Slugging my way through a long, hot run I had an idea (delusion maybe).
Suppose there was an event where you knew the format was 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run. You had to sign up a year in advance and you knew the date and other details: aid station spacing and provisions, official drink and gel, mass start, etc. etc. You’re told all the details except… all you know about the location and course is that it will be somewhere in the Continental US.
The general location (e.g. Austin, TX) would be announced 4 weeks prior to the event to allow people to pack appropriate gear and make transportation arrangements. Hotel arrangements would be reserved as a block and included with the registration fee so you wouldn’t need to scramble for accommodations. The specific course wouldn’t be announced until race check in the day before the event.
You’d have to prepare for anything. Hot, cold. Hilly, flat. Fresh water swim or salt. Wetsuit legal or not. Perhaps the ultimate mental test and a new wrinkle to the usual IM preparation.
Would you register for this MysteryMan?