Olympos-X (iron distance)

Olympic Beach (Olympiaki Akti), Katerini, Greece · August · Independent (Triman, Greece)

Why people love it

Not a standard full: 4 km (2.5 mi) swim, 191 km (119 mi) bike, 40 km (24.9 mi) trail run
Self-supported rules; escort vehicle strongly implied
Registration shown as closed
No cutoffs published

2.3Below par

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

Racer satisfactionLiked3.4
No athlete reviews; an extreme niche event with strong bucket-list pull but no feedback yet. · Low confidence
OrganizationAdequate3.0
Running since 2017 with a results archive, but no athlete feedback and self-supported rules. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyExperts only1.0
Experts only: 235 km (146 mi) in total, 100 slots and self-supported rules. · High confidence

PR potentialVery slow1.0
Course record is 16:02, with 4,800 m (15,750 ft) of bike climbing and a trail run up to 2,800 m (9,190 ft). · High confidence
Course easeExtreme1.0
Rated 7/7 by the organiser: 4,800 m (15,750 ft) of bike gain, then a trail run climbing 2,250 m (7,380 ft) to 2,800 m (9,190 ft) · High confidence

2.5Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalSeldom1.8
The Thermaic Gulf in late August is typically about 25-26 °C (77-79 °F), above the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) wetsuit limit; unmeasured for this race. · Low confidence
Water temperatureAcceptable2.8
Probably 25-26 °C (77-79 °F) in late August: warm but swimmable at night. · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.0
The sheltered Thermaic Gulf at 4 am is usually calm; unverified. · Low confidence
Swim easeModerate2.8
4 km (2.5 mi) at night from a boat start, with navigation in the dark. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat3.7
A boat start at 4 am under the dark Mount Olympus skyline; no reviews. · Low confidence

3.4Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed3.0
Road; no data. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly open1.8
Open roads; the drafting ban implies no closures, unverified. · Low confidence
Bike scenerySpectacular4.7
A climb from sea level to 1,810 m (5,940 ft) up Mount Olympus. · Medium confidence
WindMostly calm3.8
No data; the mountain road is partially sheltered. · Low confidence

Bike speedVery slow1.0
191 km (119 mi) with 4,800 m (15,750 ft) of gain up to 1,810 m (5,940 ft); extremely slow. · High confidence
Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
4,800 m (15,750 ft) of gain is among the hilliest bikes in the sport. · High confidence
Bike simplicityTechnical2.0
The long mountain descent from 1,810 m (5,940 ft) is presumed technical; unverified. · Low confidence

2.0Below par

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportLonely1.0
A mountain trail with no external support. · Medium confidence
Aid stationsSparse1.2
The organiser says there is no external support on the 40 km (24.9 mi) run. · Medium confidence
Run scenerySpectacular4.9
The summit area of Mount Olympus, among the most dramatic settings in the sport. · Medium confidence
Run conditionsBrutal1.0
A technical alpine trail at the end of 150+ km (93+ mi) with no external support. · High confidence

Run flatnessBig climbs1.0
2,250 m (7,380 ft) of gain over 40 km (24.9 mi) to 2,800 m (9,190 ft). · High confidence

3.0Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperatureHarsh2.4
A late-August coastal start is 22-25 °C (72-77 °F) overnight and 32 °C (90 °F)+ (90 °F+) by day, then cold on the summit. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Mount Olympus has frequent afternoon storms, and the organiser notes a late-cancellation policy. · Low confidence
Venue beautyStunning4.8
Mount Olympus from sea to summit. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlyHard to watch1.2
A point-to-mountain route that is solitary. · Medium confidence

Low altitudeHigh altitude1.4
The run reaches 2,800 m (9,190 ft) and the bike reaches 1,810 m (5,940 ft). · High confidence

2.8Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
Seasonal beach hotels, and late August is peak Greek holiday time. · Low confidence
Hotel valueGood3.5
Few reviews, mixed (6-8.6/10). · Low confidence
WalkabilitySome driving2.5
The start is at the beach; the run start and finish are up the mountain. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection3.0
Fly to Thessaloniki, then roughly 80-90 km (50-56 mi) by road; unverified. · Low confidence
LogisticsComplex1.3
A support vehicle is expected on a multi-stage point-to-point route. · Medium confidence
Town and foodGood3.5
A Greek beach-resort strip with good local food, thin otherwise. · Low confidence

Location: Olympic Beach (Olympiaki Akti), Katerini, Pieria, Central Macedonia, Greece
Typical month: August
Latest or next date: 28 August 2027
Organiser: Independent (Triman, Greece)
Field size: About 100 athletes
First held: 2017
Distances: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Swim venue: Olympic Beach, Thermaic Gulf (sea)
Swim start: boat (night start 04:00)
Bike climbing: 4,800 m (15,750 ft)
Key climbs: Up Olympus to KEOX military centre, 1,810 m
Run climbing: 2,250 m (7,380 ft)
Altitude: 2,800 m (9,190 ft)
Nearest airport: Thessaloniki (SKG)
Where to stay: Olympiaki Akti, Paralia Katerinis
Booking: Small beach-resort strip; hotels are seasonal. Booking.com scores for several Olympiaki Akti hotels rest on very few reviews (mixed, 6-8.6/10).

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