It’s official. I am a registered athlete for the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon. I’ve payed my fee, told a bunch of people, and Google even put it on my calendar for me. While general entry sold out a couple months ago in the first 3 days of registration, I was able to snag one of the spots reserved for Pro athletes.
So what does this all entail. The website here has a very thorough explanation of the race’s course and expected conditions. Essentially, I will be covering the distance of about a full distance Ironman triathlon in Alaska in the month of July (though this is not an Ironman event technically since it is produced by a different company). Things I know. The water will be COLD with a season average of 55 degrees. The bike will be windy, hilly, and likely cold after exiting the water. It also has no aid stations. The run will be STEEP. Particularly the last 7 miles in which we will ascend Mt Alyeska twice. It is required to have someone accompany you at this point in the race.
Each athlete is required to have a support crew which I have already assembled. Timothy Gibson and Mike Lambert will be my support up the mountain while Rebekah and some others will also be assisting throughout the trip.
I initially seriously thought about doing this race a few months ago but took my time deciding as I knew the weight of this decision. I knew there was no way I could ever convince myself that I would be “prepared” for a race like this. So I went ahead and made the plunge and I don’t regret it (yet)! I am excited about the opportunity to race in one of the most beautiful places in the world and to share the experience with some of my closest friends and family too!
Congrats to April Hutto for guessing the race and winning some Team Kattouf swag!
