Madison Aquathon Series - $80, 5 races. Thursday night knock yourself out. Nothing better than a flat out 1K OWS Time Trial right into a 5K.

https://runsignup.com/...ison/AquathonMadison

Timing, shirts, medals, prizes, awards. They even have a food night challenge to keep it fun where you can deduct time from your time by eating/slamming various eats & beverages. They also do free high-res photos.

Edited 12/8/2016 12:51pm EST

After re-reading something I wrote last year - BEST MIDWEST TRIATHLONS - I forgot to add that some of the best features of the Aquathon are that I can signed up 15 minutes before the race, do packet pickup at the same time, and although I bike to the race, I could just as easily drive and park right next to transition.

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AmZof - duathlon
$100, 3 distances to choose from

If you do the long course, 5/84/15, you'll NEVER get more bang for the buck.

Great venue, difficult course, amazing food and great beer as well.

For those reasons, it's the only race I do

If it's back this year, the Pigman 1/2. At less than $150, great course, awesome home made food, awards and free massages at the finish. Great bargain. Otherwise here in Madison, RaceDay Events does a series with 6 races for $249, ranging from sprint to OLY. With packet picket for EACH race, you get a coupon for $20 off anything at a Trek Store here in the city, so 120 back. Free photos, free lunch from Panera, awards, finish medals, t-shirt and often beer. Beat that!

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Gary Geiger
http://www.geigerphoto.com Professional photographer

TEAM KiWAMi NORTH AMERICA http://www.kiwamitri.com, Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com, GU https://guenergy.com/shop/ ; Salming World Ambassador; https://www.shopsalming.com

The best value of any triathlon I have done was the Strive Multisport Triathlon in Drums, PA. They had the inaugural event this year.

For $95 you get:

• an Olympic distance tri with a great course, including a closed bike leg -- except for 3/4 mile with a coned off shoulder
• standard WTC-like tech t-shirt
• great bar-type food after the race (chicken fingers, pasta salad, misc. sammiches, and even brownies and cake)
• really generous awards (for winners $100 gift card with host, Strive Multisport -- Trek/Spesh dealer -- plus nice hoodie and other minor swag)
• awesome FREE professional race photos easily as good as Finisher Pix (this is such a great benefit)
• grassroots, supportive vibe

While I may be biased because my home is a half mile from the swim start, I don't know any other race where you get so much for so little, and I really don't do smaller races because I think they almost universally suck. Anyways, this Oly is only two hours from NYC and Philly, so I am hoping to rally more people to make the trip out for the second annual event. I'm quite certain that Strive and the other sponsors lose a good amount of money putting this event on, but they do it to build a sense of community for multisport/endurance athletes in Northeast Pennsylvania, which ultimately helps them thrive as a retail outlet and training center too. Win win.

Savageman 70.0 currently at $165, or one of the weekend race bundles to go both Saturday and Sunday. This race makes "epic" accessible to anyone willing to challenge the relentless bike course and follow that up with a run you won't PR either. It will leave a smile on your face and an aching in your legs you won't forget.

Triple T- Race all weekend for the price of a 70.3

Rotorua Half.

Hands down best value race ever! Cheap price, great event, and great race bags. I have no idea how Hookise the RD does it but I can't imagine anyone anywhere gives as awesome value as Hooksie and the Rotorua Half (ironman)

Too bad the days of getting spot prizes for getting naked in transition are gone. Too bad the winner no longer wins their weight in beer. Awesome that the winner still gets a life size plush toy instead of any prize money. Love it!

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TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"

Hmmm. I like the June Lake Granite Man Challenge. Essentially, an ironman over 3 days in an incredible place. Why? Tough, beautiful, accessible, fun, cool, good vibe..... reasonable price (though for the life of me I can't find the price).

I did like Wildflower back in the day... the festival was fun, the camping miserably fun, the course was killer, tested my limits, etc. You know the gig, but interestingly it didn't survive and a price drop wasn't going to save it and sorry, but the drought doesn't get to bear the weight of the blame.

I wish something like the Grand Circle Trailfest would throw in some lake time or a biking day. Or something. I do wish somebody would put on an adventure day race where it was point-to-point using many modes of self propulsion (swim, bike, run, rollerblade, climbing, kayaking, something).

Doesn't Bend, OR have a multi sport race with kayaking as a piece? Never done it though.... just happened through town once when it was going on.

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Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA

Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/

Not in the US, but the Lausanne Triathlon has always been great value. Where else can you do an Olympic distance event for about 80 dollars (Sprint is about 50 dollars, school students 20 bucks and kids race is free), with ITU elite race quality organization (ITU start pontoon, transition with carpets, fully closed bike course in the middle of a city) and the beauty (and water quality) of Lake Leman (known elsewhere sometimes as Lake Geneva). Well it helps that the city council and the police are organizing it I guess.

There are other great races in Switzerland with great value (Nyon for example). My favourite is my (former) home race in Vevey, on the Swiss Riviera (20kms from Lausanne). The oldest triathlon in Switzerland (since 1983). not affiliated with Swiss Triathlon, age group draft legal (but quite hilly at the beginning especially), odd distance using what the terrain/roads give you (700m swim, 33km bike, 6km run), great atmosphere in a great venue by the lake. Biggest kids race in the country too (about 500 kids doing it each year).

In Australia, probably one if not the most successful/preferred races around here is EliteEnergy's Big Husky Triathlon Festival, in Jervis Bay (Huskisson) on the New South Wales South Coast. Best atmosphere for a race in Australia (this south of Noosa). As all races in Australia, a bit pricey for my liking though.

Have not done the graniteman challenge, but I was going to add the June lake half (put in by same people) as I have done that.

Cheap entry (relatively)

Amazing scenery

Great food - was like being at a family BBQ!

Incredible staff and volunteers - people spend a week ahead of time hiking water and nutrition up an insane hill that isn't accessable any other way to set up an aid station.

Toughest run course I've ever seen - just add 30- 45 min to your normal time.

Handmade ceramic finishers medals

Handmade unique cups for podiums

Art as prizes for top 3 overall m and f


June lake brewing gave discount beer to all finishers!!!

This Bayshore 70.4 in Long Beach looks like a good value. I registered when it was $140 (now $150 I think). I haven't done the race yet, so I'll report back in March and let everyone know what I think.

It's not the most fair comparison, but I do think that if you're one of those 'plan a whole year in advance' triathletes, you get a literal steal of a deal on super-early registration on HITS Half-ironman distance races.

Here are the fees for their Napa valley race:


http://hitstriathlonseries.com/...-ca/register-to-race

HITS HALF Fees
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Individual

• Registration Fee 4/10/16 - 4/11/16: $100
• Registration Fee after 4/11/16: $125
  
• Registration Fee after 5/8/16: $200
  
• Registration Fee after 1/8/17: $250
• Registration Fee after 3/8/17: $300 (base price)

Clearly, it's not a particular deal at all with 'normal' registration times, but if you get it on that first day because you're so inclined, I think it's pretty tough to beat $100 for a well-run HIM. (I've done this race as it was legit.)


Even before 5/8/16, $125 for a HIM is a steal. (WTC HIM Santa Cruz is $275 for early reg, $325 for late.)

i see your point. but are you reading the HITS palm springs race reports? is this just a palm springs issue, where it seems to so often end up like this? or is this a national issue? because, again, value isn't just cheap. it's cheap for what you get.

i don't want to color your view. i'm simply asking.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Lake Logan Half - $135 early, $155 normal. Beautiful course with an idyllic mountain lake swim.

No, I haven't read the issues re: HITS Palm springs.

I can only comment on the HITS Napa, which I did a few years back, and aside from a smaller field, much less hype, and less of a postrace food spread, it was a well run race, which I consider strong value.

I myself could care less about the medal, the hype, the announcers, and honestly, for me the crazy crowds at WTC events turn me off and decrease the value of the race to me, although I fully understand that many (most!) triathletes feed off the energy and are glad to pay extra for the hype.

Of course, if the race is a cluster...., it's poor value!

IMU, the issues with HITS palm springs are primarily there.

Even though I live well within drive distance (San Diego), I did not reg for the HITS palm spring race but will be doing the Napa race this year despite the travel involved, based on reports of the PS race being bad and the Napaa race being good.

ETA : which kind of exactly hits on what you are asking. The HITS price for palm springs is not a good value to me, even at 100 for a half, but the HITS Napa IS a good value to me at the exact same price point because the logistics and course are better.

Fly-by-Night duathlon.

You race on a NASCAR track.

How is Triple T not all over this thread?

Hereyago for 2017:


Friday, June 2nd, 2017 at 5:00 P.M.Race #1: Super SprintSaturday, June 3rd, 2017 7:30 A.M.Race #2: Olympic/Sprint AMSaturday, June 3rd, 2017 3:00 P.M.Race #3: Olympic/Sprint PMSunday, June 4th, 2017 at 7:00 A.M.Race #4: Half Iron/Olympic

The races are on big (by east standards) hills in the Southeast Ohio. Limited number of participants (a couple hundred?). Individual and team divisions. Beautiful forest, lakes, farm country, no traffic ever. Fire road run up and down a hill. A cold lake to soak in between / after races. Incredible race production and food, Shannon always puts on a fantastic event. Great atmosphere because it's all of us against that friggin' hill. And you get a technical top, and there are prizes.

You can run all four races for the low price of $250. That's right, $250.

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- I do all my own stunts

I did the HITS Napa race this year (sprint) and thought it was great. Well-organized, nice course, plenty of volunteers. Also, the sprint is $40 for early registration. I almost paid it but was so pissed off by the USAT fees and active.com fees making it suddenly $60 that I decided to wait and see...

Anyway, I still thought it was a great value.

The "Night Moves" series at Santa Barbara is a great value

Definitely keeping an eye on this for 2017!

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Strava

Rocketman in Huntsville, AL. Race was put on like any other small local race but it had great competition and the race director was great.

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USAT Level II- Ironman U Certified Coach

The Ratsnake Triathlon, in central NY $40 (18k trail run/ 29mi bike/ 26yd swim... yes yards). Tough hilly course, old school vibe, great camping/ cabins w/in walking distance of start and right on run course, so spectator friendly. Great old school vibe, huge spread of food and plentiful craft beer afterwards.

The Lake Placid Mini-Tri Series (hosted by High Peaks Cycling) is also incredible value. $20 and top-3 in each age-group get actual prizes (product/gear) a bunch of good raffles. No transition racks, very few course markings, but fun, challenging event, and can get some really strong competitors. Runs eight weeks in the summer, third Monday in June through third Monday in August (I believe).

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John Hartpence, Athlete & Coach
tripence@gmail.com, @coachpence

I did HITS Napa last year, which is not actually close to Napa [city] since it is up at Lake Berryessa, but the race went great. Beautiful location and scenery, nice lake, great bike course with some climbs, and rolling out and back run. I don't know how they manage to have so many problems at Palm Springs, because Napa was done well and despite probably not going back to Palm Springs I will give Napa another go next year.

Anyway I think Chicago Triathlon is a great value. The triple challenge is $280 for three (plus the cumulative) races, the Oly by itself is $145, a very professional production that is a great location and in a great host city. A bike course on lower wacker drive where Batman was filmed is quite an experience. Full lanes of traffic are closed down so the bike course is very safe, the lower Wacker Drive portion is completely closed for the race, The swim is about as safe as any open water swim could be given that it runs parallel to the edge of the lake, and the run course has got some great scenery too. Add 100 tourist things to do as a destination race, and I'd say it has some pretty great value.

Never heard of it; thanks for the tip.

Another vote for the American Triple T. A fantastic value and definitely not a cookie cutter, predictable event, but isn't reaching its limit of 500 until a month or so before the event, if it does sell out.

Not to mention that it is at 7 or 8,000 ft. For us ocean viewers that is enough to slow you down, despite the insane run.

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Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA

Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/

Are those still going? Loved those when I was in college up there!

For me, gotta be http://106westtri.com While just it's first year it had very reasonable registration costs, amazing support (completely closed highway for the bike!), sorry cool swag (cowboy hat and belt buckle!) and an amazing course/location that took them almost a decade to get approved.

I've done the HITS Naples, FL (OLY) event twice, in January 2013 and 2016. Its been a well run event.....no issues with swim, bike course, or run. Last year was a little unusual because of a pouring rain but they handled it well. Mark Wilson was the RD both times but I've read elsewhere here that he is no longer with the company (?). I'd recommend but I only have experience with Naples.

Delmo (Steve) Sports has several events in the South Jersey area.....does a good job and provides a good value.

The Great Floridian Triathlon (GFT) is $150 for early entry (by Mar 31 IIRC); AFAIK, the GFT is the cheapest iron race in the U.S. If you don't care about having big crowds, it's a great race and a great value.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Never did that one when I lived in that part of the world but I always loved the Mach Tenn triathlon in Tullahoma, TN. Long sprint, great course, better postrace food and beer.

The 195 Euro fee for the Alpe D'Huez long course triathlon is a steal.
It's the best race I've done outside of Roth.
Outstanding course, good swag, professional organization and great atmosphere.
And you climb the freaking Alpe D'Huez!

Lake Terramuggus Series in Connecticut. 6 sprint races every other Thursday night through the summer, plus an Olympic at the end. Sprints go for about $25 each and you can register on site. No bibs, no medals or t-shirts, overall awards only, 1 water station and rack space in transition is first come, first serve until it's full. That being said, it's chip timed, a fun course, and there's always a cooler of beer at the end. It's just a great atmosphere, and a cheap way to race several times a year with friends.

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AP Racing Crew|Cupcake Cartel|Picky Bar AmBadassador

I haven't been there yet, but I would think Kona without a shadow of a doubt (we're talking value, not price ...).

I would not look at entry fees, but what enjoyment I get when taking time off work and family.

From the races I have done, I would rank my top 3 in value as:

Challenge Roth
Ironman Barcelona
70.3 Worlds (does that qualify as an ongoing race with changing locations??)

Basically you get a long weekend in a triathlete's asylum with not much else to distract you. Barcelona (Calella) has cheap hotels/cheap food/cheap transport etc. to make up for juicy WTC entry fees.

XTERRA races are a ton of fun for the money. Can't remember what I've paid for the ones I've done, but looking through a few of the open races for 2017, races are $60-65. I love the off-road vibe.

Of course, I'm a Toughman ambassador because I feel Toughman has a lot to offer. Toughman is to Mary Ann as Ironman 70.3 is to Ginger. The races might not be the huge productions some might want/expect, but the ones I've done or volunteered at have been solid events. There are now 16 races in the series and it is continuing to grow. As a consumer, I love the grassroots, alternative feel of Toughman. I believe triathlon needs the Toughmans, Challenges, and Rev3s of the world.

The prices are good, too - Toughman Arizona is $150. Toughman Minnesota and Wisconsin are currently $120. Tennessee is $141.40, including the registration fee. I did MN a couple years back and really enjoyed it - nice course, good turnout, and great course support.

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Travis Rassat
Vector Cycle Works
Noblesville, IN
BikeFit Instructor | FMS | F.I.S.T. | IBFI
Toughman Triathlon Series Ambassador

Speedy Feet in southwest Ohio runs a series of Wednesday afternoon tris through the summer time. The races are bare-bones, and cost $15 ahead of time, or $20 day of. It is THE best value out there. All the cool kids show up, and competition is hot.

I also want to give a shout out to HFP (of Triple-T fame). They run great races for reasonable prices. They contribute to a vibrant Ohio tri scene.

Our local Road Runner club, ORRRC, puts on some winter swim (indoor)/runs that are $10.

Not sure if this is only for Americans, if not then some that I know in Germany: (€ is about $1.05 right now)

Maxdorf middle distance triathlon 2km-80km-20km 90€ or 110€ for non-licence holders.
Wasserstadt Iron distance triathlon 119€ until the end of the year, 85€ for the half.
Frankfurt city half distance - was 140€ until last week now 160€ until march
Knappenman XXL Iron distance - 210€

$100 for an olympic makes the best VALUE list in America?

I remember when those races were free, every Wednesday night after all the lifeguards could get off work and schlep it up to Santa Barbara. I heard at some point they got pretty big and there was a nominal entry fee, maybe 10$? I think they are still going on, can someone who has done them lately fill us in on the program for now?


And it is multi sport as it was a swim/run, but I think you could do either or if you wanted to. And usually there was a gathering of folks for a beer afterwards too, so this was great value for the couple bucks...

I too will say Triple T. It's a really unique event, completely different feel from an IM event. Well run, but still has a local, ma and pa feel.

 

Deca Ironman.... about $1500 dollar sign up for 10 fully supported Ironmans on the same course (food, water, etc.). Comes out to $150 dollars per Ironman distance, hard to beat that.

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2x Deca-Ironman World Cup (10 Ironmans in 10 days), 2x Quintuple Ironman World Cup (5 Ironmans in 5 days), Ultraman, Ultra Marathoner, and I once did an Ironman.

Beyond Triple T, this thread is already nothing but a popularity contest of STr's favorites.

Well, except for American Zofingen -

Which actually IS THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER.

"Short Course" aka Canadian Womens Distance =
3-4+ hours of racing on an amazing, challenging course in a beautiful venue, with delicious food and BEER afterwards
- all for $100.

"Middle Distance" aka G Chris Gleason Memorial F1 =
5-6+ hours of all of the above
- all for $100.

"Long Course" aka Long Course =
7-10+ hours of all of the above
- all for $100.

Savageman is amazing, as is Triple T, but -
they are the rest of the podium, well behind AmZof, in terms of bang for the buck.

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float , hammer , and jog

Yuck. Value yes. But 10x IM back to back no thanks.


Not uncommon to pay $40-50 for a local masters swim meet. So last time I paid $15/minute of racing...

I race the events that fit my schedule. Instead of traveling too often. That's value for me since my son has his own events now.

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Otillo. I don't even know what it cost me, but whatever the number was, it was worth every penny.

Monday night mini tri series in Lake Placid during the summer.

$20 for a sprint. Low key, grassroots style racing.

Best VALUE in a race?

For Americans - that would be ANY well run race in Canada. You are saving 25% - 30% right off the top, on the dollar exchange! :)

Dust off those passports folks, and we'll see you in 2017!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Totally Triple T - I think it was $200 when I signed up last year for a full weekend of awesome racing. And the sag is great too - includes a tri top and I love the finisher's jacket (also included).

Yeah, definitely sounds epic but I've done the real deal at Powerman Zofingen and have no interest in stepping down to what I think you might agree is a less polished race. :)

Not really. I gave examples of what I thought were "good value" races.....HITS and Delmo......not my favorites.

Ironman Florida! I mean, have you seen that backpack!?

Not really.

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2x Deca-Ironman World Cup (10 Ironmans in 10 days), 2x Quintuple Ironman World Cup (5 Ironmans in 5 days), Ultraman, Ultra Marathoner, and I once did an Ironman.

Easily, Norseman.

This is in line with your current front page article regarding something Original.

The fee isn't that great but Norseman was easily the most expensive race I've ever taken part in (and that was with benefit of utilizing in-law Swedish summer house week before, etc). But, now knowing how great an experience it truly was (of course, people praise Norseman so much...but it's all justified in my opinion... it really is a near-mystical life event, not just a race): would easily have paid 2X, 3X to do it... and would still have come out way ahead in value equation.

I'm with you - I'm in this for the experience. Sure, I like to measure myself against others...but give me an experience and I will give you my money. Doesn't have to be in a distant land...just come up with something awesome.

I personally think that Ironman still provides good value... although maybe less so at particular races and more so at others. Did IM Copenhagen this August and it was a really well-run, great experience race.

For all the reasons the others have said......American Triple-T. 4 Races, racing top, lots of food. A tough, tough course.

Cheap is not necessarily "Best Value". In the world of contracting, the highest price good or service can be the best value over all other bidders if the additional benefits outweigh the additional cost.

For example, reputational excellence is one factor I would use in determining what I am getting for my money. On that factor alone, HITS has to discount their races steeply compared to others because by and large they suck year after year (YMMV). Of course, there would be a host of other factors in a best value decision and ST would argue about those. Jumping directly to a discussion on which races have best value is putting the cart before the horse since individual expectations from the same race can vary so widely. Some value propositions aren't even known to the consumer until they become conspicuously absent and smack you in the face.

You have fully captured the meaning of "best value" as opposed to cheap!

Sorry, but beg to differ. The HITS Naples event doesn't "suck"....the two years I've done it has been well run and provides a good value in my opinion. Can't speak for the other HITS events and you might have a different opinion if you have had a different experince with HITS....no problem. Delmos races are not "cheap" (look them up) but compared to the cost and the type of experience they provide I believe are a good value. I could care less about "reputational excellence". I'm only concerned about the product that is delivered when I experience it and shell out my fee and time commitment. I thought I answered Dan's question accurately....events that provide a good "value".....not my favorites and not necessarily "cheap".

Another excellent choice. What a benefit for triathletes who live in that area. We all want to travel and explore new venues, but if I lived near LP and could do that race regularly, I would be a very happy, content triathlete. Also kudos to the similar Speedy Feet series in SW Ohio mentioned earlier in this thread. SW Ohio, however, can't quite compare to the scenic beauty of LP. :) FYI, the Speedy Feet RD did many HFP events before starting his own company.

Perhaps you haven't grasped the essence of YMMV. I've never done a HITS race; and I have read about problems at Naples although nothing like Palm Springs. The future of HITS as a series does not look very promising.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread

Challenge Roth is a terrific value for an iconic race. I have "paid" them 7 times.

Our local Kids for Kids triathlon (http://www.kidsforkidstriathlon.com) is a GREAT event - literally kona level production and the kids get more value in swag than their race entry fee. A race video has been featured on ST.

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David
* Ironman for Life! (Blog) * IM Everyday Hero Video * Daggett Shuler Law *
Disclaimer: I have personal and professional relationships with many athletes, vendors, and organizations in the triathlon world.

HITS aside, you're still wrong about this being a simple popularity contest.

Most people responding are listing events that have wildly different costs, different productions, different levels of difficulty and different turnouts, and they are listing the reason WHY the price tag is a good value to them.

I named the june lake one because it is, of the races I have done, the best overall bang for buck.

While JL is one of the races I like most, it's not my favorite race, but I will probably do JL more than the other races I like as much because I feel like I am getting more expserience per dollar than the other races that top my list, in large part because those other races, which are equally challenging and beautiful, have a much higher price tag on them and require long distance or even international travel.

here's what we have. this about cover it?

U.S.

HITS Napa
American Triple T
American Zofingen
Savageman
Lake Logan Half
Graniteman Challenge
Strive Multisport Triathlon
Pigman Half
Madison Aquathon Series
Speedy Feet Series

Non-U.S.

Lausanne Triathlon
Rotorua Half
Norseman
Ötillö
Maxdorf
Wasserstadt
Frankfurt city half
Knappenman XXL
Challenge Roth

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Fly by night. Anyone can ride on a road anytime. You rarely get to ride on a NASCAR track

I looked up this race. Awesome - run-bike-run-bike-run on a NASCAR course. Different. And no swimming! I'm seriously considering the 6 hour drive from the Boston area.

FIRM had a standard duathlon on a smaller race course in Connecticut but, unfortunately it was cancelled for 2017 due to low participation. That was a FUN race!

Dan I have enjoyed your recent thought-provoking threads on the state of triathlon.

For my money, the Kerrville Half is the best. I've done 12 different IM-branded halves and 5 different full IMs. Kerrville (about 90 mins. SW of Austin and 60 min. NW of San Antonio) is in my opinion by far the best half in Texas. I have done the three IM-branded halves in Texas and Kerrville is far superior to them in every way. The swim is beautiful, in the calm and clean Guadalupe River, surrounded by big trees on the banks. The bike course is mostly gentle rollers, enough to break up any drafting, but not hard. The run is down along the river and there is great crowd support. In addition to the Half, there is a full weekend of racing with a sprint and olympic as well.

Kerrville is a great little town in the Texas Hill Country, with little wine bars and a cool vibe, similar to what you might experience in the small town IM's like Couer d'Alene, Placid, etc.

FWIW, the Kerrville Half was just voted the best local triathlon in Austin Fit Magazine. It is put on by the event management company led by Jack Murray, formerly of Jack & Adam's bike shop in Austin. Jack loves triathlon and knows the sport well. They created this race from scratch several years ago and it has grown into something special. I think that fact alone, that a new independent half iron race can be born and thrive in recent years is a testament to its quality and atmosphere.

Thanks,
-Doug

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It is the mind itself which builds the body.
-Joseph Pilates

Well worth the drive. I do it from CT every year.

Also a night race with a BBQ after.

Bring your own liquor for post race.

Having raced in California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New York and Massachusetts, the best value in my opinion in the US would be the North Carolina Triathlon Series

Sprints $55 until December 31 then $65
Internationals $70 until December 31 then $85
Half $135 until December 31 then $155

14 Sprint Distances
5 International
2 Cross between an International and a Half
3 Half's. (Lake Logan is just an amazing low key two days of racing).

Season starts in March and ends in October with a huge variety in course types. Race 5 races and you get some good swag. I got a Zone3 transition backpack this year and past years I have gotten a customized down jacket and a pretty sweet huge framed photo of me on my bike at one of the races that year.

100% agree. Not to mention the freebies at the awards banquet at the end of the year including free race entries for next year. I've gotten comped six races I believe. Incredibly generous.

That said, I'm signed up for the 2017 Aquathon Series which I've never done (though I've done a few of the individual races). We'll see if I can learn to OWS this year, lol.

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Madison photographer Timothy Hughes | Instagram

I can second this. I race the sprint at Naples and Ocala every year. I think I pay $60. The events at those venues are well run IMO. I'm not sure if they qualify as "best value" but they're a solid value.

Sounds like it might be specific to that venue. Naples/Ocala is well run every year.

I'd agree with that. The triple challenge is a great value. Fantastic venue. The finish line is has a bit of a "magical" quality to it. You basically finish in an amphitheater of iconic skyscrapers. It's the most spectator friendly swim in triathlon as your family/friends can easily walk the sea wall and follow you. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of people every year cheering on loved ones in the swim, holding up signs, etc. If you're competitive the swim is a bit of a downer because it gets congested but it's also the same for everybody so....

The bike course is pretty phenomenal too though I'm not a fan of the busway portion: I think the ramps and turns going up/down are too severe and therefore dangerous.