Motivate your fitness routine by signing up for a destination triathlon race. Here, we’ve rounded up FIVE great triathlons in vacation-worthy destinations across the United States.
Here is our Top 5:
- Wildflower Triathlon in Central California
- Escape from Alcatraz in San Francisco, CA
- Ironman Boulder
- Lobsterman in Freeport, Maine
- St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL
What makes them special? The medals? The views? The swim and the transition setup? The expo and the celebration? Let us know if you agree.
Wildflower Triathlon in Bradley, CA
Wildflower is not just another triathlon! It's a three-day party celebrating multi-sport, music wellness and outdoor adventure. Packed with a full schedule of races, this iconic weekend triathlon festival boasts three action-packed expo venues featuring top-notch live entertainment, celebration Firestone-Walker b
Dates: May 3-5, 2019 www.wildflowerexperience.
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, CA
Famous inmate Al Capone never broke free from the Rock — but that’s your mission should you be selected for this epic Northern California race. That's right- you must enter a random drawing to enter! There are also relay teams and charity slots available. This super-popular tri starts next to the iconic prison, across the Bay from San Francisco. If you’re a strong swimmer, this one’s for you: The course overall is similar to Olympic distance with a shorter (18-mile) bike ride but longer (1.5-mile) swim through icy-cold (think: 55-degree) water. Finish with a challenging 8-mile run, which involves a 400-step climb up a cliff on Baker Beach, past sights like the Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge.Ironman Boulder/ Ironman Boulder 70.3 (Boulder, CO)
With its fast course and stunning Colorado scenery, this is one of the IRONMAN 70.3 courses that draws the biggest crowd. Recent changes have made the course more spectator-friendly, and this popular venue draws a great crowd who’ll be there to cheer you through this scenic course. Make sure to fit some altitude training into your schedule if you sign up for this race: The starting elevation is a Rocky-Mountain-high 5,200 feet, you’ll top out at 5,715 and the gain is a total of 1,243 feet.
Dates: June 9, 2019 / August 3, 2019 (70.3) www.ironman.com/
Lobsterman (Freeport, MN)
Whether you’re a local or just love lobster enough you’re willing to travel, this is an ultimate Olympic-distance race. With a clear, calm ocean swim, rolling country roads for the bike, and run through pastures and farm stands, the Lobsterman Triathlon offers a one-of-a-kind racing experience. After a 0.9-mile swim in cool Casco Bay (we’re talking mid-60-degrees water), you’ll ride along breathtaking pastures and ocean views around Freeport and Brunswick, Maine, topped off with a 10k run. Then the fun starts, with a lobster bake for all finishers.
Date: Sept 7, 2019 www.lobstermantri.com/
St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg, FL)
Situated on the gulf-side of Florida, this is an early-season triathlon. The St. Anthony’s Olympic and Sprint both feature swims from Spa Beach in Tampa Bay, with a bike and run course throughout Tampa and St. Petersburg. The course is flat and fast, and the average high this time of year is around 82 degrees, making it a great way to race in some warm weather before summer officially sets in across much of the country. The race will be in its 35th year in 2019, rivaling many of the iconic West Coast races as one of the oldest established, continuous races in the country. Because it is such an early season race, it is known for having a strong field year-in and year-out. You will see a mix of notable pros, top age-groupers, and recreational racers as they start the new race season.
Dates: April 27-28 https://baycare.org/