So as mentioned in my post Is a Knysna Big 5 Challenge Lite on the cards for 2014?, 2014 sees the introduction of a Knysna Big 5 Challenge Lite.

Where: Knysna
When: 05 – 12 July 2014
Website: www.magneticsouth.net | www.oysterfestival.co.za
Facebook: KnysnaOysterFestival
Twitter: @oysterfestival | @Magnetic_South | @magneticsouth1

Whilst the changes are not quite what I expected or hoped for, they are definitely positive, and represent the popularity and growth of this great sporting challenge. Here are the options for the Big 5 Challenge and the Big 5 Lite:

I still believe the options still favour the cyclists: you can pedal on Saturday and Sunday, pedal on Thursday — it is still my opinion that the XTERRA course favours MTBers heavily, everyone runs Tuesday, and then cruise through a little half marathon on Saturday. I had hoped that to even things out a little they would have either offered the 50km MTB as an option (in line with the half marathon being an option alongside the full marathon) or man-up totally and make the full marathon compulsory and remove the half option.

Additionally, a 100km road cycle does not equal a 20km paddle and certainly not a 1-mile swim.

Obviously, the Lite makes the Challenge accessible to many more athletes and this is very good.

For many keen multi-sporters, one of the most important developments is the inclusion of another water event, and we hope that by next year a water leg will be compulsory. Only then will the Big 5 Challenge be able to claim to be the multi-sport event of the year.