I’m a race director. I have a 2,500-person race scheduled for April 26 and it’s likely going to be cancelled. This is my livelihood.
But I’m healthy. I have food. I have savings. And I want to keep perspective.
I also have software I’ve built over the last 10 years that creates live race tracking for my event (the Seneca7 in upstate New York). The software can also create virtual races. So in the spirit of keeping us all sane, positive, and active when we can’t be competing, I’d like to offer PenguinMan, the 1st annual Slowtwitch Virtual Triathlon Presented By COVID-19.
THE COURSE
Obviously we’ll be competing (virtually) in Antarctica because it’s the only continent left without the coronavirus (and good social distancing). Course map here:
https://maps.resport.io/...p?m=5694244782080000
The swim takes place in the breathtaking (literally; it’s like 33 degrees) Southern Ocean, a point-to-point paddle from some island called Base Yelcho. Upon washing ashore on Anvers Island (according to google maps) you’ll get on your bike for a 4,000-foot climb to the summit of some unnamed mountain range. The KOM (King of the Mountain) will gain naming rights to this mountain, and will be allowed to plant their country’s flag at the top. An exhilarating downhill takes you back to sea level for the run, a 3.1-mile jaunt across glaciers and between mating seals. Again you’ll climb some very large mountain to nearly 2,000 feet, so bring your native flag in case you happen to be in the lead. You’ll get naming rights and a very nice bagel with peanut butter at the finish.
HOW IT WORKS
When you register, you’ll receive a link to submit your swim, bike, and run times. You can do the 1-mile swim, 20-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run anytime between now and March 31. You can do them together or separately. You can do them 8 times, I don’t care. Just upload your times and I’ll compile them on a leaderboard. Then I’ll overlay everyone on the course map and all together we’ll watch the race replay. You can do things like this with technology. For example, here’s the actual 2020 Atlanta Marathon Olympic Trials men’s race reconstituted as a run up Mount Kilimanjaro:
https://live.resport.io/...p?r=5752337612144640
REGISTRATION
…will open tomorrow. The entry fee is $1,000 but you can use the discount code “gimmefree” to get a $1,000 discount. That means it’s free to participate. The Feds aren’t the only ones giving away cash!
You can use your Slowtwitch handle to participate or make up a name. I’d like to see 1,000 people in this inaugural edition. For your efforts you’ll get a virtual t-shirt, a bib number (not the bib, just the number), virtual goody bag, and a penguin. You’ll also get a real (virtual) finisher certificate, suitable for virtual framing.
Thank you and good luck. And if any other race directors out there want to use this technology for their own race that has been cancelled or postponed, I will set it up for you free of charge.