A few years ago a couple of guys at the university where I work organized a triathlon for people associated with the school. This year’s event drew about 30 people, was as fun (and almost as competitive) as any $100+ triathlon I’ve done, and, best of all, was free. Everyone got a tee-shirt and the winner got a handshake and bragging rights.
Our local tri association has a few events each year classed as “home events” no prizes, no support except for a cooler of water and some bananas / homemade cookies afterwards. and held on open roads. They’re great fun, usually attract about 20 or so.
I’ve put on several right where I live by a creek. Transition area is a parking lot, and the run takes everyone to the opposite side of the creek from the transition area. Participants can either take off their shoes and leave them with a volunteer and swim across the 150m creek to the finish, or take a rowboat ferry across.
We’ve gotten around 50 participants each time. Even got a sponsor to chip in running hats one time. We serve water, sports drink and watermelon during and after the event. It’s great fun. No timing, no places awarded.
I’ll have my own tri next week while I’m off work. Actually I’ll just add a swim to the front end of my already planned bike/run brick.
I’m not starting the bike segment from the pool because the traffic is too crazy there. Instead I’ll just drive home as quick as possible (about 10 minutes) and go from there.
Not idea to have such a long T-1 but at least the price of this tri is right.
Yes, our triathlon club has a “Members Only” tri. Only we don’t call it a race, we call it a “group workout” for legal reasons (don’t need permits). It’s great–on Pensacola Beach–but hot–usually mid-July.
Our tri club puts on a tri for the members. It’s free - no t-shirt though. What is interesting is we do several different distances concurrently. A short sprint, a long sprint, and an Oly. Usually about 50-70 people total. Pretty competitive event too. We’re in Colorado Springs and I think some US Tri Team members have raced with us for the training.
Don
I think about this all the time. I could save the $ 400. bucks and do a iron distance race at home . With seven kids I have my own race crew. Nothern NY is a great place to race . Sleep in my own bed the night before. I can swim in lake Ontario. Bike and run on country roads with litle traffic. All I got to do is get motivted this fall and do it.
While vactioning in Kona I did the Trash Can Tri. No fees, no registration, no bike racks. Just some banana bread before the race that someone baked the night before. It was a sprint that started at dig me beach. The bike went out to the airport where I turned around at the “trash can”. The run was out and back along Alii. The race “organizer” sat in a lawn chair on the peir untill he finished the paper then announced “Well we should get started. What’s everyone want? Beach or in water start?” No transition area, just leaned my ride up against the wall. When someone left on the bike, a local ran out into the intersection to stop traffic. When I finished i got a stick with a number on it, went to the table and printed my name next to the finish number. The official timer was a guy with a wrist watch calling off times. It was so low key. I had the time of my life. Probably the closest I’ll ever get to the Big Show.
Here on Martha’s Vineyard we have a sprint tri every Sunday. No numbers, cops, timing, entry fees, racks, or logistical support. It’s called the Show N Go Series. My buddy Todd Christie and I started it 11 years ago; we’ve held them all over the Island. Lots of regulars and visitors alike. Great fun. Check out VineyardTri on the net.
We have a “private” tri, I guess, every year. We usually have about 10 people, and we swim, ride and run at great location that is fairly remote. The winner gets this trophy that some guy made with scraps from a machine shop (this 40 pound monstrosity with gears and shit welded to it), and last place gets a case of beer. Every year we get an idiot who goes hells bell so he can scratch up his coffee table with the ignot thing, and we get 9 or so who fight to the death to be last…