A swimmer leaves the James River and heads for the bike leg of last year’s Rocketts Landing Triathlon in Richmond. Photo: Richmond Multisports
Ready to complete the racing trifecta? This summer the South is loaded with triathlons of all distances—from fast sprints to the long slog of the mighty Ironman.
Rocketts Landing Triathlon Richmond, Va. • July 24 Racers traverse the best of Richmond with a 1,500-meter swim in the James River, followed by a rolling 40K bike ride on the rural roads of Henrico Country, and finishing with a 10K through downtown.
Charlottesville Off-Road Sprint Triathlon Charlottesville, Va. • July 24 If your racing preferences eschew concrete, try this off-road triathlon at the idyllic Walnut Creek Park, located in Charlottesville’s forested outskirts. After a 750-meter open-water swim in the cool waters of the park’s lake, the course’s 15.5-mile bike ride and 5K trail run will weave through dense woods on well-maintained singletrack with relatively mellow grades.
XTERRA Panther Creek Morristown, Tenn • July 31 XTERRA hosts a series of rugged off-road triathlons around the country with 65 races in 35 states. Avid racers earn points as they compete for an invite to the XTERRA USA Championships in Utah. One of the South’s toughest trail triathlons takes place in the Smoky Mountain terrain of East Tennessee’s Panther Creek State Park. After an 800-meter swim in Cherokee Lake, racers complete a 15-mile mountain bike ride and a 4.5-mile trail run.
Paris Mountain Triathlon Greenville, S.C. • August 6 This rugged race at Paris Mountain State Park in the South Carolina Upstate was rescheduled from early spring, so sweltering summer temps could be an additional challenge. Besides the heat, racers will contend with the brutal climb of Paris Mountain (over 1,000 feet in a little over two miles), both during the five-mile run and the 20-mile bike ride on the surrounding hilly roads. This is the same climb elite cyclists tackle every year at the U.S. Professional Cycling Championships. The most refreshing part of this race comes early in the 500-meter swim in Lake Placid’s cool and clear spring-fed waters.
Ironman Louisville Louisville, Ky. • August 28 Completing the full monty is no small feat: swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112, and running a marathon (26.2 miles). The only full Ironman in the South takes place around Louisville’s scenic waterfront with a point-to-point swim in the Ohio River and running and biking past popular landmarks like Churchill Downs and Louisville Slugger Field.
Nation’s Triathlon Washington, D.C. • September 11 Register early, as this tri fills up well before race day. The popularity is attributed to the scenic course that winds past the monuments and memorials of the Nation’s Capital. The race includes a 1.5K swim in the calm part of the Potomac River past Arlington Cemetery, followed by a flat and fast 40K bike ride past the White House and Washington Monument, and finishing with a 10K run that goes by the Jefferson Memorial and U.S. Mint.
Big Lick Triathlon Huddleston, Va. • September 24 The Olympic-distance Big Lick has become legendary in triathlon circles for its festive atmosphere and scenic course at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Racers launch into the water from the lake’s white sandy beaches and start with a 1,500-meter swim, before riding 40K on country roads with a favorable mix of hilly climbs and flat stretches. The race finishes with a 10K run inside the park on roads with similar topography.
Ironman 70.3 Augusta
Augusta, Ga. • September 25
If you’re ready for the half-Ironman distance, head down to Augusta in late September for a hearty 1.2-mile swim in the Savannah River, followed by a hilly 56-mile loop bike course on country roads, and finishing with a 13.1-mile double-loop course run that weaves around downtown. For racers in the Mid-Atlantic, the Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains takes place in Stroudsburg, Pa., on October 2.
You bike and run regularly, but you haven’t been in a pool since you were a kid. That’s the hiccup many potential triathletes confront. To combat this exact problem, swim coach Jay Peluso started his company Peluso Open Water in Richmond, Va. For newby swimmers, he offered some basic training tips.
Hip Kick
Make sure you’re not kicking from your knee, like you naturally do when you’re running or riding a bike. You want to generate a relaxed, efficient kick from your hip.
Head Down
Keep your head down toward the bottom of the lake or pool, as opposed to looking forward. A low head will raise your legs and hips and help eliminate too much inefficient kicking, resulting in early fatigue. Sight your position to stay straight by just lifting your eyes out of the water.
Get Flexible
Successful swimmers need flexibility in their ankles and shoulders. Do simple back and forth ankle stretches while you’re sitting on the couch. An inexpensive elastic stretch band can be used while sitting at your desk to loosen your shoulders.
Crowd Control
If you’re concerned about swimming in a crowd on race day, start to the far side of the pack. As a newcomer, you’re more than likely not going to win the swim leg, so let the pack go ahead of you. At first, you should also round buoys at a wide angle to avoid taking an elbow to the face.