Alohaman Extreme is the newest race offering in the extreme triathlon category, and based off the preliminary maps we’ve seen of the course, it will certainly live up to it’s billing. We’ve raised our hands and will give this daunting course a try tomorrow, October 9th. Here is what we're dreading (err, expecting) and how you can check it out too.
If you’ve been hanging around Slowtwitch for awhile, it’s likely you’re accustomed to our affinity for finding multisport adventures out on the roads less traveled. Our ears perk up when we travel to the Big Island and hear about our Slowtwitchers tackling routes outside of those used on race day at Ironman Hawaii. On occasion we’ve even ventured out with our readers and chronicled their stories so others might also consider there is plenty of Big Island to explore outside than swimming at Kailua-Kona Pier, cycling on the Queen K Highway and running Ali’i Drive.
In recent years, the Mauna Kea Challenge has been gaining traction with Slowtwitchers as a way to test their endurance mettle and there always seems to be a handful of attempts each year during Kona week. Another insanely difficult climb is Kaloko, a ride we’ve previously written about which has also received the recent praises from past Kona Champion Sebastian Kienle.
There has been much banter on the forum leading into this week about these two rides, but we recently caught wind of a new challenge worthy of us taking a deeper look into, the recently announced Alohaman Extreme Triathlon course.
Most extreme triathlon swims fall into one of two buckets: cold or frigid. Alohaman will break the mold and be the first of these events to offer a non-wetsuit swim in warm, tropical water. The 2.4 mile swim will take place at Hapuna Beach. Water temperatures will likely be in the mid-to-high 70’s and seemingly the only thing to be concerned about is what types of fish and sea life you’ll have along for company.
The 125-mile bike leg will showcase both sides of the Big Island as the out-and-back-course climbs up around Mauna Kea before descending into the outskirts of Hilo. Over 12,000 feet of vertical gain altogether, with equal parts descending.
Race headquarters and transition areas are at Hapuna Resort and once the bike ends, more climbing is still ahead over the 28 mile run. The run starts by going north on the Queen K Highway, nearly to the right turn taken by athletes during the Ironman bike leg.
The Alohaman run returns south until getting to the road that leads to Waimea. This is where the climbing begins, and will continue for the next 10 miles, gaining over 2000 feet over that distance. Once at the top, the run returns back down from Waimea and returns to Hapuna to the finish area.
It’s unlikely you’ll be sharing any roads with athletes training for Saturday’s Ironman World Championship. While some might know about these alternate training routes, and may possibly have even biked or run on them during a training camp, those who join us on Tuesday will likely experience unencumbered roads and a variation in terrain and weather conditions few others will cover.
We’ll be sharing sights and sounds from this Aloha Challenge starting at 11:00AM PST on Slowtwitch's Facebook page and will go Live and post some entertaining videos too. If you like what you see and want to give it a go yourself, you can join us during any leg of the adventure.
If you’re currently reading this back on the mainland, and want to take up this challenge yourself, Alohaman Extreme Triathlon race date is set for December 7th, 2019. With registration opening this Saturday and a field size limited to 250 athletes, consider this your warning not to delay in saving your spot for a date with the Big Island's newest race.
