2025 Patagonman Finisher!

 

Patagonman Finisher  An extreme triathlon at the end of the world

I find it serendipitous that our 50th newsletter of the year is occurring a few weeks before the beginning of Karel's 50th birth year of life and I am writing about an event that Karel has dreamed of finishing for the past few years.  On December 7th, Karel took on Patagonman Extreme Triathlon. We did everything possible to get him to this start line — but what lied ahead were 140 miles of uncontrollables. We woke up at 2am after a night of no sleep. At 4am, he boarded a ferry in the dark and at 5:30am, he jumped into the fjord (55 degrees - much warmer than usual), and swam 2.4 miles back to shore (1:08). From there, a 110-mile point-to-point ride with over 8,000 ft of climbing, gravel, cobbles, wind and whatever Patagonia decides to throw at him. He finished the bike in 5:50. And then, a 27-mile run with 3250 feet of gain, all off-road, through technical forest trails and long, lonely stretches of gravel (4:08).  In any extreme triathlon, simply arriving at the start line is the easy part. Karel has handled his share of challenges this year but on race day, he was facing a new set of obstacles: weather, mechanicals, my job as support crew, and the unknowns of how an extreme race tests the body and mind. Karel had one mission: ring the bell in Puerto Ibáñez and become a Patagonman finisher. And he did it. He finished an extreme triathlon at the end of the world! 🌎  Patagonia gave us the most perfect day. Comfortable weather, no rain, favorable wind and incredible views. This race has the most breathtaking (and unforgiving) landscapes on Earth. And the volunteers, police, event staff and community support was beyond impressive.  Karel stayed focused, optimistic and relentless. And in the end… he finally got to ring the bell. This wasn’t just a race. This was a showcase of grit, overcoming countless challenges, and a dream two years in the making. I loved supporting Karel all day long but my favorite part was sharing the final 9 miles together on the run.  Here’s to chasing the impossible, embracing the journey, and chasing finish lines with gratitude.  🏁 11:32 🏅 11th overall (10th male)  🔔 Patagonman finisher

This was Karel's 3rd extreme triathlon. We have now completed six extreme triathlons (between both of us). We have been to Canada, Italy, Norway and now South America to test our mental and physical limits on harsh terrain, in severe weather, and on major elevation gain. An extreme triathlon requires far more than standard endurance training. These events require physical, mental and logistical (lots of planning) strengths. If you are considering an extreme triathlon, here are some qualities that will help you succeed. 1. Exceptional Aerobic Endurance After a decade plus of participating in Ironman events, we have accumulated a significant amount of endurance over the year. In an extreme triathlon, the time to complete the event can be several hours more than a standard full distance Ironman. An efficient aerobic engine built through years of training and racing will help you feel prepared for an extreme triathlon.  2. Strength & Muscular Endurance An extreme triathlon requires durability. Strength is especially critical for climbing steep terrain on the bike and the run.  3. Robust Resiliency Extreme triathlon places massive load on muscles, joints, and the immune system. To prepare for the event, you need to be able to recover quickly during long training blocks to help with preparation.  4. Environmental Resilience Cold-water swimming, altitude, extreme terrain changes and challenging weather demand a body accustomed to environmental stressors. 5. Grit and Mental Toughness You’ll hit points where your body wants to stop, you want to end the discomfort and you think there is no way you can keep going. The ability to push through discomfort—safely and intelligently—is vital.  6. Adaptability Conditions in extreme races can change suddenly (fog, wind, altitude, cold, heat, mechanical failure). Being able to quickly improvise and be proactive is critical. 7. Patience & Discipline Extreme triathlon rewards pacing, restraint, and consistent execution—not hero moments fueled by a greedy ego.  8. Emotional Regulation An extreme triathlon can bring on frustration, fear, and sometimes loneliness. You need tools to stay calm and positive under pressure. 9. Strong Technical Skills Confident open-water swimming in cold, dark or rough water conditions Technical cycling on steep climbs, fast descents, gravel, and unfamiliar roads Trail and/or hill running  10. Nutrition Mastery Dialed-in fueling and hydration is critical. You must: Know what your gut tolerates and how much Have a support crew that knows what you need (and when) Be able to fuel and hydrate in extreme cold/heat Be able to be proactive and reactive 11. Gear Knowledge Knowing how to: Fix mechanical issues Dress for cold weather Be self sufficient (ex. nutrition) 12. Strong Logistics Planning An extreme triathlon is self-supported which means you must have at least one support crew person. Your crew must be able to assist with:  Route planning Nutrition  Athlete emotional regulation  Weather contingencies 13. Purpose & Internal Drive Extreme triathlons are not about placements or times. There are no "age division" awards. Everyone (except the first 1-3 overall finishers in each gender) are treated the same at the finish line and at the post race celebration event. Athletes succeed when motivated by: Personal meaning Curiosity Challenge for its own sake Feeling like a beginner again Do you have what it takes?  To finish an extreme triathlon, you need to think of it as an adventure, not a standard triathlon. Are you ready to conquer an extreme triathlon?