Must Do/Aspirational Events

couerdelion

Looking for inspiration or something similar to set myself a few targets over the next few years.

As a triathlete what would you consider must do and/or aspirational events in the three disciplines and overall?


I'm thinking along the lines of 1 local (to Ireland) small event, 1 bigger national event and an international event in each category (tri, swim, bike, run). Something like:

Triathlon:

• TriAthy Sprint
• Dublin City Olympic
• Kona Ironman

Run

• Great Ireland Run 10k
• Dublin Marathon
• Marathon Des Sables

Bike

• Wicklow 200
• Malin Head to Mizen Head
• Etape du Tour

Swim

• Escape From Ireland
• i3 Lough derg swim
• English Channel swim (this isn't a target for me!)

Anyone fancy helping me get a bigger list?

mloc123

couerdelion wrote: »

Triathlon:

• TriAthy Sprint - Meh

Run

• Great Ireland Run 10k - Meh

Bike

• Wicklow 200 - Meh

Over rated I would say..

griffin100

For me realistic goals are (bearing in mind I ain't ever going to Kona ):
Escape from Alacatraz triathlon
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon
Roth IM
Blacksod Triathlon (the only Irish race I really want to do and haven't)
Norseman (maybe!)
O till O (if I ever find a team mate)
MDS

All are doable over the next few years although I may need to win the lotto to do them all...........

eoglyn

The Norseman looks incredible.

Tell me more about the Blacksod, why is it so good? not much on the interweb about it

EDIT: Just found the map of the course - now i understand
http://www.kilmoretriathlonclub.com/index.php?pname=race

griffin100

eoglyn wrote: »

The Norseman looks incredible.

Tell me more about the Blacksod, why is it so good? not much on the interweb about it

EDIT: Just found the map of the course - now i understand
http://www.kilmoretriathlonclub.com/index.php?pname=race

I lived in Blacksod on and off for about 3 years and worked in and around the coast there so I love that area and know how tough a race it could be. Problem for me is it clashes with the weekend of the All Ireland Final and I usually spend that weekend on the free beer courtesy of a supplier, maybe in 2012 I'll choose Blacksod over beer

nerraw1111

Norseman has to be up there. Epic.

Coast to Coast New Zealand race. AR

Ultra trail de mont blanc: run.

kingQuez

Triathlon:
- IM Lanzarote

Run:
- Comrades

Bike:
- Tour d'Afrique

couerdelion

mloc123 wrote: »

couerdelion wrote: »

Triathlon:

• TriAthy Sprint - Meh

Run

• Great Ireland Run 10k - Meh

Bike

• Wicklow 200 - Meh

Over rated I would say..

Yeah I agree, but what races/ events would you replace them with?

For the cycling the isle of man, end to end looks pretty good.

Is there a short run or tri though that is really appealing?

couerdelion

griffin100 wrote: »

O till O (if I ever find a team mate)

That look like a great event. If I was faster I'd offer

peter kern

kilkee the best race and after race party in the world in my mind ( at least what i have seen) and i cant remember any place where one would have wheelbarrow races at half past 3 am .
tough swim tough bike tough run tough party.
World class.
super well organized and marshaled , the best goodie bags i have ever seen . one of the few races where people stay after the race have a laugh.
Its a classic race and one of the longest running triathlons.

For the best post race buffet in the world you have to do the olympic distace race two weeks before roth you go to the finish line and from 10 types of cake, to every fruit imaginable fruits to great sandwiches youghurt beer and smoothies its all there.

eoglyn

i'm glad i've signed up for kilkee now - will have something to look forward to afterwards at least.

The connemarathon full and ultra would probably appear on international lists as an epic road race, the scenery does make it - i've ticked the full off my list and have no aspirations towards the ultra. I wouldn't fancy the half at all though - seems a bit crowded to me.

BTH

The Alpe D'Huez tri would be at the top of my list.

RayCun

Drop the Great Ireland Run (then rip it up, burn it, and plow the ashes into the ground)
Ballycotton is the only short run I can think of with any mystique.

Nwm2

couerdelion wrote: »

Looking for inspiration or something similar to set myself a few targets over the next few years.

As a triathlete what would you consider must do and/or aspirational events in the three disciplines and overall?


I'm thinking along the lines of 1 local (to Ireland) small event, 1 bigger national event and an international event in each category (tri, swim, bike, run). Something like:

Triathlon:

• TriAthy Sprint
• Dublin City Olympic
• Kona Ironman

Run

• Great Ireland Run 10k
• Dublin Marathon
• Marathon Des Sables

Bike

• Wicklow 200
• Malin Head to Mizen Head
• Etape du Tour

Swim

• Escape From Ireland
• i3 Lough derg swim
• English Channel swim (this isn't a target for me!)

Anyone fancy helping me get a bigger list?

Tri-Athy Sprint??????????????:eek::eek::eek::eek:

couerdelion

RayCun wrote: »

Drop the Great Ireland Run (then rip it up, burn it, and plow the ashes into the ground)
Ballycotton is the only short run I can think of with any mystique.

Nwm2 wrote: »

Tri-Athy Sprint??????????????:eek::eek::eek::eek:

They're just in there unless something better comes along or is suggested by someone else.

I've no real intention of ever doing the GIR. i don't like the big busy races (although I'm signed up for the race series). Maybe there is a mythical mountain trail race that everyone should do at some point instead?

Yeahm triAthy Sprint is a bit weak too but is there any Sprint distance race that is seen as a must do? erhaps for Tri I need to be looking at Oly, Half and Full distance?

tunney

peter kern wrote: »

kilkee the best race and after race party in the world in my mind ( at least what i have seen) and i cant remember any place where one would have wheelbarrow races at half past 3 am .
tough swim tough bike tough run tough party.
World class.
super well organized and marshaled , the best goodie bags i have ever seen . one of the few races where people stay after the race have a laugh.
Its a classic race and one of the longest running triathlons.

For the best post race buffet in the world you have to do the olympic distace race two weeks before roth you go to the finish line and from 10 types of cake, to every fruit imaginable fruits to great sandwiches youghurt beer and smoothies its all there.

I remember, or was reminded of, some epic nights in Kenmare.

El Director

couerdelion wrote: »

..... is there any Sprint distance race that is seen as a must do?

For me it would have to be Mullaghmore Sprint, it's like a mini Kilkee, only regret is having only ever done it once.

Enduro

couerdelion wrote: »

Run

• Great Ireland Run 10k
• Dublin Marathon
• Marathon Des Sables

That's a very unexciting run list. I really don't get why people rate the MDS so highly. It is enormously over priced, and you don't seem to get very much for your money. Even from the point of view of racing in a desert it doesn't sound like either the most scenic, or the most gnarly. There's no way I'd spend my own cash on it when there are so many much better races for the same cash or cheaper...

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Coast to Coast New Zealand race. AR

Ultra trail de mont blanc: run.

...And the UTMB is one prime example. Definitely the most epic running race I've done so far.

By the way nerraw1111 (and I bet you can see this coming!) you know that even the coast to coast itself doesn't describe itself as AR, it describes itself (correctly) as Multisports. The Kiwis know the difference!! It's another massively overpriced race too. The RD makes a fortune. No doubt its a classic though, and the top Kiwi racers all highly regard it. Something like the Godzone would be a much better experience though, unless you were racing for a podium spot in the C2C!

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Triathlon:
Kona

Run:
Marathon Des Sables
NY Marathon
Comrades

That would do me.

Nwm2

couerdelion wrote: »

Yeahm triAthy Sprint is a bit weak too but is there any Sprint distance race that is seen as a must do? erhaps for Tri I need to be looking at Oly, Half and Full distance?

For sprint: Athlone or Valentia or Brian Boru (ball buster) maybe?

But really, there is no Sprint that would make me drive more than 90 mins to get to. Even for an Olympic there would have to be a reason beyond the attraction of the race itself (eg National Series or Club away race).

I certainly would travel for a 70.3 or IM however

shotgunmcos

Run
WW Ultra or Conn or Dingle Ultra
Boston Marathon
UTMB

Swim
Marathon OW distance 10k
O till O
A long scary one

Bike
MTB the Ballyhouras trails
MTB some trails at night
Alpe d'Huez

Tri
Hardman
Norseman
Kona

AR
Gaelforce
Beast of Ballyhouras
Godzone or something long and scary like it

NeedsTraining

Triathlon:

• IM Lanzarote
• Escape from Alcatraz
• IM Austria (just coz)

Run

• Marathon Des Sables
• Comrades
• Copper Canyon Ultra

AR/Multisport

• Godzone
• O till O

nerraw1111

Enduro wrote: »

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Coast to Coast New Zealand race. AR

Ultra trail de mont blanc: run.

...And the UTMB is one prime example. Definitely the most epic running race I've done so far.

By the way nerraw1111 (and I bet you can see this coming!) you know that even the coast to coast itself doesn't describe itself as AR, it describes itself (correctly) as Multisports. The Kiwis know the difference!! It's another massively overpriced race too. The RD makes a fortune. No doubt its a classic though, and the top Kiwi racers all highly regard it. Something like the Godzone would be a much better experience though, unless you were racing for a podium spot in the C2C!

Haha. I didn't see it coming! Didnt know C2C wasn't classed as an AR but you're right. Impressive. Unlike the kiwis to call a
a spade a spade.

I did know that the RD makes a fortune and way over priced tho.

Godzone looks amazing. Was on Milford Sound on a boat trip a few years back. Would be something else to kayak into it and explore that whole region.

BennyMul

most of these are purly aspirational

Triathlon:

• IM UK
• IM France
• Hell of the West.
• Lost Sheep
• HardMan

Run:

• Marathon Des Sables
• Spartathlon
• Great Wall of China Marathon
• NY Marathon
• Another Dingle

Bike:

• Tour of Flanders
• Spend a month doing either the Giro or Le Tour route,
• Race Around Ireland

Enduro

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Was on Milford Sound on a boat trip a few years back. Would be something else to kayak into it and explore that whole region.

Same here.... man, I'm so jealous of those guys. What an experience!