So you think Ironman is for Whimps? Time to sign up for Norseman Xtreme Triathlon

The tenth anniversary edition of the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is set for August 4-5, 2012. It promises to be a special celebration of ten years of a singular athletic challenge across a stunning landscape.

To mark the anniversary, Norseman will offer two days of competition—Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. Each race is limited to 250 competitors, with Sunday’s field including the elite competition and a special anniversary race for athletes who’ve completed five or more Norseman races.

Registration opened Sunday, October 16 at 6pm CET via the Norseman website, and closes at 6pm CET on October 23. It’s important to note that this is not a first-come, first-served registration. Before registering, you’ll need to read the race manual, which can be downloaded from the race , which can be downloaded from the race website. A lottery will be held in the first week of November to allocate places in the race, and the lucky and not-so-lucky will be notified over the weekend of November 4.

In its ten-year history, Norseman has grown from a challenge tackled by a handful of determined multisport athletes to a competition with a truly international profile and big demand for the limited places on the start line. The point-to-point race takes competitors through some of the most beautiful parts of Norway, starting in a fjord and finishing at the top of Gaustatoppen mountain for a total ascent of 5,000 meters.

The prize to the winner is the same as to the last to finish at the top of the mountain: a fabulous black T-shirt. The world’s most northern triathlon, it’s staged at the same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska. Competitors are required to complete the race with a support crew.

The conditions in the fjord and on Gaustatoppen vary from day to day, and from hour to hour…so each race day will offer a unique set of challenges. Both days will have the same rules, the same race manual, the same cut-off times, and black finisher T-shirt limits for the first 160 athletes up the mountain.

So what’s the difference between Saturday and Sunday? The mountain will decide the conditions—you decide how you respond.

With the elite field gathered in the anniversary race, organizers expect a fast race. Athletes signing up for the lottery will be given the option to select their preferred start day. Those wishing to enter the elite race will need to provide their results from five endurance events and select Sunday as their preferred day of participation.

As before, quotas will be in place by gender and nationality. The only change from last year’s race manual is that the cutoff for swim times has been reduced to 2 hours, 15 minutes—15 minutes less than years past.