I have been getting this comparison as of late. While not the exact same distances as Norseman it’s as close as you are going to get on American soil right now. I have opened the site for early registration.
http://www.s2striathlon.com/our-team.html
The “recommended” bike route thing makes the “race” seem like a training ride.
It looks like a fun day…and certainly in the spirit of Norseman. But…
The swim is considerably shorter and probably warmer.
The bike is… well, it seems quite strange that there is a “recommended” route for a race. Don’t understand that.
And the run, well, a 5 mile hike up a steep mountain is tough. Even tougher after you’ve already run 15.5 and hiked up another 5-6.
The swim is cold. The bike at Norseman is truly a bugger. But… the run. Running 15.5 flat and THEN having to go up a mountain. That is what makes Norseman so so so tough.
However, could imagine Mt. Washington conditions can be as epically cataclysmic.
So might be tough at this stage to take on the American Norseman mantle (although, why not try?).
Having raced Norseman this year…can say I’m all in favor for proliferation of cool extreme-type races popping up around the globe.
So good luck!
Yeah, what’s up with the “recommended”? You say “athletes will follow a recommended bike course” and proceed to give a detailed, turn-by-turn description of the “recommended” bike course. How is this not just the bike course like every other race has a bike course? Why give people the option to do something you do not recommend?
i assume its 'cause the bike isn’t supported.
for my $0.02, this sounds like a gran fondo of triathlon. and i’d be all in favor of that. an awesome swim. a huge pack ride to a mountain, and then a pell-mell scramble to … the beer tent. that’s the only flaw. it shouldn’t end at the peak. it has to end at the beer tent.
I could see this quickly turning into a 150 mile training ride. That’s a lot of turns and it doesn’t sound like there’d be much direction out there. I get lost *on my own *training rides sometimes when I zone out hard enough. Also, I’d hate to lose a spot because I had worse luck with the traffic lights.
Would you consider allowing people to race who haven’t broken the 6 or 13 hour barriers?
This race is not for everyone. Those that need it all mapped out Ironman-wise should not apply. :)…You would need to talk to me directly if you are not close to those times.
Sounds like an adventure race with swimming biking and running as the legs. Start at point A, and you have to hit points B, C and D on the way to E. Doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get there. Interesting concept.
Except that they tell you exactly how they want you to do it. Makes no sense. You don’t have to support the course and staff it with marshals. But, have a course or don’t. And, if you do, then give folks a garmin course file and chalk arrows on the road. And, if you don’t, then don’t have a recommended course complete with detailed cue sheet that you want people to follow.
ps - the race/adventure itself sounds great. I hope it succeeds.