider you completed. That’s what the medal is for.)

What about different triathlon races?

Ironman is not the one triathlon collection that bans cell telephones. USA Triathlon-sanctioned races allow participants to carry a cell phone, although (like Ironman) prohibit its use in a “distractive manner during the competition,” which it describes as together with however “not limited to making or receiving phone calls, sending or receiving text messages, playing music, using social media, taking photographs or using one- or twoway radio communication.”

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Challenge Family, Supertri, and T100 additionally place restrictions on cell telephones and sensible gadgets beneath the umbrella of “distractive” use. All state that if carried, telephones needs to be securely saved in a pocket or on the bike to keep away from hazardous use.

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