Other events include a sidemount clinic with Lamar Hires, a repair and maintenance workshop for Haskell Booster pumps (Frank O’Hidy), a dry-caving trip to Bat Cave with Pete Butt, and a survey clinic with Jason Richards and Mike Poucher. Tom Morris will lead divers on an eco-tour of Little Otter Spring.

The workshop will take place at Otter Springs Park & Campground, just south of Lake City, Florida. During the event, the NSS-CDS has arranged for free cave diving at Hart Springs. Registration is available here.

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The race starts with a 2.36 mile (3.8 kilometer) swim in the Hardangerfjord. The water temperature is 64 degrees if athletes get lucky, 59 degrees if they don’t. Stormy conditions can produce waves that make swim strokes and breathing extremely difficult.

The swim is followed by 111.85 miles (180 kilometers) on the bike, with long uphill passages and potentially strong crosswinds. The best part of the race, many athletes say, is the 26.22 miles (42.2 kilometers) run. While the first 15.53 miles (25 kilometers) are relatively flat, the last 10.69 miles (17.2 kilometers) involve an extreme climb to 6,178 feet (1,883 meters).

Organizers warn:

"There is a risk of extreme weather conditions on the mountain. Therefore, there will be a special checkpoint to assure that:

• You are fit enough to continue to the finish.
• Both you and your support team have the necessary equipment in a backpack, containing warm clothes, food and drink. You must carry your own equipment.
• You will not be allowed to enter the mountain alone. If your support team does not follow you into the mountain, you will be held back and connected to the next competitor. This concerns all competitors."

For most athletes, the goal is simple: survive. About 75 percent of the participants are expected to make the cut off and finish at the top of the mountain. The others are allowed to finish at the mountain plateau. The competitors need to bring their own support. Normally, about 60 percent of the participants come from Norway, and only about 15 percent are female.

The race is "unsupported" so competitors need to have personal back up crews that follow them with cars to provide them with food and drinks. The support crew also has to accompany their competitor up the final mountain climb. During this final mountain climb competitors, are required to carry a back pack containing emergency food and clothing should the weather turn.

In 2003, local athletes organized the Norseman for the first time to promote triathlons in Norway. Only 21 athletes were at the starting line. The ironman style distance triathlon has gained popularity ever since.

The 2010 event will take place on August 07.

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RAAM is among the best-known and longest annual endurance events in the world. It is one of the pinnacles of sporting accomplishment, globally seen as one of the highest rungs of the endurance sports ladder.

To put it bluntly, RAAM is the American answer to Europe's Tour de France. Unlike most multi-day bicycle races, it has no stages. There is no specified distance to travel each day. The winner usually finishes in eight to nine days, after riding approximately 22 hours per day. Having to ride continuously for days with little to no sleep puts this event in the ultra marathon category.

The continuous physical output places considerable strain on the competitors as well as their support crews. As many as 50 percent of solo participants drop out of the race due to exhaustion or for medical reasons.

The fastest men's speed was by Pete Penseyres in 1986, when he rode 3107 miles (5,000 kilometers) at 15.40 miles per hour (24.8 kilometers per hour) in 8 days, 9 hours, and 47 minutes. The fastest woman was Seana Hogan in 1995, who averaged 13.23 miles per hour (21.3 kilometers per hour) to finish 2,912 miles (4,686 kilometers) in 9 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes.

RAAM is an expensive endeavor by most accounts. Most participants spend more than $15,000 for the event itself, not including training or equipment.

The race was originally organized by John Marino in 1982. There were four competitors, John Marino, John Howard, Michael Shermer, and Lon Haldeman. The concept caught on and the event grew bigger every year. RAAM is, on average, 30 percent longer than the Tour de France and solo racers finish in half the time with no rest days. The race format is essentially a time trial, commonly called racing against the clock or the race of truth. Unlike the Tour de France, there is no drafting or taking shelter from the wind. It's an all out solo challenge.

The 3,000+ miles route touches 14 states and climbs over 100,000 feet. All entrants must be members of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, or UMCA, and then prove their abilities by competing in any of several qualifying events, completing a course within a specified time period.

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The route moves through the Loire Region to Limoges before turning back to the east in a gradual descent down the country and into the "Côte d'Azur" at Nice. The 68th Paris – Nice race starts March 7 just outside the French capital and finishes in Nice on March 14.

The first Paris-Nice race took place in 1933. Until 1939 it was held every year, with no events during the Second World War. In 1946 a sequel was organized, but it appeared to be a one-off event. Five years later, in 1951, reporter Jean Leulliot gives the race a new lease of life and calls it Paris - Côte d’Azur. Changing the name of the race wasn’t a big deal those days.

Starting in 1954, the current name is used to identify this multistage race. With only one exception in 1959 (Paris - Nice - Rome) it has been called Paris - Nice. Obviously, that year the race ended in Rome: 1,955 kilometers divided into 11 stages with a one-time finish in Rome.

In the sixties, France is divided into two sides. One side supports Jacques Anquetil, the others side favors Raymond Poulidor. The rivalry between the two doesn’t just exist in the Tour de France, but also in the Paris - Nice race were hard battles are fought. In the late 60’s, another champion emerges. Eddy Merckx made was in the news in 1968. The following year, he returned to collect the prize and dominate this race for three years in a row.

1982 is the year of the demise of Jean Leulliot. His daughter follows in her father’s footsteps and goes on organizing the beautiful race. That same year, a virtually unknown Irishman makes his stance and wins during his first Paris – Nice competition. Sean Kelly will win the Paris – Nice seven times in a row, which makes him all-time record holder.

In 2002, the organization that’s responsible for operating the Tour the France takes over the Paris – Nice’s management. Since 2005 the race has been a part of the UCI ProTour.

A official map of the 2010 race can be seen here.

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With 10,000 participants from all over the country and the world, Ragbrai is most likely the oldest and the largest bike ride on earth. The route varies each year but towns in Iowa compete for the honor and privilege of hosting overnight some 15,000 – 20,000 guests. The tour is generally around 470 miles long, broken down to 60-70 miles each day except for the first and last days which are considerably shorter. There is an optional loop (called the Karras Loop) on one day each year for cyclists wanting the challenge.

The ride is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 day riders. The cost is $140 for week-long participants and $25 per day for day riders. The entry postmark deadline is April 1, 2010. If an individual or group elects to submit a manual (paper) entry, the entry including the signed original waiver(s) and payment must be complete, correct and dated no later than Feb. 15, 2010.

There is a lottery and if a rider is accepted after registering, the lottery results are announced May 1, 2010. The weekly or daily fees includes wristbands, route marking signage, baggage transportation, camping accommodations, discounts, sag wagon services, emergency medical services, traffic control, souvenir patch, daily route maps, and entries into drawing for a free bike for riders and other prizes for support vehicle drivers.

Camping areas will be set aside by each community on school grounds, county fairgrounds and/or city parks and are large enough to accommodate all registered riders. It’s possible that some communities will not have space available to accommodate all vehicles at the main tent campground, so support vehicles may be directed to a separate campground.

Paramedic teams patrol the bicycle route and emergency medical treatment will be available in each campground. Ambulances and paramedic teams patrol the route each day of the event from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Ragbrai is kicked off with a bicycle trade show featuring the newest and latest in bicycling and associated industries. The Expo takes place in the starting town on the Saturday afternoon before the ride begins. All participants, friends, family and community residents can attend the free event. The annual Expo features Ragbrai’s official ten bike shops (they are the only vendors with permission to sell official t-shirts and other mementoes), bicycle and equipment manufacturers from around the country and retailers that are associated with the cycling world.

While Ragbrai is not a race, it is a one-of-a-kind event that will suck you in, wear you out, and surely crank you up.

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