Perfect list with a good mix of distances and weather conditions. I'd love to do the norseman one day, being more at home with cold weather rather than warm. If I had to add one I would go for the altriman which has some epic epic climbs. Finishing this is way beyond my skills though.
Funnily enough you're right. When I reached the finish line I wanted to burst into tears. Trouble is, I was so exhausted and dehydrated I physically couldn't. Instead just let out a pathetic whine. Then collapsed ;-).
When you've done enough norseman Races to think no triathlon will ever get tears from you... you'll be ready to race Swissman and experience your eyes turning into waterfalls by the end of it.
Great video! Love the choices and the footage of the races. I totally understand why Kona is not on the list - because it's really hard to qualify (better to have a list of races everyone can enter). I also vote for Ironman Mont-Tremblant; both the 70.3 and iron distance events: fantastic venue, fantastic course, great crowds and volunteers and great organization. I did the first 70.3 edition of the race and they had a fly-over of the Canadian snow birds to start the race - nice!
I did Wildflower in 2016. It kicked my butt. It was the hardest race I've ever done. There were very few bits of the bike that were flat, and those had nasty crosswinds. The only positive was that I was so slow I was the only one in the finish chute and so my kids could run in with me. I'm signed up for this year to settle the score!
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival Sprint Triathlon is on the bucket list of many Australians with a swim through a muddy creek/river and then a run and ride through the dusty red desert of Australia.
Noosa!! That's my town, didn't know our tri was famous- Must first triathlon will be at the Gold Coast in Feb :) flattered that my home stretch of coast made this list.
that number 1 just looks EPIC... I mean like EPIC... the only thing missing is back-and-white footage! But seriously if I ever do a full triathlon I wouldn't mind doing that one as a first!
How about IM 70.3 South Africa in East London? Mark, you'll know better than most how tough this race is! Best yet, the national highway is closed just for us, and the support on Bunkers Hill is always epic!
A pretty awesome list. However, you did miss out the worlds most scenic triathlon, Challenge Wanaka! Where else in the world will you get to compete right in the heart of Lord of the Rings country? Add to that the great beer at the finish line and great kiwi hospitality set amongst this most beautiful, stunning location and you have something truly special.
Golden triangle triathlon in Thailand. Swim starts in Laos you swim across the Mekong river to Thailand, cycle to the Burma boarder, run a loop in Burma crossing back in to Thailand for the finish. 3 countries 1 race.
I think the Red Bull Tri Islands is pretty cool as well, it takes places in Northern Germany on the three islands Amrum, Föhr and Sylt. You swim about 3km from Amrum to Föhr where there is a 40km bike course. However this should only take you two and a half hours otherwise you won't catch a boat to Sylt where the 11km run takes places.
Outlaw half in Nottingham. It sells out in seconds every year for good reason, it is a fantastic race. Going for the full this year as I didn’t get in for the half.
Mark Threlfall You should definitely report from both the half and the full in Nottingham. Has the potential to be as fast as Roth if the right athletes turn up.
Mark Threlfall I was talking about the full being as fast as Roth if the right athlete turned up. You have the record for the half, you fancy getting the record for the full to go with it and mark the course out as a sub 8 course?
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam first long distance triathlon in Europe and very often we have very bad conditions making especially the flat bike course very hard.
Challenge Wanaka in South Island of New Zealand / the lake surrounded by the snowy surrounding mountains, crystal clear water, with water temp around 9 degrees, 180km, first 30km in mountains, and the rest in the surrounding challenging adulation with strong winds and a 42.2km run / mostly trails along the lake and two big hill climbs as well, with a great stadium finish, most scenic triathlon around, voted many times :)
So that's some hill triathlons you got there, I feel like i'm dying when I hit a hill on my TT bike :< You got any Triathlon with few hills, you could hit me up with? haha
Surely got to include Triathlon X...Fred Whitten Challenge course for the bike (12,000ft ascent, with climbs like The Struggle (25%); Honister (25%); Newlands (20%); Whinlatter (20%); Hardknott (33%) and Wrynose (20%)) and then the run course up the highest mountain in England; Scarfell Pike (5000ft ascent)?!?! Don't thnk there can be a harder triathlon anywhere in the world?
Great list of races!! What is a “standard distance” triathlon? I’ve been racing for 11 years and haven’t run across that. Sprint, olympic/international, half ironman, or full ironman? Or something else?
Alternatively: Sprint, Standard, Middle & Full. Standard = Olympic. These labels seem to be growing more common as people recognise that Ironman is 'just' a corporate brand.
For the record, several of your entries, are on my "no way in hell" list. Then again, I ran my first tri (sprint) at 50 years old and am not interested in wearing a wet suit for a race.
I didn't know they had changed it to require qualification, Engadin is probably a good choice then. Especially if you then intend to do the world championship, no point in doing two races at the same place if you can choose. There is a world series race in Utö where the finish for the "real" ö till ö is, but it doesn't look as good as the Swiss one. You and Heather could do one of them in the mixed class, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting for you. 😉
You need to chek A Triathlon out That is called tri over Gudhjem its the coolest Triathlon in Denmark its on Bornholm go an chek the facebook page out its: Tri over Gudhjem
The entrance fee for Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon is $750. Seriously?! $750! Who has that sort of money to burn? I certainly don't. With the race being capped at 2000 participants, that's 1.5 million dollar in registration fees alone. I'm sure putting on a race like that costs quite a bit of money, but my guess is that someone is living quite a plush life because of this race. #ImNotJealousImJustDisappointed
"You Must Do" Norseman Triathlon? Yes, one must checking the number of slots and the percent of finishers comparing to the start list before giving "you must" advises :)
Someone should invent a 100 km swim/1000 km bike/followed by a 500 km run, uphill. Then I'd sign up. Until then, I'll just enjoy my Cheetos with a cold Bud here on the couch.
