The “Night Moves” series at Santa Barbara is a great value
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the race where you get more for less. the best bang for your buck. where you walked away saying, “that’s a lotta race, a great experience, for the money i paid.”
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 shoulderstandard WTC-like tech t-shirtgreat 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.
Definitely keeping an eye on this for 2017!
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.
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).
I did HITS Napa last year, which is not actually close to Napa 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.
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.
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!!!
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.
The “Night Moves” series at Santa Barbara is a great value
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 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.
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.
i’m sure we’ve listed these, but in my old age i just can’t seem to lay my hands on the thread.
which multisport race is the best VALUE. not the best race. not the cheapest race. but the race where you get more for less. the best bang for your buck. where you walked away saying, “that’s a lotta race, a great experience, for the money i paid.”
now, it may well be an ironman. fine. some of you will say that, because the entire adventure is well worth the money spent. or it might be another race. can we please keep this to CURRENT, ONGOING races.
i’m sure a number of you are going to not read the above and include single-sport races, races that no longer exist, or some other GREAT answer nevertheless an answer to a DIFFERENT question than what i’m asking. or some smart ass answer like, "i do my own fictitious race, on the weekend, just me, and it’s free, and that’s the best value. still, if you could either, you know, answer the question, or just not answer at all, that would be preferable. so: the best VALUE in a CURRENT MULTISPORT race. and why.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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€
$100 for an olympic makes the best VALUE list in America?
The “Night Moves” series at Santa Barbara is a great value
Are those still going? Loved those when I was in college up there!
I remember when those races were free, every Wednesday night after all the lifeguards could get off work and schlep it up to Santa Barbara. I heard at some point they got pretty big and there was a nominal entry fee, maybe 10$? 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…