When we hear the word triathlon, there is always a tendency to believe that it is the distance of the event that determines its difficulty. However, this is not always the case. There are triathlons in which the orography of the terrain or icy waters together with extreme weather conditions can determine a high degree of difficulty of the race, even more than the official distance.
In this sporting discipline, only suitable for the most trained and daring athletes, the endurance of the human body is pushed almost to the limit, both physically and psychologically, in an effort to conquer the greatest challenge you can face.
The toughest triathlons in the world are usually held in remote places, where the rugged terrain allows climbing over large mountains with their corresponding slopes and, sometimes, swimming in extreme temperatures, as is the case of the Norwegian fjords.
This demanding ultra-distance sporting event, in which the Ironman is the most recognized figure, usually includes 3800 meters of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling and 42 kilometers of running.
These are some of the toughest triathlons on the planet:
Isklar Norseman Xtreme
The starting gun goes off at 4:00 a.m. and , aboard a ferry, the ultra-distance runners jump into the Norwegian fjord of Eidfjord to swim the 3,800 meters of the first race. Once on land, 180 kilometers await them on the bike with climbs and descents through five mountains and the marathon that concludes on a mountain peak. The race is so demanding that the organization only allows 200 participants.
SavageMan
If you can climb the Westemport wall with a 31% gradient on your bike you can probably climb any mountain pass. The SavageMan consists of a 1,900-meter swim, 90-kilometer bike ride and 21-kilometer run with Maryland's Deep Creek Lake as the backdrop. This triathlon is promoted year after year as the wildest race. And they are right, as some of its participants confirm.
Ironman World Championship
It is not only one of the most difficult triathlons, but also one of the toughest when it comes to trying to earn a place on the starting line on the day of the race. Qualifying for this triathlon held in the Hawaiian town of Kona is the first hurdle. Finishing it is already a challenge and a huge merit. The heat and humidity are the two great enemies that accompany the ultra-distance runners during the course that runs through a terrain sculpted from lava and along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Aurlandsfjellet Xtreme
The race begins with a 1,900-meter swim along a Norwegian fjord, the water temperature of which is best left unmentioned, followed by a 98-kilometer bike ride at times over 3,000 meters in altitude, and concludes with a mountain run at 900 meters above del mar. The reward for the participants: enjoy a postcard Nordic landscape such as Aurland.
Ironman Lanzarote
The real reason why this Ironman race held in the Canary Islands is considered one of the toughest and most demanding in the world is because of the reputation of the race that runs on the bike, with athletes having to overcome strong gusts of wind and heights of over 2,500 meters. This race is a qualifier for the prestigious Ironman World Championship held in Hawaii.
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Altriman
The mythical triathlon of the Pyrenees, which starts in the French town of Les Angles, runs through a unique and privileged environment, very close to the border between Spain and Andorra. The Pyrenean mountain range is the direct witness of a race with brutal slopes that participants must overcome both on foot and by bike, while the swimming crossing takes place in the Matemale lake.
24 Hours of Triathlon
In this peculiar triathlon held in the North American town of Wisconsin, you have to swim, bike and run like in any other, but when you finish you have to start all over again. And so it goes on and on, until 24 hours have elapsed. The goal is to try to do as many repetitions or rounds of the test as possible in a one-day period. It is possible to participate in teams doing relays, but the real challenge is reserved exclusively for solo triathletes.
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