Norseman triathlon

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Eidfjord, where the swimming event takes place Hordaland Eidfjord 01.JPG
Eidfjord, where the swimming event takes place
Mabodalen, which the cycling event passes through Voringfossen.jpg
Måbødalen, which the cycling event passes through
Gaustatoppen, where the final part of the running event takes place Rjukan Gaustatoppen.jpg
Gaustatoppen, where the final part of the running event takes place

The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is a non-Ironman branded triathlon, point to point, race held in Norway annually. The distances are equivalent to those of an Ironman race with the swim starting from the loading bay of a car ferry, through the water of the Hardanger fjord to the local town, Eidfjord. [1] At Eidfjord the competitors transition onto their bikes and then cycle 180 km through the mountains, the first 40 km of which is uphill (reaching 1200 m above sea level). [1] After transition two (at Austbygdi, 190 m above sea level), the competitors then run 42.2 km of which the first 25 km (to Rjukan) are flat and following this they end up climbing the local mountain, Gaustatoppen, 1,880 m above sea level. [1]

Contents

The race is "unsupported" so competitors need to have personal back up crews that follow them with cars to provide them with food and drink. [2] The support crews also have to accompany their competitor up the final mountain climb due to the inherent dangers of being highly fatigued on a mountain. During this final mountain climb competitors are required to carry a backpack containing emergency food and clothing [2] should the weather turn, whilst they are on the mountain.

Weather and water

Weather conditions, strict health checks, and deadlines determine whether the race can be followed into the mountains and those that finish are given a black finishers top and take on the name "Norsemen". Those that do not make the cut-off time but complete the distance on a lower alternative route are given a white finishers top.

The water temperature in Eidfjord is a challenge to the organizers. In 2015 the water temperature was measured to 10 degrees celsius. The safety team then decided to make the swim 1900 meters instead of 3800 meters. After the race, the safety crew decided to start the "Cold Water Research Project", [3] which will continue for several years including one or more PhD degrees in progress. The studies are led by Jonny Hisdal and Jørgen Melau. Other than cold water studies, the group also has started studies on biomarkers, lung functions and heart function. In 2019 there was a research effort at Norseman, [4] and the research group has published their first scientific papers. [5] [6] [7]

Participants

The number of participants is limited to a certain number of competitors (290 for 2020; 250 are invited, from sponsors, media and the majority from a draw; around 40 from qualified XTRI World Tour races for the World Championship). [8] Approximately 40% of the participants are from outside Norway; and about 15% are female. During the period 2003-2005, a total of 175 women (10.6%) and 1,852 men (89.4%) successfully finished the race. [9]

Norseman Xtreme Triathlon first took place in 2003 with 21 individuals at the start line. The race record (full swimming distance) is 09:23:28 by Jon Sæverås Breivold (Norway) in 2022 for men and 11:16:10 by Mette Pettersen Moe (Norway) in 2018 for women.

Winners

YearClassWinnerClub, CountryTimeNotes
2003MenChristian Houge-ThiisStavanger, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:48:28
2004Men Rune Høydahl Sande i Vestfold, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:30:08
WomenTrude AndersenStavanger, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 13:15:20
2005MenBjörn AnderssonFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 10:30:09
WomenTrude AndersenStavanger, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:21:31
2006MenOle StougaardFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 10:49:57
WomenMarie VeslestaulHøydalsmo I.L, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 14:46:25
2007MenLars Petter StormoTeam Oslo Sportslager, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:25:18
WomenEmily FinangerInside Triathlon, Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 13:01:00
2008MenØyvind JohannessenFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:08:10
WomenJenny GowansFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 14:02:00
2009MenTom RemmanFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:19:48
WomenSusanne BuckenleiFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 13:21:48
2010MenHenrik OftedalFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:59:57
WomenSusanne BuckenleiFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 13:13:03
2011Men Tim DeBoom Flag of the United States.svg  USA 11:18:52
WomenSusanne BuckenleiFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 13:10:44
2012MenHenrik OftedalFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:23:43
WomenAnnett FingerFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 12:17:04
2013MenMarkus StierliFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:25:16
WomenInger Liv Bjerkreim NilsenFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:43:14
2014MenAllan HovdaFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:52:07
WomenLine FossFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:56:27
2015MenAllan HovdaFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 09:43:37half swimming distance
WomenKristin LieFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:50:48half swimming distance
2016MenLars Petter StormoFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:22:37
WomenKari Flottorp LingsomFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:24:52
2017MenLars Christian VoldFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 09:52:10
WomenAnne NevinFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:04:18
2018MenAllan HovdaFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:05:48
WomenMette Pettersen MoeFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11:16:10Record
2019MenFedrik Linge JohnsenFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:47:55
WomenDanne BoterenbroodFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 13:13:59
2021MenJon Sæverås BreivoldFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 10:21:47
WomenJulie AspeslettenFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 12:39:18
2022MenJon Sæverås BreivoldFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 09:23:28Record
WomenEilidh PriseFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 11:47:49

Coordinates

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Course Map". Norseman.
  2. 1 2 "Race Manual". Norseman.
  3. Melau, Jørgen (27 February 2020). "The Cold Beginning". Norseman.
  4. Melau, Jørgen (9 August 2019). "Norseman 2019 Research". Jørgen Melau.
  5. Melau, Jørgen; Mathiassen, Maria; Stensrud, Trine; Tipton, Mike; Hisdal, Jonny (2019). "Core Temperature in Triathletes during Swimming with Wetsuit in 10°C Cold Water". Sports. 7 (6): 130. doi: 10.3390/sports7060130 . PMC   6628109 . PMID   31142055.
  6. Melau, Jørgen; Bonnevie-Svendsen, Martin; Mathiassen, Maria; Mykland Hilde, Janne; Oma, Lars; Hisdal, Jonny (2019). "Late-Presenting Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema: A Case Report Series from the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon". Sports. 7 (6): 137. doi: 10.3390/sports7060137 . PMC   6628402 . PMID   31163677.
  7. Storsve, Andreas B.; Johnsen, Line; Nyborg, Christoffer; Melau, Jørgen; Hisdal, Jonny; Burri, Lena (18 August 2020). "Effects of Krill Oil and Race Distance on Serum Choline and Choline Metabolites in Triathletes: A Field Study". Frontiers in Nutrition. 7: 133. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00133 . hdl: 10852/85429 . PMC   7461811 . PMID   33015116.
  8. "Norseman 2022 Athlete's Guide". Norseman via Box.
  9. Knechtle, Beat; Nikolaidis, Pantelis Theodoros; Stiefel, Michael; Rosemann, Thomas; Rüst, Christoph Alexander (31 October 2016). "Performance and sex differences in 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon'". The Chinese Journal of Physiology. 59 (5): 276–283. doi:10.4077/CJP.2016.BAE420. ISSN   0304-4920. PMID   27604138.