I think it's a great idea. I love the idea of having fun with the IM distance in different ways. It would be great preparation for an IM, plus some people who might otherwise not do an IM could see what it's like.

Another format I would like to see is a two man IM, where you have to do the whole race with a partner. You can't start or finish any of the three without your teammate. Something I would like to take part in.

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"What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind and body can achieve; and those who stay will be champions."

This race sounds like a great idea for those trying to make the jump to the Ironman distance.

Considering that Friday's race will be a pure swim wetsuits really shouldn't be allowed unless the water conditions make it absolutely necessary (water under 68). It's only my opinion, but too many athletes are simply using their wetsuits to float through the swim and never learn to swim. This is a distortion of what our sport is supposed to be all about; it's swim-bike-run, not float-bike-run.

I may be interested in participating. What are the dates going to be? Is there somewhere to go for information yet?

Good luck with the planning!

I guess I should clarify. I'm not the organizer. I just copied the info from another forum. I think the race is in Oct...whenever the Portland Marathon weekend is.

 
For thosee non-swimmers who can somehow "float" through a few-thousand meters of open-water swimming, I say more power to 'em!

You're faster in a wetsuit, too, so no skin off your back, right? Just go out and wax those damn floaters.

It looks like it's Oct. 3, 2004. Here's the site but it doesn't mention the stage race yet:

http://www.portlandmarathon.org/

I'd be interested in doing a 3 day event, especially in Kona, as there's no way I would qualify for Hawaii in the near future.

Richard