I’m going to save the Q&A and the monthly roundup I have sitting in my drafts for you all for next weekend.And thought we’d do something different this Sunday.
As we all start to fill out our calendars for the year, it’s hard to know what races to do and which ones to skip.
Yes, we’ve been having fun little chats in our chat/forum about different news-y topics, but it seemed like now was a good time to build a thread out on here to live as a resource of our favorite, best, races we never miss. I am also working on building up a race review database (but I keep getting annoyed by the dumpster fire that is SEO keyword research on which races people want to know about, and it seemed better to just ask you all which are your favorites).
There were other local races, but a lot of them didn’t survive the last three years. Now you: What are your absolute favorite races? The races you always recommend and/or never miss? Why? They can be small, big, local, travel, tri, something else, just the ones that make you go ‘that was awesome.’
I haven't done any traditional triathlons, but I'm a big fan of non traditional multi sport stuff. There's a super cool race in Bend called BadCat Ultra that's a combo sup/kayak, mtb, trail run. Top finish times are in the 30 or 60+ hour range depending on if you choose "short" or long. Super fun community, usually only a handful of racers. I'd love to see more athletes give it a shot. I think someone can get finish time for the short down under 24 hours.
I'm disappointed fastestknowtime.com never really improved post acquisition because I think there was amazing potential for some non traditional triathlon "races" we could make in wilderness that would never allow race permits.
In the non-traditional category, there was a cycling event called the Donut Derby back in the day in Emmaus, PA, home of BICYCLING mag (and BACKPACKER, where I worked). It was a 40 to 50-mile course through the rolling hills and cornfields of Mennonite country, with 3 aid stations stocked with tables of Krispy Kreme glazed donuts and coolers of milk. For each donut consumed, contestants got something like 8 seconds subtracted from their finishing time. My best was 14 donuts, but I gave the time savings back leaning into a ditch trying to vomit. The record was something like 28 donuts.
All-time epic favorite was Primal Quest Utah, wherein we raced through 130F ground temps, pulled a recalcitrant donkey for 8 miles, got 17 goatheads in one MTB tire, learned how cool fatigue-induced hallucinations can be when you relax into them under a desert moon, and made lifelong friendships with other midpack knuckleheads. Oh, and I nearly lost an eye when hugging another competitor about Kelly's height at the finish line who had a trekking pole strapped to the side of her pack, pointy end up.
Last but not least, I'm looking forward to the gravel tri that Kelly has promised to organize for members of this here forum!
Any distance of IM St. George. The town embraces us, and the course(s) are always an epic combo of hard and gorgeous. IM Arizona, a quality last stab at the season where everyone gives all they have left before going dark for the year. The Dwight Crum Pier To Pier 2-mile open water swim from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach. It has become an annual right of passage to submerge in my weakest link in triathlon. Finally, the New York City marathon. That race is pure magic.
🔵Annual Never Miss: Oceanside 70.3 the season opener for Triathlon. A West Coast World Champs in many ways, deep competition, oceans swim, riding where we cannot usually ride and oceanfront run and finish line.
🔵 Non traditional (not a multisport) but kick ass fun ! Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego. A brutal course but gravel is fun, welcoming and super chill.
🔵2nd Alcatraz and for those who bitch about the price, its a ONE of a time MUST DO. Swimming from the Island costs $$, the bike it epic and the sand ladder is worth every $.
Oregon 70.3 was a TON of fun. Down river swim (I usually swim a 35-37 min split and that race i had a 20 min swim. So fun). The ride had a good variety - nice rollers in the beginning and flat but full of turns back half. And you rode through bike vineyards and strawberry fields. The run was all in a nature preserve on a bike path. Lots of trees and birds chirping and SHADE. Cool post race venue too.
I haven't done any traditional triathlons, but I'm a big fan of non traditional multi sport stuff. There's a super cool race in Bend called BadCat Ultra that's a combo sup/kayak, mtb, trail run. Top finish times are in the 30 or 60+ hour range depending on if you choose "short" or long. Super fun community, usually only a handful of racers. I'd love to see more athletes give it a shot. I think someone can get finish time for the short down under 24 hours.
I'm disappointed fastestknowtime.com never really improved post acquisition because I think there was amazing potential for some non traditional triathlon "races" we could make in wilderness that would never allow race permits.
In the non-traditional category, there was a cycling event called the Donut Derby back in the day in Emmaus, PA, home of BICYCLING mag (and BACKPACKER, where I worked). It was a 40 to 50-mile course through the rolling hills and cornfields of Mennonite country, with 3 aid stations stocked with tables of Krispy Kreme glazed donuts and coolers of milk. For each donut consumed, contestants got something like 8 seconds subtracted from their finishing time. My best was 14 donuts, but I gave the time savings back leaning into a ditch trying to vomit. The record was something like 28 donuts.
All-time epic favorite was Primal Quest Utah, wherein we raced through 130F ground temps, pulled a recalcitrant donkey for 8 miles, got 17 goatheads in one MTB tire, learned how cool fatigue-induced hallucinations can be when you relax into them under a desert moon, and made lifelong friendships with other midpack knuckleheads. Oh, and I nearly lost an eye when hugging another competitor about Kelly's height at the finish line who had a trekking pole strapped to the side of her pack, pointy end up.
Last but not least, I'm looking forward to the gravel tri that Kelly has promised to organize for members of this here forum!
* Wildflower WAS my favorite...a moment of silence please ....any news on a comeback?
* Donner Lake Triathlon any distance but sprint course is super fun
* Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells 🌴 so fun at the end of the year to see so many people still fired up
Any distance of IM St. George. The town embraces us, and the course(s) are always an epic combo of hard and gorgeous. IM Arizona, a quality last stab at the season where everyone gives all they have left before going dark for the year. The Dwight Crum Pier To Pier 2-mile open water swim from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach. It has become an annual right of passage to submerge in my weakest link in triathlon. Finally, the New York City marathon. That race is pure magic.
🔵Annual Never Miss: Oceanside 70.3 the season opener for Triathlon. A West Coast World Champs in many ways, deep competition, oceans swim, riding where we cannot usually ride and oceanfront run and finish line.
🔵 Non traditional (not a multisport) but kick ass fun ! Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego. A brutal course but gravel is fun, welcoming and super chill.
🔵2nd Alcatraz and for those who bitch about the price, its a ONE of a time MUST DO. Swimming from the Island costs $$, the bike it epic and the sand ladder is worth every $.
Oregon 70.3 was a TON of fun. Down river swim (I usually swim a 35-37 min split and that race i had a 20 min swim. So fun). The ride had a good variety - nice rollers in the beginning and flat but full of turns back half. And you rode through bike vineyards and strawberry fields. The run was all in a nature preserve on a bike path. Lots of trees and birds chirping and SHADE. Cool post race venue too.