Triathlon season reaches its fever pitch in the Midwest in July and August, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until mid-summer to swim, bike and run. These regional races provide local athletes with the opportunity to test their fitness early in the year with everything from sprint to half Ironman-distance races. Read up on these events, or visit myracepal.com to find even more area triathlons.
J-Hawk Earlybird Adult & Child Triathlon
leaning Tower yMCA Tower Triathlon
MAy 1 | WHiTEWATEr, WisConsin
MAy 15 | nilEs
bit.ly/J-HawkEarlybird
Distance: Olympic (1000-yard swim, 26.5-mile bike, six-mile run); Sprint (500-yard swim, 13-mile bike, three-mile run); Child (200-yard swim, four-mile bike, one-mile run); Relay also available From the race Director, cheri ZimDars: “We have newbies to elite-level triathletes. Our newbies like the pool swim—only two to a lane, so no crowding—and the run course is through a nature preserve, which makes it challenging and fun.” claim to Fame: The race takes place at the Williams Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
TriByKnight 2016
experience.scheels.com/event/tribyknight MAy 7 | WAvErly, ioWA
Distance: Sprint (300-yard swim, 15-mile bike, 5K run); Relay also available From the race oFFicial, carrie tysDahl: “The race has consistently drawn a competitive field of athletes and has great prizes from our title sponsor, Scheels. It is also a good opportunity for early qualification for the USAT Age-Group Nationals to be held in Omaha, Nebraska this year.” claim to Fame: TriByKnight takes place at Wartburg College, with its swim in the Wartburg-Waverly Sport & Wellness Center and its run through the college’s campus.
ymcachicago.org/leaningtower/pages/tower-triathlon Distance: Sprint (450-yard swim, 18K bike, 5K run); Relay also available claim to Fame: If open water swimming scares you away from triathlons, the Tower Triathlon holds its swim in the YMCA’s pool, giving you the chance to complete your swim in clear, clean water.
Tri-shark: Triathlon Classic & Duathlon
tri-shark.org/web/TriSharkOrg2 JunE 4 | HuDson
Distance: Sprint (600-yard swim, 13-mile bike, 5K run); Duathlon (two-mile run, 13-mile bike, 5K run); Relay also available From the race Director, colleen Klein: “With two large triathlon clubs in our area (Tri-Shark Triathlon Club and Grim Reaper Fitness), the Tri-Shark race is like a big family reunion. Both clubs pitch in to help with race setup and tear down and dozens of members participate in either our triathlon or duathlon.” claim to Fame: The race includes a plethora of awards for overall winners, age group winners, Clydesdales, Clydesdales Masters, Athenas, Athena Masters and relay teams. The race also presents fastest event awards to the fastest male and female swimmer, cyclist and runner in the triathlon and two fastest runners and cyclists in the duathlon.
MyChiCagoathlete.CoM
MAy 2016
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