Ultimate Single-Day ‘255 TRIATHLON’ Challenge
The historic Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit, a time capsule preserved in its 1960’s splendour, nestled at the foot of the Sussex Downs, will play host this Sunday 8 August to the Ultimate Single-Day Triathlon Challenge: The 255 Triathlon.
300 competitors addicted to endurance and looking to push the human body to the limits will line up at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit near Chichester in southern England for the world’s longest single-day triathlon to race a humongous distance of 255 kilometres.
The unique format will see athletes taking on a 5km swim (4 laps) in nearby Westhampnett Lake, then onto the bike leg for a 200km ride (52 laps) around the iconic racing circuit, before setting off on the final run leg, of 10 laps adding up to 50km around the circuit’s perimeter. Course maps here.
Race director Matthew Dowle of TriBourne Multisport Events Ltd says: “Ironman has always been widely regarded as the ultimate single-day endurance event. Now it’s the time to introduce the next step for endurance triathletes. 255 Triathlon will not only push competitors to a new level of physical and mental endurance but will also provide an unparalleled level of engagement for spectators throughout the whole event.”
The racing circuit pit lane will be the central focus for both competitors and spectators and for good reason. This is where the athletes will be able to access their own designated box containing their nutritional components needed for revitalising the semi-comatose bodies both through the bike and run leg.
For the supporting fans it will be a place to cheer on the athletes as they complete lap after lap on the traffic-free racing circuit.
It will be a long day with an 18-hour cut-off but there will be live commentary on-hand giving out the lap split time and plenty of music to keep the atmosphere electric,
As well as the individual races, a relay format has been designed where teams of two, three or four members can take on the challenge together with the freedom to choose how they split up the swim, bike, run distances between themselves.
One assumes that pain and suffering are all part of such ultra-endurance events, but like any endurance sport if you learn to control your mindset and stop negativity, you’ll discover new limits that you thought impossible.
It seems apt that 300 competitors take on the impossible, much like the 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae it will be a real “Go tell the Spartans” moment, once they cross the finish line.
Here is the start list of those brave 300.
