I was supporting my wife in a womans tri here in Auckland in the weekend, the event had over 5000 registered contestants and was the biggest ever adult triathlon. Distances were 300m, 10K, 3K.
I was surprised that there hadn't been a bigger event somewhere else in the world before. My daughter is competing in a kids tri in a few weeks, again, this will be the biggest ever kids tri in the world. We picked up the gold & silver medals at the last olympics, makes me wonder whether we are a triathlon obsessed nation here?????

I was supporting my wife in a womans tri here in Auckland in the weekend, the event had over 5000 registered contestants and was the biggest ever adult triathlon. Distances were 300m, 10K, 3K.
I was surprised that there hadn't been a bigger event somewhere else in the world before. My daughter is competing in a kids tri in a few weeks, again, this will be the biggest ever kids tri in the world. We picked up the gold & silver medals at the last olympics, makes me wonder whether we are a triathlon obsessed nation here?????

The main issue is that most organizers around here have the sense to limit the number of entries so that the athletes are properly supported. For example, one of the local ones around here that gets teams from around the world is the St. Anthonys, but they limit the number of entrants. I would think that 5000 competitors would be one big cluster eff!

i thought chicago was the world's biggest. maybe wrong but i thought there were 8000+ competitors last year?

The numbers were big, but it seemed to go ok. There are a lot of newbies in these things though, & they are designed to attract new people into the sport. I was in a 160km (century) ride late last year and there were just over 10,000 starters, that was pretty full on, but everyone was looked after. I think its great that these type of events seem to be getting bigger support every year.

Chicago is the world's biggest- they start it at about 6:30am and it goes all day, until about 4:30pm or so. It's a full on event, where they usually have to close down a good part of the Drive and the lakefront. I think there were in excess of 8000 participants last year too, and they did have a category for kids, families, teams, and individuals (professional and amateur). We do all right here.

Koffee

seriously chicago is a blast, they close down lakeshore drive for the day. i was in the 6.30 wave last year, finished up and then sat and watched literally thousands of people push on by...an amazing feeling, an amazing race...can't wait for this year ;)

You MUST have seen me. I was on LSD with one of those cones they used to close down the lane, and I was screaming and waving the cone around in the air just over at LSD at 600 north. The folks working were in hysterics, we were laughing so hard. I think that year I had the most fun out there supporting the riders. And that headwind.... I felt for you guys, fersheezy.

Koffee

damn yeah that headwind

that hurt

18 mph on the way up

27 all the way home

Yeah, and that's why I was screaming and yelling for the riders headed north. They just looked like they were about ready to cry. The race officials are just great for that event. They let the spectators stand with them, and we all were cheering everyone on. There were some people I even knew that I hadn't seen in years that were riding in the race, and it was fun to see them and scream hi at them and give everyone words of encouragement. I think everyone thought I was on crack... funny, but on crack. :lol:

Headwinds... welcome to the Windy City.

Koffee

I was on LSD with one of those cones they used to close down the lane, and I was screaming and waving the cone around in the air.
Koffee
For those of us who don't automatically know that LSD means Lake Shore Drive, this was a pretty funny post. I was picturing you out there on acid with an orange cone on your head. I like my version of this story much better!

Chicago is the world's biggest- they start it at about 6:30am and it goes all day, until about 4:30pm or so. It's a full on event, where they usually have to close down a good part of the Drive and the lakefront. I think there were in excess of 8000 participants last year too, and they did have a category for kids, families, teams, and individuals (professional and amateur). We do all right here.

Koffee

Well that's the difference, Auckland was supposedly the largest "adult" tri, it sounds pretty similar though to your event. My wife & I were talking about the numbers, & wondered whether greed played any part in the organisers not restricting the numbers. It must be pretty tempting at around $50 a ticket just to let the money keep rolling in. In any event, it was a pretty cool day and I enjoyed supporting my wife. Who am I to complain when surrounded by 5000 fit woman :-)

By the way Koffee, I must get her to join your forum. She is new to the internet groups thing but she did say she wanted to check it out.

On the West Coast we have Wildflower. Woodstock of Triathlon they call. 3 days of camping out in the woods, college students volunteering, getting drunk, running naked, supporting the athletes. Pretty awesome experience. 3 races over two days with seminars and stuff the friday before. I think they had about 5,000 last year.