I’m pretty excited for the chance to race the Leadman Epic 250 (5k swim + 223k bike + 22k run = 250k) on May 15. The race came about as a result of Lifetime buying the LeadVILLE 100 MTB race. So the LTF folks wanted to make a triathlon “corollary” of sorts, and the LeadMAN is what they came up with. It is, thankfully, not at 10,000ft of avg. elevation, but it’s bloody long. It’s another 23k longer than Abu Dhabi (after a 2k longer swim) over a MUCH hillier course.
Originally, there wasn’t supposed to be a pro race until next year, but the race organizers arranged to bring in a few of us to put on a good show. In addition to racing a handful of other pros, I’m also racing a relay team with Kristin Armstrong as the biker and also a Slowtwitch-special relay of Monty (s), Paul Thomas (b), and Slowman Dan (r).
Since the race is so small, there’s the opportunity to do some pretty cool stuff. One idea that I’ve tossed out to other RDs in the past which Leadman is actually taking me up on is to do a race-organized tour of the course. So rather than fumbling with a map and trying to recon the course, the race has a big coach bus that will drive the course, and I’ll be your guide. So I’ll be giving some (hopefully) useful tips about how to actually tackle the course on race day.
There’s some other ideas that we’re tossing around as well, but I think it’ll be a pretty neat experience both on and off the race course.
If you want to do the race (be advised - there are qualifying time standards), you can get 10% off your entry with code “RAPPSTAR” on the registration page.
Looks like such an awesome event. After doing Silverman for the first time last year I will have to get this on the schedule for 2012. Those biking roads are Epic!
Funny. I find the 6:15 qualifing time for a half iron cake, but the 12:30 qualifing time for the iron distance difficult.
I agree. That’s a bit odd to me as well. Normal 1/2->Full is 2x+30min on the fast end and 2x+60min on the slow end. Perhaps because the run is only 20km, they were easier on the 1/2 standard? I dunno. I wasn’t involved with the standards setting part.
This hasn’t been a good year for me, first Silverman is cancelled, then my mid summer A race is cancelled, and now this is announced…on the date of my new A race. Oh well, I’m so in next year.
For all of you so far that are going on about it is so on my calendar next year, and no way to get in that kind of shape by may, just do what I, Dan, and Pauly are doing, a relay. No way I can ever do the entire race at this point in my career, but i so want to be a part of it, as it would have been right up my alley in the day. So even if you are doing Triple T or some other race early season, figure out which event you are best at, or need the most training in, and con, I mean convince two of your friends to come along with you…With our team it was a no brainer, Pauly is tearing up the pro cycling circut right now as a master, Dan just did his 2nd running race in two weeks and has tasted sub 6;00 minute miles again, and I will be within two weeks of my masters nationals swimming taper.
We are going to be in the 150+ division and are throwing down the challenge right here for anyone that wants to have some fun, spend a nice spring weekend in Vegas, and get you asses kicked by a bucnh of old farts!!! And now that I’m a happily married man, i have put forth a new 4th event that suits the course and surroundings, hold’em poker for the truly competitive…Shuffle up and deal!!!
I missed this thread, but my buddy just told me about it. Doing St. George the weekend before, but am interested in giving this a crack too. The bike would destroy me though as that’s my worst. I don’t think I could clear it with the boss (wife) though to be gone that long
