Late Summer Race Opportunities

By Darryl Caron

Now’s the time to stay active and sign up for late summer and early fall races around the region. You’ve suffered through the heat and humidity the past month so enjoy some more comfortable weather coming up for training and racing.

The Capital District Triathlon Club’s 22nd annual Crystal Lake Triathlon is on Saturday, August 19 at Crystal Cove in Averill Park. With a 0.5M swim in calm water, 18M challenging out-and-back bike, and 3M lake loop run, it’s a very popular event for both experienced triathletes and beginners as well. There’s an aquabike option. 

Cool thing is you may have been training on all or part of the course summer with CDTC’s summer training sessions on Tuesdays. If you’re not racing, please volunteer to support the Capital District Triathlon Club. Register for Crystal Lake at: cdtriclub.org.

Wilson Endurance Sports, led by Mark and Tonia Wilson, brings fun, challenging events all around New York. They’re grassroots, athlete-centered races for individuals and relay teams with no cutoff times!

The CassadagaMan Triathlon will be held on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Cassadaga, one hour south of Buffalo. It’s a 70.3 challenge (swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, run 13.1 miles), with similar elevations to the Lake Placid courses, but no cut off times. Hilly, challenging and gorgeous courses will leave you exhausted, happy, and more than glad that you chose this epic race. It’s open to individuals and relay teams, and an aquabike is offered. Sign up: runsignup.com.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, the KBR Triathlon – Kayak, Bike, Run in Cassadaga, includes a one-mile kayak, 13-mile bike, two-mile run. It’s challenging and a whole lot of fun, and open to individuals and teams. E-bike and standup paddleboard users welcome at KBR but entered into a separate category. Register: runsignup.com.

The Alpha Win: Lake George Triathlon will take place on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, September 2-3 in and around beautiful Lake George. Race distances include: Sprint (750m swim, 12.4M run, 3.1M run), Olympic (1500m swim, 24.8M bike, 6.2M run), and Half (1.2M swim, 56M bike, 13.1M run). Lake George is the USA Triathlon NYS Championships for age groupers and high school athletes.

Lake George Triathlon has added some new features the past couple of years to keep the race an exciting and safe experience for athletes. Course changes include the course for Sunday’s Sprint and Olympic distance races, which provides participants a chance to run alongside the lake and through the village of Lake George next to hundreds of spectators. For the swim, all distances start at Million Dollar Beach. Athletes will also enjoy some new swag. The race will remain a sanctioned North East Collegiate Triathlon Conference event. Alpha Win is also partnering with the Lake George Land Conservancy to support their non-profit land trust efforts. To register, visit: alpha.win.

The Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon is celebrating 47 years in the beautiful Berkshires, with a great time for everyone, on Sunday, Sept, 10. The Josh has its new race director for the first-time in 21 years as Abby Chaput takes over for Patty Spector, who defined nearly half of the triathlon’s existence of excellence. 

Josh Billings is a unique bike, canoe/kayak/SUP and run triathlon. More than 500 teams start in Great Barrington, Mass., then bike 27 miles through five towns of scenic backcountry roads and rolling hills to Stockbridge Bowl in Stockbridge, where bikers hand off the wrist band to paddlers waiting at the lake. Canoeists, kayakers and SUPs sprint five miles around the lake ending at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, where the wristband is tossed to runners waiting on the beach. Runners then head out of the camp and run six miles around the lake and finish down the main gate of Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, where thousands of friends and family and fans cheer on the finishers. It’s a wonderful event as it’s exciting, accessible, and involves the whole community. If you’re looking to join a team or need a teammate, try their matchmaker service. Get in on the action by registering: joshbillings.com.

Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Alpha Win Triathlon: Saugerties has a historic charm and a welcoming community, you can experience it earlier this year on Sunday, Sept. 17. Race distances include half Ironman, Olympic, Spring, and Kids’ Splash & Dash. Learn more and register today at: alpha.win. 

On Saturday, October 7, the inaugural Alpha Win: Woodstock Summit Duathlon, featuring a bike and run from the town of Woodstock to the top of Overlook Mountain. You can experience the fall foliage while conquering the extreme hilly challenge that this course offers. The bike is paved and just over two miles at a 10% grade, and you run the Overlook Mountain trail to the summit fire tower. Sign up: alpha.win.

The 20th annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon is held on a scenic route, based out of Riverview Orchards, in the town of Clifton Park on Sunday, Oct. 15. The USAT sanctioned race course includes a two-mile run, 12-mile bike, and two-mile run, and it’s open to individuals and two-person teams. Lunch is included in the welcoming race environment and there’s a commemorative item for the first 150 entered. Proceeds benefit the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. mohawktowpath.org.

See you out there!