Norseman triathlon

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]

Eidfjord, where the swimming event takes place
Måbødalen, which the cycling event passes through
Gaustatoppen, where the final part of the running event takes place

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 a "Cold Water Research Project",[3] which will continue for several years including one or more PhD degrees in progress. The studies is 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 09:52:10 by Lars Christian Vold (Norway) in 2017 for men and 11:16:10 by Mette Pettersen Moe (Norway) in 2018 for women.

Winners
YearClassWinnerClub, CountryTimeNotes
2003MenChristian Houge-ThiisStavanger,  Norway12:48:28
2004MenRune HøydahlSande i Vestfold,  Norway11:30:08
WomenTrude AndersenStavanger,  Norway13:15:20
2005MenBjörn Andersson Sweden10:30:09
WomenTrude AndersenStavanger,  Norway12:21:31
2006MenOle Stougaard Denmark10:49:57
WomenMarie VeslestaulHøydalsmo I.L,  Norway14:46:25
2007MenLars Petter StormoTeam Oslo Sportslager,  Norway11:25:18
WomenEmily FinangerInside Triathlon,  Norway13:01:00
2008MenØyvind Johannessen Norway11:08:10
WomenJenny Gowans New Zealand14:02:00
2009MenTom Remman Norway11:19:48
WomenSusanne Buckenlei Germany13:21:48
2010MenHenrik Oftedal Norway10:59:57
WomenSusanne Buckenlei Germany13:13:03
2011MenTim DeBoom USA11:18:52
WomenSusanne Buckenlei Germany13:10:44
2012MenHenrik Oftedal Norway10:23:43
WomenAnnett Finger Germany12:17:04
2013MenMarkus Stierli Norway11:25:16
WomenInger Liv Bjerkreim Nilsen Norway12:43:14
2014MenAllan Hovda Norway10:52:07
WomenLine Foss Norway12:56:27
2015MenAllan Hovda Norway09:43:37half swimming distance
WomenKristin Lie Norway11:50:48half swimming distance
2016MenLars Petter Stormo Norway10:22:37
WomenKari Flottorp Lingsom Norway12:24:52
2017MenLars Christian Vold Norway09:52:10
WomenAnne Nevin Norway12:04:18
2018MenAllan Hovda Norway10:05:48
WomenMette Pettersen Moe Norway11:16:10Record
2019MenFedrik Linge Johnsen Norway10:47:55
WomenDanne Boterenbrood Netherlands13:13:59
2021MenJon Sæverås Breivold Norway10:21:47
WomenJulie Aspesletten Norway12:39:18
2022MenJon Sæverås Breivold Norway09:23:28Record
WomenEilidh Prise Scotland11:47:49

Coordinates

See also

References
  1. "Course Map". Norseman.
  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.
  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.
  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. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.00133. hdl:10852/85429.
  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.
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