My wife and I are both retired, so the plan for the next several years is to travel to new places in our RV. After 38 years of racing, doing races in new places is also part of the plan. All of the talk now is about where the IM World Championships will be, but I’m interested in hearing what people think is the best Sprint or International distance race (or slightly longer) to do in each state (you can leave out Alaska). I know everyone has their own opinion of what makes a “best” race, but I’m most interested in races that are unique in some way (challenging (mountainous!) bike course and/or trail run). Of course, they need to be well organized & safe. Camping at the race site or nearby is a bonus. I know there are mtn bike tri’s and Xterra races and there are some gravel bike triathlons, but I’d like to hear about what people think are the best races with a road bike course.
My wife and I are both retired, so the plan for the next several years is to travel to new places in our RV. After 38 years of racing, doing races in new places is also part of the plan. All of the talk now is about where the IM World Championships will be, but I’m interested in hearing what people think is the best Sprint or International distance race (or slightly longer) to do in each state (you can leave out Alaska). I know everyone has their own opinion of what makes a “best” race, but I’m most interested in races that are unique in some way (challenging (mountainous!) bike course and/or trail run). Of course, they need to be well organized & safe. Camping at the race site or nearby is a bonus. I know there are mtn bike tri’s and Xterra races and there are some gravel bike triathlons, but I’d like to hear about what people think are the best races with a road bike course.
If your open to a duathlon - Fly-by-Night duathlon. Its the best race I’ve done (its in Watkins Glen NY)
Transition is on pit road. You run the infield and ride the course.
I’m also curious what others think - trying to do an event in every state myself.
My wife and I are both retired, so the plan for the next several years is to travel to new places in our RV. After 38 years of racing, doing races in new places is also part of the plan. All of the talk now is about where the IM World Championships will be, but I’m interested in hearing what people think is the best Sprint or International distance race (or slightly longer) to do in each state (you can leave out Alaska). I know everyone has their own opinion of what makes a “best” race, but I’m most interested in races that are unique in some way (challenging (mountainous!) bike course and/or trail run). Of course, they need to be well organized & safe. Camping at the race site or nearby is a bonus. I know there are mtn bike tri’s and Xterra races and there are some gravel bike triathlons, but I’d like to hear about what people think are the best races with a road bike course.
If your open to a duathlon - Fly-by-Night duathlon. Its the best race I’ve done (its in Watkins Glen NY)
Transition is on pit road. You run the infield and ride the course.
I’m also curious what others think - trying to do an event in every state myself.
That looks like a blast! I’m going to keep it on my radar for a future event.
For MN I will throw out a couple options.
Timberman in Grand Rapids MN has both sprint and international distance. Sugar Lake is one of the best lakes to swim in in triathlon. I place it behind Mirror Lake (IMLP) and Lake Tahoe only in lakes I have swam in for a race. The bike course is nice rural roads with a good mix of MN hills (no mountains). The run incorporates dirt roads to soften up the running surface a bit for some of it. The race is well run too. Always a fun time in early July.
Brewhouse Tri in the rural Duluth area. Held at a nice lake north of town with a very rural bike course, and fast run course. There is a small campground closer to transition than the parking area too.
The Twin Cities area (Minneapolis/St Paul) has.some good options too such as: Buffalo Tri, Tri West (new race but put on by people who know what they are doing and a good location at a local park). Lake Minnetonka/Hopkins Royals/Maple Grove are all well run urban tris.
Santa Rosa Island Triathlon on Pensacola Beach, FL is a great sprint in the Florida Panhandle. Fort Pickens is a campground that is a must visit only a few miles from the race venue. Try to stay in the loop closest to the park entrance if possible.
Grandman Sprint Triathlon in Fairhope, AL is also a well organized event. It has about a 12% grade climb out of the transition area for the bike/run so that presents a unique challenge. The Brett Robinson Coastal Tri is in Gulf Shores, AL. It has a sprint/Olympic option. It is held around the first of September so it gets very hot during the run. Gulf State Park Campground is a great place to stay for that race.
https://kineticmultisports.com/
Fifty races across four states https://kineticmultisports.com/
For Virginia I am partial to the two races in Jamestown.
Idaho
Coeur d’Alene Tri (olympic distance)
Swim: You take a cruise boat out towards the middle of the lake and jump off the ship where you tread water with the other participants before the gun goes off and you swim back to shore
Bike: the course starts off like the IM course heading on a scenic route along the lake. But on the way back you take a side road and climb up 700 feet. On the way back you have smooth pavement and can easily hit the 40’s (or 50’s if you have bigger balls than me)
Run: nothing super exciting. Nice fast course on a bike trail that runs along the lake and river. Always has good support.
Finish: they usually have decent food at the end for the racers. Finish is at the city park and beach so if you have kids they will have fun hanging out and playing after the race
Pic of the swim start
Video Reel
I have been racing for nearly 40 years, half that time living in Mobile AL and second half living in Carlsbad CA.
My all time favorite race is the Heart of Dixie Triathlon in Philadelphia Mississippi, one of the oldest races in the country.
True point to point course that finishes with a lap around the horse track in the Neshoba County Fair.
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/MS/Louisville/HeartODixieTriathlon
In Alabama, my favorite race was the Mountain Lakes Triathlon in Guntersville, another race that has been around for 36 years!
https://team-magic.com/events/274
In California one of my favorites is the Shaver Lake Mile High Triathlon high up in the Sierra National Forest.
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/CA/ShaverLake/ShaverLakeMileHighTriathlon
FL. I would offer up Clash Daytona
All 3 legs inside the Daytona Race track.
2 race times to choose from. 7:30 or 9:15
Bob Babbit does pro interviews. Very nice food afterwards
FREE unlimited beer
So what’s not like
😎
Just. Great thread. Thank you.
Onion Man in Walla Walla, WA is fun. Ride through the wine country in the Blue Mountains. ETA: many people RV/Camp.
Georgia has a Sprint and Olympic distance race at Callaway Gardens. It’s a beautiful location, especially in the spring/summer while the azaleas are in bloom.
The Chattahoochee Sprint is nice as well, but not as scenic as the Callaway option.
Races listed here:
https://tricolumbusga.com/
It’s been a decade (and I remember it being a point to point course with a lake swim not the Deschuttes), but if you’re in Oregon in June, do the Pacific Crest Tri up in Bend. Been going for over 25 years.
NJ - escape the cape
You jump off the back of a ferry in the ocean and swim back to land for T1. Very well organized. Highly recommend enjoying cape may while your there.
I really dig St Anthony’s tri in St Petersburg FL. Sprint and Olympic distances. Lots of first timers all the way through to a pro field.
The Ft DeSoto races are also nice.
For Colorado, Boulder Peak Triathlon may be the closest to what you’re looking for. International distance race with a bike course that goes up into the foothills with a pretty brutal climb and big descent. The run is almost entirely on gravel and dirt trails. Camping is not available anywhere nearby that I know of. Probably could find camping 30-45 minutes away.
For Wisconsin, two options come to mind. There is a sprint triathlon, Devil’s Challenge Triathlon, at Devil’s Lake State Park. I haven’t ever done it, but it is a cool area and there is camping. I can’t find confirmation that it still exists, but there was a sprint and half Ironman triathlon at High Cliff State Park with various names over the years (usually High Cliff Triathlon, but was Toughman Wisconsin for a while). The bike is nothing special, but the run goes up a huge hill at the start and has an interesting mix of terrain (especially the half course) before coming back down to the finish. You can camp here too.
For Colorado, Boulder Peak Triathlon may be the closest to what you’re looking for. International distance race with a bike course that goes up into the foothills with a pretty brutal climb and big descent. The run is almost entirely on gravel and dirt trails. Camping is not available anywhere nearby that I know of. Probably could find camping 30-45 minutes away.
For Wisconsin, two options come to mind. There is a sprint triathlon, Devil’s Challenge Triathlon, at Devil’s Lake State Park. I haven’t ever done it, but it is a cool area and there is camping. I can’t find confirmation that it still exists, but there was a sprint and half Ironman triathlon at High Cliff State Park with various names over the years (usually High Cliff Triathlon, but was Toughman Wisconsin for a while). The bike is nothing special, but the run goes up a huge hill at the start and has an interesting mix of terrain (especially the half course) before coming back down to the finish. You can camp here too.
While I have not done it yet, there always seem to be good reviews for Door County Tri in Wisconsin also.
in Connecticut it is hard to beat the Pat Griskus olympic in June and the sprint in July. The courses are no joke, but they’ve been around forever. RD Tom Wilkas has everything down to a science and the volunteers are great. Plus, beer after the olympic as a reward!
In NY, I like the Stissing tri in Pine Plains in Dutchess County. It’s a small race, but it is run pretty well and the bike is tough.
sounds like a fun trip, enjoy
AZ Mountain Man up in Flagstaff. Nothing like a triathlon at 7000ft
Fantastic idea for a thread.
I’m in Chicago. The Chicago Triathlon (Olympic, Sprint, Supersprint, or all 3 as a single event) are great. The whole thing is downtown, which makes it very scenic and fun for spectators/ visitors. A portion of the bike is on Lower Wacker. It’s like hauling ass through a long tunnel. It’s is just awesome.
I’d also give serious consideration to Leon’s Triathlon, which is in the Chicagoland area but in Indiana. It’s a small race that’s been around forever- very old school. It raises money for vets, has flags everywhere, and is steeped in patriotism. Vets from all over come to participate. Leon, himself, is a unique guy. He welcomes and thanks everyone and gives the race a warm, personal touch. It’s a great vibe; everything that’s good about local racing.
In MA I think the most unique race is SOS Cape Cod. Starts with a 25ish mile ride from Wellfleet to Provincetown and back, followed by alternating trail runs and swims through the kettle ponds of Cape Cod National Seashore. I think it adds up to maybe 2 miles of swimming and 9ish miles of running. Great independent race vibe and a solid after-party. You need a support person so it might be tough if its just the two of you, but DM me if you do it and I’ll sherpa for you!