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Norseman Xtreme: are you tough enough?

On the 4th August one of the toughest iron-distance triathlons in the world takes place in Norway, the iconic Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon

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It all starts with a jump off a ferry into a dark and icy fjord, which has an average temperature of 14°C, and it doesn’t let up from there.  Both the bike course, which has an elevation of nearly 3,000 metres, and the run course, with a climb of nearly 2,000 metres to the race finish at the top of a mountain, are designed to test the toughest of the tough, and with a 15:35hr median finish time, it really isn’t a race for the faint-hearted… 

Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon race tips

  The scenery is pretty stunning too, taking in some of Noways most beautiful parts including Hardangervidda mountain plateau, before finishing at the rocky peak of Gaustatoppen, Telemark’s highest mountain at 1,850m above sea level.

Norseman Xtreme Triathlon gallery

  

Above: Gaustatoppenn by iStock / Getty Images Plus /destillat 

One of the founders Paal Hårek Stranheim says on Norseman’s website:

“I want to create a completely different race, make it a journey through the most beautiful nature of Norway, let the experience be more important than the finish time, and let the participants share their experience with family and friends, who will form their support. Let the race end on top of a mountain, to make it the hardest Ironman race on earth.”

Two-time Ironman world  champion Tim DeBoom won the race in 2011. He says: “Norseman is like going back to the roots of triathlon. Events like this are why triathlon is so big today. The fact that events like Norseman exists gives me hope for the sport.”