A week from today will be a big step in my obsession with off road triathlon. A 70.3 mile half-ironman, off road, self-supported solo. Excited doesn’t even begin to capture it!
1.2 mile open water swim (Canandaigua), 56 mile mountain bike (Greenway), 13.1 mile trail run (FLT Letchworth)… Wish me luck!
Update: a number of folks have asked about my itinerary for Saturday. “Can I join you on the trail run? For part of the swim? On the Greenway? Can I lurk in the shadows and stalk you?” Sure! I truly didn’t anticipate folks showing that much interest, so thank you!
Here’s the day’s schedule:
-SWIM: 7am, 1.2 Miles, Kershaw Park Waterfront, Canandaigua, NY.
-MOUNTAIN BIKE: 8:30am, 56 Miles, Genesee Valley Greenway, Cuylerville, NY route 20A/39 Trailhead
-TRAIL RUN: 1:15pm, 13.1 Miles, Letchworth Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) Extension, Mt. Morris Dam Parking Lot Trailhead, Mt. Morris, NY.
All times are approximate – give or take 30 minutes – and may vary depending on the day’s conditions and/or how I’m feeling.
Please feel free to come on out an support if you so desire! I am flattered that folks are finding this inspirational enough to come along with, but I would be very remiss if I didn’t offer two extremely blunt disclaimers up front, because when I’m out on a solo and am focused in my pain cave, you really should know that:
- If you join me for any portion of my Tri, you do so on your own. I will not wait up for anyone slower and I won’t speed up for anyone faster. I might or might not be “chatty.” I probably won’t bat an eye if you get hurt, have a bike malfunction, etc. On group things I’m very gracious and friendly. On solo things I’m totally selfish. Sorry. Take it or leave it.
- This is a self-supported solo, so I cannot accept outside anything from anyone. I can’t help it if I have company on the trail, but I can’t accept outside water, energy gels, etc.
WHAT RACE WAS THIS? LINK?
It wasn’t a race – Off Road 1/2 Ironmans are few and far between… rather than wait for one I came up with a route and soloed it myself with spotting from a few friends to make sure I didn’t keel over… was a blast! So, it was a do-it-yourself “race”…
you are the man for doing that —- I have looked for a off road xterra type half iron and have found nothing…. any suggestions?
Yeah, Colin – have run into the same problem – there really aren’t many off road tri’s longer than the Olympic distance. There was a Full/Half Off Toad Iron Tri down in Virginia a few year’s back (’05)? There was a Full Off Road Iron Tri out in Utah as well within the last decade; and I hear there was a series in Spain at one point two. A few details here…
But there doesn’t seem to have been – prior to now – a large field, of people interested in these events. Because they’re brutal. But it seems like there is a growing interest in this, so… let’s hope it grows! I, for one, am very happy to promote it!
Below are the only two active events I’m aware of. Both look awesome – good luck!
- Pain In The Alleganies Half Iron Tri, New York + Race Report from Amy Moritz
- The XTRI24 Full Iron Off Road Triathlon, England