Perfect list with a good mix of distances and weather conditions. I'd love to do the norseman one day, being more at home with cold weather rather than warm. If I had to add one I would go for the altriman which has some epic epic climbs. Finishing this is way beyond my skills though.
Funnily enough you're right. When I reached the finish line I wanted to burst into tears. Trouble is, I was so exhausted and dehydrated I physically couldn't. Instead just let out a pathetic whine. Then collapsed ;-).
When you've done enough norseman Races to think no triathlon will ever get tears from you... you'll be ready to race Swissman and experience your eyes turning into waterfalls by the end of it.
I did Wildflower in 2016. It kicked my butt. It was the hardest race I've ever done. There were very few bits of the bike that were flat, and those had nasty crosswinds. The only positive was that I was so slow I was the only one in the finish chute and so my kids could run in with me. I'm signed up for this year to settle the score!
Great video! Love the choices and the footage of the races. I totally understand why Kona is not on the list - because it's really hard to qualify (better to have a list of races everyone can enter). I also vote for Ironman Mont-Tremblant; both the 70.3 and iron distance events: fantastic venue, fantastic course, great crowds and volunteers and great organization. I did the first 70.3 edition of the race and they had a fly-over of the Canadian snow birds to start the race - nice!
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival Sprint Triathlon is on the bucket list of many Australians with a swim through a muddy creek/river and then a run and ride through the dusty red desert of Australia.
Noosa!! That's my town, didn't know our tri was famous- Must first triathlon will be at the Gold Coast in Feb :) flattered that my home stretch of coast made this list.
that number 1 just looks EPIC... I mean like EPIC... the only thing missing is back-and-white footage! But seriously if I ever do a full triathlon I wouldn't mind doing that one as a first!
How about IM 70.3 South Africa in East London? Mark, you'll know better than most how tough this race is! Best yet, the national highway is closed just for us, and the support on Bunkers Hill is always epic!
Golden triangle triathlon in Thailand. Swim starts in Laos you swim across the Mekong river to Thailand, cycle to the Burma boarder, run a loop in Burma crossing back in to Thailand for the finish. 3 countries 1 race.
A pretty awesome list. However, you did miss out the worlds most scenic triathlon, Challenge Wanaka! Where else in the world will you get to compete right in the heart of Lord of the Rings country? Add to that the great beer at the finish line and great kiwi hospitality set amongst this most beautiful, stunning location and you have something truly special.
I think the Red Bull Tri Islands is pretty cool as well, it takes places in Northern Germany on the three islands Amrum, Föhr and Sylt. You swim about 3km from Amrum to Föhr where there is a 40km bike course. However this should only take you two and a half hours otherwise you won't catch a boat to Sylt where the 11km run takes places.
Outlaw half in Nottingham. It sells out in seconds every year for good reason, it is a fantastic race. Going for the full this year as I didn’t get in for the half.
Mark Threlfall You should definitely report from both the half and the full in Nottingham. Has the potential to be as fast as Roth if the right athletes turn up.
Mark Threlfall I was talking about the full being as fast as Roth if the right athlete turned up. You have the record for the half, you fancy getting the record for the full to go with it and mark the course out as a sub 8 course?
Great list of races!! What is a “standard distance” triathlon? I’ve been racing for 11 years and haven’t run across that. Sprint, olympic/international, half ironman, or full ironman? Or something else?
Alternatively: Sprint, Standard, Middle & Full. Standard = Olympic. These labels seem to be growing more common as people recognise that Ironman is 'just' a corporate brand.
Challenge Wanaka in South Island of New Zealand / the lake surrounded by the snowy surrounding mountains, crystal clear water, with water temp around 9 degrees, 180km, first 30km in mountains, and the rest in the surrounding challenging adulation with strong winds and a 42.2km run / mostly trails along the lake and two big hill climbs as well, with a great stadium finish, most scenic triathlon around, voted many times :)
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam first long distance triathlon in Europe and very often we have very bad conditions making especially the flat bike course very hard.
Surely got to include Triathlon X...Fred Whitten Challenge course for the bike (12,000ft ascent, with climbs like The Struggle (25%); Honister (25%); Newlands (20%); Whinlatter (20%); Hardknott (33%) and Wrynose (20%)) and then the run course up the highest mountain in England; Scarfell Pike (5000ft ascent)?!?! Don't thnk there can be a harder triathlon anywhere in the world?
I didn't know they had changed it to require qualification, Engadin is probably a good choice then. Especially if you then intend to do the world championship, no point in doing two races at the same place if you can choose. There is a world series race in Utö where the finish for the "real" ö till ö is, but it doesn't look as good as the Swiss one. You and Heather could do one of them in the mixed class, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting for you. 😉
So that's some hill triathlons you got there, I feel like i'm dying when I hit a hill on my TT bike :< You got any Triathlon with few hills, you could hit me up with? haha
For the record, several of your entries, are on my "no way in hell" list. Then again, I ran my first tri (sprint) at 50 years old and am not interested in wearing a wet suit for a race.
You need to chek A Triathlon out That is called tri over Gudhjem its the coolest Triathlon in Denmark its on Bornholm go an chek the facebook page out its: Tri over Gudhjem
"You Must Do" Norseman Triathlon? Yes, one must checking the number of slots and the percent of finishers comparing to the start list before giving "you must" advises :)
The entrance fee for Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon is $750. Seriously?! $750! Who has that sort of money to burn? I certainly don't. With the race being capped at 2000 participants, that's 1.5 million dollar in registration fees alone. I'm sure putting on a race like that costs quite a bit of money, but my guess is that someone is living quite a plush life because of this race. #ImNotJealousImJustDisappointed
Someone should invent a 100 km swim/1000 km bike/followed by a 500 km run, uphill. Then I'd sign up. Until then, I'll just enjoy my Cheetos with a cold Bud here on the couch.
What is the best race you have ever done? Let us know in the comments below 👇
Perfect list with a good mix of distances and weather conditions. I'd love to do the norseman one day, being more at home with cold weather rather than warm. If I had to add one I would go for the altriman which has some epic epic climbs. Finishing this is way beyond my skills though.
Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. Open enrollment for everyone with all of the awesomeness of Kona and only half the pain!
Growing Young this is crazy 😂
No Skydiving Xterra that Mark was talking about in a previous GTN show? Personally, the 1st one looks like an awesome place.
loch Ness marathon (first marathon)
Alcatraz escape swim 2017
I would love to see videos on Xterra‘ and how training differs from off road courses to pure road.
You should check out our trail running videos as a good starting place 👍
Cardiff boy here. Yet to do a triathlon event. But one day, I'll finish Ironman Wales!
Mark doesn’t mention he came 15th or so in the Norseman! Humble guy!
I'm registeted for Wildflower! So stoked about this race.
Norseman looks a lot like a race where you start crying when you see the finish line
Funnily enough you're right. When I reached the finish line I wanted to burst into tears. Trouble is, I was so exhausted and dehydrated I physically couldn't. Instead just let out a pathetic whine. Then collapsed ;-).
When you've done enough norseman Races to think no triathlon will ever get tears from you... you'll be ready to race Swissman and experience your eyes turning into waterfalls by the end of it.
I think I would cry during the build up.
Embrunman triathlon in France is a nice one, with the climb 'Col de l'isoard' within the 180km bike leg !
I´d love to do the inferno triathlon one day. That should be epic!!
I did Wildflower in 2016. It kicked my butt. It was the hardest race I've ever done. There were very few bits of the bike that were flat, and those had nasty crosswinds. The only positive was that I was so slow I was the only one in the finish chute and so my kids could run in with me. I'm signed up for this year to settle the score!
Great video! Love the choices and the footage of the races. I totally understand why Kona is not on the list - because it's really hard to qualify (better to have a list of races everyone can enter). I also vote for Ironman Mont-Tremblant; both the 70.3 and iron distance events: fantastic venue, fantastic course, great crowds and volunteers and great organization. I did the first 70.3 edition of the race and they had a fly-over of the Canadian snow birds to start the race - nice!
Swissman!
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival Sprint Triathlon is on the bucket list of many Australians with a swim through a muddy creek/river and then a run and ride through the dusty red desert of Australia.
Embrunman -France/Haute d' Alpes
I was waiting for norseman all the time (since im norwegian of course) AND IT CAME FIRST!!
The Artic triple - Lofoten Triathlon! :D
Amazing top 10 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 more of this please
You should have mentioned Bulagria's Lionheart. 3k swim, 116k bike, 21km run. Beach swim, mountain bike and run in the mountains. Incredible!
Noosa!! That's my town, didn't know our tri was famous- Must first triathlon will be at the Gold Coast in Feb :) flattered that my home stretch of coast made this list.
Wow. Nice list of events.
The Altriman is amazing as well
You forgot the winterlude triathlon in ottawa- skate on the world’s longest frozen canal, x country ski through the forest and run:) truly unique
The Wilderman is a great race!
I think Mark and/or Heather should enter Celtman next year!
Buffalo Springs Lake Tri was on the bucket list,but they turned it into another Ironman.Whoop de do.
I live in Phuket
Elbaman, Italy. Stunning scenario, challenging bike with 2400m of elevation
Awesome video GTN
Thanks Matt!
that number 1 just looks EPIC... I mean like EPIC... the only thing missing is back-and-white footage!
But seriously if I ever do a full triathlon I wouldn't mind doing that one as a first!
I think that if you include Norseman, then you also need to include Swissman in this list.
Marc Leber will definitely take a good look at the Swissman. A lot of recommendations for it!
How about IM 70.3 South Africa in East London? Mark, you'll know better than most how tough this race is! Best yet, the national highway is closed just for us, and the support on Bunkers Hill is always epic!
Golden triangle triathlon in Thailand. Swim starts in Laos you swim across the Mekong river to Thailand, cycle to the Burma boarder, run a loop in Burma crossing back in to Thailand for the finish. 3 countries 1 race.
Morcar McConnell Wow, seriously? That's fucking awesome!
Liam Hobbs seriously!! Most epic race I’ve done!!
That sounds incredible!
A pretty awesome list. However, you did miss out the worlds most scenic triathlon, Challenge Wanaka!
Where else in the world will you get to compete right in the heart of Lord of the Rings country? Add to that the great beer at the finish line and great kiwi hospitality set amongst this most beautiful, stunning location and you have something truly special.
I think the Red Bull Tri Islands is pretty cool as well, it takes places in Northern Germany on the three islands Amrum, Föhr and Sylt. You swim about 3km from Amrum to Föhr where there is a 40km bike course. However this should only take you two and a half hours otherwise you won't catch a boat to Sylt where the 11km run takes places.
Helvellyn is a cracking event.
Outlaw half in Nottingham. It sells out in seconds every year for good reason, it is a fantastic race. Going for the full this year as I didn’t get in for the half.
Plumsie28 that’s a good race ;)
Mark Threlfall You should definitely report from both the half and the full in Nottingham. Has the potential to be as fast as Roth if the right athletes turn up.
Plumsie28 you know I have the record??! Or have I fallen for the joke haha
Mark Threlfall I was talking about the full being as fast as Roth if the right athlete turned up. You have the record for the half, you fancy getting the record for the full to go with it and mark the course out as a sub 8 course?
Plumsie28 perhaps I’ll come back for it one day :)
About to race Laguna Phuket Triathlon on 19th Nov
botallica Isn’t it cancelled for this year?
its 2019 now u gonna race bro?
Alcatraz is my fav, but don't overlook 70.3 Hawaii or Lavaman, both on the Big Island 🏝 🥥
You forgot the Embrunman triathlon in the South Alps, France !!! I hope to be in the start list of the Norseman 2018 !
SwissMan (SM) and WinterMan (WM), I have not done either, maybe one day, I will be crazy and fit enough to do so.
IM Lake placid is pretty neat as well
Doing Alcatraz in 10 days!!!
IM Lanzarote
You should add evergreen triathlon
Add the Israman (last Friday in January) to your Iron Distance races
Alcatraz used to limit themselves to 250 entries
Those early EFA races were on NBC
Oravaman!
Great list of races!!
What is a “standard distance” triathlon? I’ve been racing for 11 years and haven’t run across that.
Sprint, olympic/international, half ironman, or full ironman? Or something else?
Alternatively: Sprint, Standard, Middle & Full.
Standard = Olympic.
These labels seem to be growing more common as people recognise that Ironman is 'just' a corporate brand.
Challenge Wanaka in South Island of New Zealand / the lake surrounded by the snowy surrounding mountains, crystal clear water, with water temp around 9 degrees, 180km, first 30km in mountains, and the rest in the surrounding challenging adulation with strong winds and a 42.2km run / mostly trails along the lake and two big hill climbs as well, with a great stadium finish, most scenic triathlon around, voted many times :)
Wanaka sits firmly at the top of my list.
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam first long distance triathlon in Europe and very often we have very bad conditions making especially the flat bike course very hard.
Chicago triple challenge
What about Patagonman?
I was surprised not to hear boulder, kona or alaskaman
Challenge Roth sells out in minutes each year i try
Think Lanzarote and Kona should be on that list
Greg Lummis would love to have included both. Kona unfortunately is a championship event, so requires qualification. This is a list for everyone
I am missing some links to the various triathlons :/
Wao very nice😮
Surely got to include Triathlon X...Fred Whitten Challenge course for the bike (12,000ft ascent, with climbs like The Struggle (25%); Honister (25%); Newlands (20%); Whinlatter (20%); Hardknott (33%) and Wrynose (20%)) and then the run course up the highest mountain in England; Scarfell Pike (5000ft ascent)?!?! Don't thnk there can be a harder triathlon anywhere in the world?
Wow, haven't come across this before but sounds so so tough!
Last 50 places just released if you fancy it! :-)
Kona?
GTN are you guys coming to laguna phuket triathlon?
Unfortunately not, it looks awesome though!
Cool!
Which would you choose Liam?
Global Triathlon Network XTERRA France !!!!!
What made you choose Ö till ö Engadin instead of the original in Stockholm?
By the way, ö isn't pronounced o, it's pronounced like the i in bird.
Buff Viking in the same way to Kona, it’s the world championships and requires qualification
I didn't know they had changed it to require qualification, Engadin is probably a good choice then. Especially if you then intend to do the world championship, no point in doing two races at the same place if you can choose. There is a world series race in Utö where the finish for the "real" ö till ö is, but it doesn't look as good as the Swiss one.
You and Heather could do one of them in the mixed class, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting for you. 😉
Buff Viking haha I have actually done the Sweden World Champs event. Best event I have ever done. May well be doing again soon ;)
I am a runner and not a triathloner, but I am on that side of UA-cam. But good video anyway
Savageman maryland
Why didn't the East Grimsby seniors dash make it to number one?
So that's some hill triathlons you got there, I feel like i'm dying when I hit a hill on my TT bike :<
You got any Triathlon with few hills, you could hit me up with? haha
I thought that Kona, Hawaii would be no. 1 and it’s not even on the list 😮
It seems appropriate for Mark and Heather to split the list and do one each per year.
Nice idea Matt, we'll get Mark to do and Ironman Wales and Heather can go to Phuket... reckon that's fair?
Global Triathlon Network Hmm, are you sure Captain Calves is rugged enough to handle long distance? I guess there's only one way to find out!
For the record, several of your entries, are on my "no way in hell" list. Then again, I ran my first tri (sprint) at 50 years old and am not interested in wearing a wet suit for a race.
Hmmm not the list I was expecting
Where is the embrunman????😱😱😱
You need to chek A Triathlon out That is called tri over Gudhjem its the coolest Triathlon in Denmark its on Bornholm go an chek the facebook page out its: Tri over Gudhjem
Triathlon X (uk)
If you guys want to race in norway, swim in from an island you should look at "trondheim triatlon"
Not Switzerland, Sweden
Mustafa Bircan went for Engadin in Switzerland as it’s not a championship. In other words you don’t need to qualify
Mark Threlfall Confusing though that the footage and map used in your video is from the Swedish championship and not the Swiss one ;)
carolinamoren I had noticed that. Either way, both still VERY cool events!! :)
if norseman or swissman is not here im not gonna be happy
Don't worry, the Norseman made the list!
"You Must Do" Norseman Triathlon? Yes, one must checking the number of slots and the percent of finishers comparing to the start list before giving "you must" advises :)
The entrance fee for Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon is $750. Seriously?! $750! Who has that sort of money to burn? I certainly don't.
With the race being capped at 2000 participants, that's 1.5 million dollar in registration fees alone. I'm sure putting on a race like that costs quite a bit of money, but my guess is that someone is living quite a plush life because of this race. #ImNotJealousImJustDisappointed
elbaman in italy
What about Kona?
Kona needs to qualify.... those in the list need no qualification as stated at the beginning of the video.
Escape from Alcatraz seems to be a lottery and qualification race
A. P. I agree, qualification or not, Kona is one race that just about every triathlete would like to do.
Someone should invent a 100 km swim/1000 km bike/followed by a 500 km run, uphill. Then I'd sign up. Until then, I'll just enjoy my Cheetos with a cold Bud here on the couch.
😂 That's a long long way!
Alaskaman
How about. . . Uh. . .kona?
Kona requires qualification, mark's list was event's that everyone could potentially do!
The double (or tripple) brutal, is also on the dream list. www.brutalevents.co.uk/the_brutal.html
Swimrun is not a triathlon tho.....
Next time stick to miles or km please. Don’t mix makes it hard to compare
Israman (Eilat Israel)
en.israman.co.il
Swissmman
A popular suggestion Gerardo!
Load of crap! How can you not have Kona in there! Hhmm dislike this very much....👎
Probably because it is qualification only.
OurDave 😂 yes true but so is Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon. Just piss poor not to include Kona, bad form. Soft.
Alcatraz has a lottery entry you pillock
As stated...they’re all non championship events, that anyone can do. I’m afraid you have to qualify for Kona
What about Kona?