Norseman & Celtman Xtri Debrief | What It Takes To Complete An Extreme Triathlon

Now that the dust has settled on our Norseman & Celtman experiences Mark & Fraser thought they would have a debrief to drill down into the detail! What support, what nutrition, what training?! Here's what it takes!
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[@voodoo148]

Great to see that Fraser and Mark are human after all, and struggle like the rest of us. ;-)

[@suttonfarms2343]

2 amazing athletes! When I’m feeling sluggish and need motivation, I watch these episodes on their extreme tris!

[@Cooldarkd]

Now we have the term 'Regular Ironman'. Great video, you guys are awesome!!

[@ianmoore3785]

Since Mark is a pretty fantastic swimmer he should come back to Norway and do ThorXtri. It's another fantastic extreme tri in Norway and the swim is an utter devil. If anyone fails with the Norseman lottery, they should try ThorXtri, it's easier logistically than Norseman and the whole event is awesome. I've done Norseman in 2017 and then ThorXtri in 2018 and 2019. In terms of being "hard" TriathlonX is far harder than Norseman, and takes place in the Lake District, England. Maybe both Fraser and Mark should do it next year, I did it this year and it was a savage, believe it or not the weather was far too hot in June in England, and I was wishing for rain going up Scafell :D

[@vishalb08]

Superb video guys. It's so nice to see how much credit you guys give to your teams. Again, congratulations to both of you for finishing these epic races.

[@CarlBaravelli]

Great video and well done. I did Aurlandsfjellet Xtreme Triathlon (AXTRI) for the second time this year. I learnt from the first time to run technical terrain in the mountains and forest rather than flat roads for preparation. But living in Western Norway, this is not a problem to find. Unfortunately this year I had 4 punctures on the mountain and had to withdraw. I just registered again for next year - have to get my red T-shirt

[@CASATRI]

Motivation Motivation Motivation. Mark and Fraser thank you. GTN helps alot more than you know. Look forward to many more vids and years of watching.

[@lindelystables]

Very thankful to be able to listen to a couple of absolute legends sharing their experiences!

[@roydos949]

Could you give us an insight into what a typical training week looked like leading in to these races?

[@aschleis71]

Great video. It was great to meet you both at Norseman. Your video about Norsemen and this one are so spot on. What a great experience. I will be doing more of these races in the future. not because of the "extreme" title but because the experience with my support team was so special. For once Triathlon was not all about me!

[@ironman140.6]

You guys are the real deal - thank u for your inspiration

[@NexusTorch]

I've only recently got into Tri and your channel is what is driving my interest. I think I see these extreme races as my ultimate end goal, thanks guys!

[@harrycowleshc]

In the same boat as you Nexus Torch bit 3 years on. How have you got on? Managed an Iron Man or XTri?

[@trevorhayes5414]

Love the debrief. Awesome to hear what you both struggled and were challenged with and what worked. I haven't done an Ironman or beyond distance but was blown away by the team aspect of these events. I'm usually a lone wolf but have always enjoyed team sports or being part of a team at work, so really enjoyed watching you both complete these events with the team dynamics. Maybe I can aim to be part of a support team in future for another athlete, for that team experience. I don't think I'm cut out to do these longer events myself unless I can paddleboard instead of swim!!!

[@Scohen415]

Great recap! Those 2 respective videos were some of my favorite videos. Both were really inspirational.

[@SayMcGillicuddy]

really enjoyed this. Very honest and candid account of your respective races. Thanks guys

[@BrendonCamm]

Great video, guys!! You're both monsters and it's super cool to hear your experiences. Proper support systems are so critical to your success as a triathlete, never underestimate that.. :)

[@virgilashruf718]

I love the stories. Thank you for sharing them, will you attempt either of them again?

[@gtn]

Right now? No - but lets ask them again in a few months time 🤪

[@markankone9362]

@@gtn first Kona 2019 wildcard

[@dalefoote8262]

Love these races videos, amazing content. Keep up the great work. Fraser has evolved into a great GTN host.

[@phillwhitlam6999]

What a great video guys. I was enthralled for the whole thing. I am sure both events will be inundated with applicants after this. Well done guys on your achievements and for such an interesting video.

[@johanvandijkh5042]

It is like an Adventure race. Just faster. Hats off to you.

[@gtn]

Have you done an extreme triathlon? What advice would you give? Or are you thinking about entering your first? Leave us a comment!

[@ForeverLumoz]

Nope and I never will. I'm still fighting to re learn to ride my bike, after meningitis turned my life upside down and gave me brain damage and destroyed the nerves in my right side. So I'll never ever be good enough to do something like that. But I have absolutely huge respect for you all doing these events - and any events similar. Absolutely incredible.

[@voodoo148]

A good piece of advice I was given was to incorporate a step session at the end of a training run, Mark touched on it briefly that you need to be able to keep going when your legs are shot and a step session can help build up strength and mental resilience. I didn't heed that advice, and it bit me in the a$$! Fingers crossed i get a place in next years Norseman..second time lucky.

[@jamie245100]

This looks incredible! I really want to do one of these at some point now!

[@MK-je7kz]

No experience, but based on the stories on this video, I'd suggest doing a long trail run first. Just to get into proper mental space for the run.

[@stefana.5370]

I've done ICON which has amongst others Stelvio on the bike course and a finish line at almost 3000m. Altitude training would have helped especially if you leave at sea level. Be ready for extreme weather - last year's edition it was snowing at the finish line. Take it as a journey and not as a race. Make a good nutrition plan - you don't wanna bodge before a 1800m climb.

[@katherine6068]

Love this! Well done :) I am definitely eyeing both these races...

[@mustaphab.1190]

Congratulations again to you both, as I said in a previous video you should participate in Ötillö swim run tied together as a team

[@rechietiu2857]

Congrats on both of you guys!

[@paulmcneil7468]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Great stuff.Statler and Waldorf😀👍

[@ryanw903]

You guys are inspiring!! Thanks

[@AS-ReHMn]

I did one of the Xtri series also. In my opinion, it is possible to complete it without a supporter. You both like to ride lightweight, however, it is possible to carry nutrition and beverages (4x750ml) with you, as well as the rain jacket and a thermo dress in a backpack. It is just a question of equal rules for everyone... On this event, the mandatory kit for running was checked in T2, presented by the supporter, before the athlete reached the transition area. There were 3 refreshment points on the running course, so it is also possible to complete it without supporter, however it is good to have a company, a pacer and a motivation on this long day event...

[@uhtred10]

Fair play, guys!! You're awesome!! Flipside: we want to see more of these! =)

[@jmbsilva1977]

I will let you know about xtri next week after hispaman!

[@kinialdo]

Awesome, guys! I think amateurs have the same experiences on their first iron distance as you did here. I certainly remember mine :-)

[@marie-louisekarlander2366]

I know you did those races three years ago but did you ever think about to use one roadbike with bars instead of one triathlon bike, to save the runninglegs? It is so many hilly. Really nice beautiful films both of them. Wow what you did great! Actually why those emotions in the end of the race also can be one nutrition thing. Probably one combination of fatigue and low glycogen.

[@iulyanah]

Congratulations to both of you 👏👏🎉✨🏆✨🎊🥇🥇

[@robbchastain3036]

An extreme event calls for extreme measures. Put me in the class where you get up that final climb by walking and hitchhiking.

[@vladfromfrance]

"what's he achieved is ... quite an achievement" ^^

[@markankone9362]

hey mark, nice shirt

[@79devo]

What is the entry fee ?

[@jamie245100]

So that’s 2/3. When is Heather doing one?

[@rogger55]

@Jnae damon yes, all three are ture inspiring triathletes, all three are monsters in this sport

[@DaanHoogland]

pancake flat does not sound right (coming from the flat country of pancakes) it is a rolling course in 'our' view!

[@royfr8136]

I always pee on the bike...and I only do sprints......

[@adoj105]

Question for Mark, with NorseMan being so hilly, would you recommend a road bike over a tri bike? Will enter the lottery for the next few years and was wondering if a more comfortable better climbing bike would be the way to go on a course like this.

[@tomituzion3901]

After all Norse is a lot harder than iron 😂

[@79devo]

GTN > GCN > TRC

[@BruceWayne-us3kw]

These triathlons look like torture.

[@royfr8136]

I got myself into a 'tiz' ...even alfa males these days aren't alpha males.....