I just got the latest copy of runners world &, on the topic of New Years Resolutions, there is a cool article on “must do” experiences in this lifetime for runners. Was wondering if any of you have had unique experiences (unique races, training locations etc) that we all should do some time in this life.
Personally, my top tri-related experience so far has been Gordo’s Epic Camp in New Zealand last year. Incredible scenery (like no other place on earth) and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of truly finding your own limits in the company of like minded people while having nothing to focus on/stress about but swimming, biking and running as far as you can everyday.
I just got the latest copy of runners world &, on the topic of New Years Resolutions, there is a cool article on “must do” experiences in this lifetime for runners. Was wondering if any of you have had unique experiences (unique races, training locations etc) that we all should do some time in this life.
For any IM distance athlete I would say that Roth is a “must do”. The atmosphere is incredible and I enjoyed travelling there as a vacation too. Kona is a given but not everyone can get in there. I would love to race in Lanzarotte some year (so it is on my list of must dos) but it will likely be a long time before I can convince anyone in the school board to give me any time off just before the students have to write exams … maybe I’ll toe the line there in 16 years when I retire
I would agree with your list and add the following:
Alcatraz (completed, but I want to it do again. The swim is an incredible experience)
TripleT (done, but I signed up again for next year. If you like a weekend of pain this is the event for you)
Kona (This is my dream event, hopefully I’ll get in some day)
Lanzarotte (this race scares me, I don’t plan on doing this event)
Ironman Canada (I’ve done this race twice and plan on doing it again. Probably the best Ironman course.)
Wildflower (Probably the best Half-Ironman of all; I’m signed up for my 4th time next year)
St. Croix (still on my list of triathlon to do’s. The Beast looks like a great climb)
The Muncie Endurathon (I’ve completed Muncie 6 times and plan to do it many more times. I believe Muncie is the longest running Half-Ironman. 2007 will be the 28th year for Muncie. Muncie still is like the grassroots of triathon and it’s history harkens back to the early days of this sport. Muncie also has a great course and is one of the best run triatlons out there. Now if they could only make the bike course 56 miles instead of the 54 mile route.)
Funny, I never really planned on doing the triple-T except “maybe someday”. When you put it in the context of this thread I thought; huh, maybe I should do it before I get hit by a bus or something…
Next year IMMO is my A race. I’ll probably do the TTT the following spring. You’ve convinced me.
I had the following list of triathlon “classics”:
St. Croix, Wildflower, Nice (the old one), Roth, Kona, Ironman NZ, Zofingen, ITU Worlds Olympic distance.
At this point I’ve done a bunch of them. The remaining ones on my list at IMNZ, Zofingen, Nice. Sadly, I will never be able to do the old Nice race with its huge pedigree from the late 80’s when it rivaled Kona for prestige (hard to believe today). The current Nice IM France does not interest me, but a suitable stand in would be 70.3 Monaco. If they moved 70.3 World’s somewhere hilly then I’d add that to the list of “classics” to do.
…and if they ever had that triathlon in Dubai, I’d be there in heartbeat (family, work and vacation time permitting)…bring on the heat!
Wow, surprised you have not heard of this! Usually abreviated DATTT or the DeSoto American TripleT. Search slowtwitch as there are MANY posts on it. Basically a super sprint tri Fri eve, a std OLY tri Sat morning then an OLY tri Sat afternoon (but bike swim run), then a 1/2 IM on Sunday am. And, there are 2 person teams (solo as well). Everyone wears the same uniform (provided by DeSoto). Terrain is really rough (very hilly bike and a fire road trail type run in the hills). Lots of camaraderie with free food and massages after each race. Limited to 200 participants. See www.hfpracing.com for more details.
First 200. Used to be only 150. No lottery. Only hard part is getting there as it is in the middle of nowhere in the Shawnee State forest (old hunting grounds for the Shawnee Indians) near Portsmouth, OH.
Yes, 2007 will be hard for me. That is around my 20 year reunion. Plus, I told my wife I would give her some time off before the next travel and race event. I dragged her and the kids to IM AZ and they had a tough day. Gotta keep them motivated before I do that again.
I think any epic week should be on the list for the serious triathlete.
I had more fun during my solo LA-SF-LA trip than during all races combined. Hands down the best time I ever had of any December. Didn’t plan much, just left one day without cell phone. Had a map, bought sweat pants and a shirt on the way and suffered my way through 1600km of headwinds while enjoying the beautiful scenery and getting poured on by a winter storm. But looking back, it’s the suffering and the “I will never ever ever do this shit again”. Good memories that will soon have to be repeated
The “nothing else but training” Zone are truly experiences of a lifetime. At least in my book.
