I’m starting to plot out my race season, and I’m looking for the races that have money available and allow the pros and age-groupers to start at basically the same time with the exception of 5150 boulder. (I’ll race this as an “elite amateur”)
Here’s what I know;
Littlefoot Triathlon
Lookout Mountain Triathlon
My way or the Tri way triathlon
Crescent Moon Sprint
Are there races I am missing? Thanks!
Not much money in those races (like $1k total at each race).
Try these:
In all cases, the AG’ers can tow the line with the elite runners, and everybody is eligible for the cash, not just the “pros.”
Oh, you wanted triathlons… yeah, not much money there unless you have a pro card. 
The good news is that at least for the BTMR and PPA/M, folks with strong cycling backgrounds tend to do well since the races are typically won on the uphill. The power developed in the glues/quads/hamstrings from cycling seems to help (and is probably why every kenyan who has ever shown up seems to DNF in the first 3 miles).
I wish I ran fast enough to even be considered a top 30 shot at barr. I guess I could sprint my butt off and try to gain some primes ;).
Unfortunately we don’t have many money races in CO. Not sure why that is. We are supposed to be this mecca of endurance sports (I’m talking CO, not just Boulder) and we’ve never had the truly premier events. The Pro Cycling Challenge has kinda stepped up, but in reality it’s just a reiteration of the old Coors Classic.
We have great events, but from purely the money side we just don’t have top level events, probably solidly second tier, but not top level. Which I’ve always found odd since you can pretty much guarantee a deep and top notch field at anything from a Wednesday group ride on up… Anyway, I think you sited most of the money races in the state in your initial list and mention of 5150. The only ones you’re missing are:
I’ve heard a rumor that the Denver Triathlon will be introducing a prize purse, but that’s just rumor at this point.
Hope that helps,
Jimmy
Ever heard of bike racing?
-Physiojoe
Thanks Jimmy,
I think all xterra’s in colorado offer some money up, but I know I can’t nearly bike at that level. Plus I haven’t really put in the training to do well at them right now, in my opinion it’s two different types of the same sport. While the events may be the same the way to approach them can be way different. 70.3 is a little early for me, while Drew Scott whom is also my age can excel at them I don’t think I have the endurance base or the mental ability right now to really “race” them. I say “race” because my last half-marathon just a half I jogged the entire thing and treated it more like a fun run. I can’t imagine trying to do that after the swim and bike, at least not right now.
Denver Triathlon probably won’t offer money from what I hear, but if it does that course was actually pretty fun.
I’m really hoping rev3 moves into colorado at some point, I like how those races are put on and always seem to bring a great field and a hefty purse. I wish the without limits races offered money but unfortunately currently don’t. Those races are also well run, and I absolutely love them, but in the interest of what I want to try next year they really don’t fit in with that right now.
Ever heard of bike racing?
-Physiojoe
I guess I could attempt this. I don’t have a USAC license so I’ll probably race cat 5 or unregistered. That might bring me what? 25 bucks a race?
Ever heard of bike racing?
yeah, why live in abject poverty as a pro triathlete, when you can be just poor as a bike racer.
When I talked to Chris from the Denver Triathlon last, he said they were trying to find a sponsor to put up a bit of prize $. That was after last year’s race. In my opinion, even if they put up $1-3k total it would still draw a few more folks and some good athletes, and a bit more hype. The race was a great event, very professionally run & I’m sure a decent amount of $$ was spent on advertising (ads in magazines, ads in the trains at the Denver Int’l Airport, etc… that stuff ain’t cheap), perhaps cut out the train ads and put that towards some prize $$? That’s what I’d like to see ;). I’ll see what his thoughts are on prize $ soon.
I really liked the bike course it was a blast. I was also pleasantly surprised the swim was nice, and it was my fastest 1500 of the year. The run should be a pr worthy course since there weren’t any hills. Unfortunately though I don’t think I can do it, I’m probably racing the u23 regionals race again which is the same date. (hopefully with a functioning knee this time). There’s no money and little competition but it was a sweet course, including a barn in middle of the lake from the last time a tornado hit greeley. I think I saw a lawnmower!
if the colorado races were run under USAC rules ( I believe the local Colorado association is joining USAC next year), a cat 5 is not eligible for any prize of much cash value in a cat 5 race. There is supposed to only be medals or the equivalent for placing. You might be able to win cash in a race that is open to more than just cat 5’s.
Teva Mtn Games trail race.
Not a triathlon, obviously, but has decent cash.
If Freed(a guy I ran with at CSU) couldn’t win it, I would stand no chance whatsoever since that guy DESTROYED me every day of practice.
Racing underground sent an email today that says they have 2 new races both with a prize purse. One is in fruita and has 600 dollars total. The other is evergreen and has a 1k prize purse. Here’s the link to the evergreen one; http://www.racingunderground.com/evergreensprinttri/
Racing underground sent an email today that says they have 2 new races both with a prize purse. One is in fruita and has 600 dollars total. The other is evergreen and has a 1k prize purse. Here’s the link to the evergreen one; http://www.racingunderground.com/evergreensprinttri/
Yup - we’ll be awarding nearly $12,000 in prize money at our events in 2012. No pro card is required to win the cash - it’s our way of helping the local up and coming elites make it to the next level. Our 3-race Mile High Duathlon Series awards $600 per race and an additional $2,000 to the series winners. Our KompetitiveEdge Lookout Mountain Tri has a $600 prize purse, $1,000 at My Way or the Tri Way where you can pick the order you swim, bike, and run. There’s $1,000 at our new Ultimate Direction Evergreen Sprint Tri, $1,200 at the Crescent Moon sprint tri, and $600 in the Olympic distance race at our new Desert’s Edge Tri in Fruita on October 7th. We’ve also got some cash at our running races, including $1,600 at the Mt. Evans Ascent.
You can find more info on these events at http://www.RacingUnderground.com
-Darrin
Thanks for putting up a prize purse, even if it is a small one. It’s increasingly becoming a pain in the ass the find races with money for the purposes of qualifying for a pro card!!
Hey Man,
I don’t believe Racing Underground races are USAT sanctioned. Darrin, please correct me if I’m wrong.
I didn’t realize you went to CSU, I lived in the Fort for the last year of my pro career.
There was a sprint race down in the Springs, around Prospect lake, that used to pay out a bit. Don’t know if it still exists.
What about Xterra Eldora? Are they still doing that race? Was a pretty good course. Or Xterra Crested Butte. There was a lot of Xterra money in CO even a few years ago.
There have was a Continental Cup in Longmont in 2007, I think. That was a hot race!
Part of it is that I don’t think money races can get many pro athletes to come up and race at altitude knowing they are going to be at a disadvantage. We were super pysched to get that Longmont race (since so many of the ITU guys lived in Colorado), and then it only lasted one year.
I went to CSU for two years, it was an absolute blast but moved to denver this year and became much more focused, but also much more lonely.
The sprint race Rocky Mtn State games is being hosted by PEAK Multisport this year, I’ll check with them to see if there will be money present. It was an EDR in 2010 and I think USAT decided to stop hosting it for the reason you mentioned, altitude. Either that or Cam Dye lapping almost everyone out.
Xterra Eldora is a great race, but they changed the course to something new. I haven’t ridden the new one but I heard it was an improvement even. Xterra Crested Butte ended, and I think that’s super unfortunate. I always wanted to do that course and heard it was epic, but something fell through. Same with Buffalo Creek, which is really sad as well.
I actually stumbled on the longmont cup the other night, it looked REALLY well attended. I’m surprised that race went away since it looked like a full field, and like you mentioned, everyone lives here. Guess the closest thing to home that’s ITU this year is dallas, but I have family there so it should still be a really fun race.
Part of the reason for Longmont failing was the race organization, it was a gong show. We showed up race morning, only to have our start delay by over an hour 45 mins. before the scheduled start time. I was in the water warming up for the swim and came out to find we weren’t starting for over an hour. THAT was super lame!