Triathlon race recommendations: How to find a course that fits your needs

Participation in triathlons has quadrupled since 2000 when a scant 21,341 participants belonged to USA Triathlon, the governing body for the sport. Since that time, races of all distances have sprung up around the country. Many races, especially smaller sprint distance races do not require that registrants are members of USAT. Regardless, by 2006 the agency reported 84,787 members, according to statistics provided by the Los Angeles Times.

I began doing triathlons in the Twin Cities area in 1997. At that time there were a handful of races and almost every triathlete did the same few events. My how times have changed! With more and more races to choose from, athletes have endless opportunities to race but have to make decisions about participation earlier in the year as popular races fill fast. Here is a breakdown of the various distances and my recommendations for your best bets in each category.

Sprint/Short (.75K swim/20K bike/5K run) Although some participants take part in a sprint race just to finish the course, the purpose of a sprint distance triathlon is to...well...sprint each leg of the course. A sprint triathlon is not meant to be a "mini-triathlon" as I've heard it referred. Doing a sprint distance race to finish is somewhat like doing the 50 yard dash to finish. That's not really the point of the event. While this distance is a great opportunity for new racers to try out the sport without the intimidation of a longer course, putting seasoned sprinters on the same course with newbies can present problems if the course is not designed well. My favorite sprint course is Heart of the Lakes. The race is expertly managed. It is super short and flat, perfect for a sprint course, and many excellent racers will do this event as speed training for a longer race later in the season. New racers and seasoned pros share this course safely.

Olympic/Intermediate Distance (1.5K swim/40K bike/10Krun): This distance is my personal favorite and is the distance used at  the Olympics. Many race directors deviate from the standard distances in order to accommodate a particular course, and you may also find these races called "short" or "long" depending on what other events are being offered on a particular day. What I like about the length of an olympic distance course is that it is long enough to test your endurance, but short enough to be speedy. My favorite "olympic-ish" course is Waconia. Is is relatively short for an olympic distance race, but the course is hilly, always windy, difficult and very competitive. This may not be the best course for a brand new racer, but it is a great challenge if you've got a few events under your belt.

Half Iron (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) This distance is self explanatory...it's half of a full ironman. This is not a race distance that I participate in, however, the half iron is very popular with many of my training partners who are transitioning from olympic distance to Ironman. A perennial favorite is Pigman Triathlon in Iowa. This August race is part of the popular Midwest Multisport Series and draws a competitive group of athletes from all over the midwest.

Ironman or Full Iron (2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike/26.2 mile run) The full and half ironman distance races are relative newcomers to the triathlon scene. Non-triathletes often think it is the only triathlon distance because it is the only one that they have seen on television. However, now that triathlon is part of the Olympic Games and is getting more media attention, we may see a better understanding of the sport and it's various distances. The popular televised Hawaiian Ironman is open only to triathletes who qualify by racing in other Ironman distance races around the world (and a few lucky lottery winners) and registration is held to under 2000 participants. Locally, the Wisconsin Ironman is a fan favorite. This September race is consistently referred to as a wickedly difficult but beautifully run event. Registration for the 2009 Wisconsin Ironman is currently closed. Registration for the 2010 race will open the day after the 2009 event.

In addition to the races mentioned above I would highly recommend Manitou and Square Lake Triathlons. Check my list on the right side of this page for other great races.

These are races I would avoid:

St Croix Valley Sprint- The group that manages this race is great, but I have to put this race on my must miss list simply because the course does not safely accommodate the very high number of new racers that participate. I have seen so many crashes and near misses (myself included) because of reasonable newbie mistakes on very dangerous parts of this course that I've chosen to avoid it in the future. I have heard rumors that in the future this race may include a "newbie wave" for new athletes, which would be a great idea.

Gear West Duathlon- Almost every triathlete I know secretly dreads this race, but almost everyone does it because it occurs on a perfect weekend in the beginning of the season. My sincerest apologies to the good folks at Gear West Triathlon Store, but it has always felt more like a training ride for their elite team than a bona fide event for the community. The oddly designed run course is generally muddy and slow for anyone who is not one of the first ten runners, and the bike course, while hilly and fun, is not always the safest.  

Of course my opinions are based on my experience at each of these events. I welcome feedback and insight into your local race experiences and favorite events.

Looking for running events, workouts, or other resources?  I will be updating the lists on my site (right side of this page) with upcoming events for runners and triathletes, training information, workouts and links to race results.  Be sure to check back often to find the latest news on races and results.