I just did Escape from Alcatraz, what a cool race! I have been in the sport only 5 yrs, mostly local races in Puerto Rico. I have done other races like St. Croix, Lake Placid, IMFL, Florida 70.3…but doing Alcatraz was an eye opener to me, I guess I came into the sport where IM races get most of the attention, and did not realize there were other races as well put together and as exciting as the IM branded. Now I want more!
What are the other classics in the our sport? what are the other “must do” races out there? I think St. Croix and Alcatraz qualify as classics, there is Kona of course…what others?
Even though it is not an exotic venue, Muncie is one of the oldest continuously held tri’s in the world and has seen the likes of Welch, Van Lierde, and several other noteables. Nice was a the bonifide Queen of the triathlon classics and it is a damn shame it is not around anymore. Roth is a classic, IMHO. Ironman Canada is up there, too.
I’ll be back there for the 4th year trying to salvage a decent finish from previous disasters. Get used to steep but short hills though, Florida is not all flat!!!
I did the CAF 1/2IM last year, wow, what an amazing experience, everyone should do this once. A pretty hard course and you are filled with inspirational views. I was snivelling to myself about how cold the water was and then I see the person I just passed has an arm, that’s all.
Superfrog and S.D. International are both great and have been around for ever.
Triathlon is pretty new compaired to, say cycling which has some pretty old races. I think a few races are already ans some will be classics once they have been around long enough. I think the key elements are an awesome course a history of solid compitition, community support and well run race company…
From the races I have done:
IM Moo, IMC and IMLP
Timberman
Xterra Worlds / Xterra Richmond
Kona
Some local classics/ will be classics in my area are : Griskus Tri series, Mooseman, Nutmeg Race Series, Montaukman
I was DNS but American Zolfinger looks sick. ALso Wildflower looks awesom but I haven’t done that either.
I totally think there are local and regional classics. We joke around that the two biggest races we do each year are Ironman and ones home town race. I mean a good race, throwing down with your training partners, friends, and with your town watching, thats classic.
Has anyone done the “Chase” up in Oregon? I did it once and it was great, the distances are as I remember:
1: 5K trail run
2: 20K mt. bike - I did a spectacular crash 3/4 way through and taco’d front tire
3: 5K kayak - I had never used a kayak before, never want to again
4: 20K road bike
5: 5K trail run
Thanks for all the responses, definitely a good bunch of races out there that I need to put in my list of “must do” and “classics”. The list is long, and from now on I will start my quest to do as many as I can, maybe one every year.
I have to agree with “speedyb”, there is always a local classic, in town with all the people you know, train with, family watching, etc. For most of us in Puerto Rico that would be the “Gran Trialo Isla de Ratones” better known simply as “Trialo Joyuda”…22 consecutive years occurring, low key, well put together and tough…1.6Km swim, 40 mi bike and 10 mi run…the organizer is a passionate as it gets…usually the last weekend in march.