XTERRA racing fans that like to go long will have a series’ all their own this year, as four epic-distance off-road triathlons have joined together to form the inaugural XTERRA Epic Series. None of them will take place in Richmond, at least not this year, but if you’re a local off-road tri enthusiast, this could be a series worth traveling for.

Credit: Caansports.com

The races include the XTERRA Epic – Rustman on May 4 (Ruston, LA), the XTERRA Epic – Marquette on Sept. 7 (Marquette, MI), the XTERRA Epic – ASP on Sept. 28 (Salamanca, NY), and the XTERRA Epic – Iron Mountain on October 19 (Arkadelphia, AR).

All four races will feature a one-mile swim, 30-to-35 mile mountain bike, and 9-to-11 mile trail run.  The Series will be scored in 10-year age groups starting from 18-29, where racers count their best two scores to vie for the 2013 XTERRA Epic Series Championship. The four events will also award XTERRA Points Series level points into the XTERRA America Tour, with the Rustman counting for the 2013 season while the other three will count towards the 2014 season.

Fred Phillips from DLT Events hosted the first-ever XTERRA “Epic” distance race at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, Louisiana back in 2010, and the concept has gained traction since as other race directors expressed interest in hosting long-distance off-road events.

“As other XTERRA organizers have come forward it was only natural to tie the events together and make something our longer distance, endurance-minded athletes could compete in,” said XTERRA managing director Dave Nicholas.

One such athlete is Kyle Grieser, a 10-time XTERRA South Central Region Champion from Marble Falls, Texas.  Grieser won three of the past four XTERRA Epic races, including the first two in Ruston and the inaugural Iron Mountain race in Arkansas this past October in a little more than four hours.

“What I like most about the Epic races is you really get a chance to see what you are made of; to see how your body will act when you have to push it longer than normal; to see how well you are really training and if it is paying off,” said Greiser.

Those taking part in the first Epic race this year in Ruston can also race in the XTERRA Gator Terra traditional distance off-road tri the very next day and double-up on points – assuming your body (and equipment) can handle the rigors of 40+ miles of dirt-inspired racing.

“The best advice I can give somebody is to really pace yourself,” said Grieser.  “You also need to have the right nutrition before and during the race.  As far as racing on the same course two days in a row, I really like that Ruston course – its fun and fast with some technical stuff, switchbacks, climbs, and some downhills – so getting on it twice in two days is no big deal.”