Epic

HUMAN GREED KNOWS no boundaries, and the field of endurance sports is no exception. Just finished your first sprint triathlon and wondering what an Olympic distance might feel like? You finally nailed the standard distance and your eyes are now on to a middle-distance – and finally a full distance? These days there is no end of the progression in the world of triathlon: Race calendars worldwide are offering more and more options to step up to another grade.

To take on the ultimate challenge you will face in your athletic career, your mindset needs to switch to a different set-up. Instead of the “safe environments” of an Ironman or a 70.3, some of the most epic races are held in the dramatic and demanding environments of mountains and deserts where even aid stations can be scarce and where you’ll need to carry all your needs with you for the day.

The good news is that most of these events will require the support of a team (coach, friends, teammates) and they are spread out throughout the whole year (January until September), so you can plan your preparation according to your endeavours and your favourite peak times. The bad news is that not only will the preparation for these races be brutal, but even the race itself will not be “the day where you pick up the fruits of your seeding.”

Here you have five events sure to test you to your limits.