Race Season is Here!

By Darryl Caron

Upstate New York is a hotbed for multisport athletes. Locally, the four largest clubs in the area are excited to reconvene their membership through weekly open water swims, bike and run training, social events, and especially racing!

The Capital District Triathlon Club, Bethlehem Triathlon Club, Saratoga Triathlon Club, and the Adirondack Multi-Sport Club each have activities and events planned. Club presidents are hopeful this year brings a return to normal for the clubs and the athletes they serve.

For Capital District Triathlon Club, club president Lee Hilt has confirmed the weekly swim and bike/run summer training schedule that kicks-off on Tuesday, June 7 and continues through August 30 in Crystal Lake at Crystal Cove, Averill Park. More than 100 athletes train most weeks at the lake on the Crystal Lake Triathlon course; this year’s race is Saturday, August 20. The area clubs have an agreement where BTC, STC, and AMC members and guests pay the CDTC member rate of $10 per week to swim at Crystal Lake. Learn more and join: cdtriclub.com.

For Bethlehem Triathlon Club, club president Jeff Andritz is cementing plans for the club’s weekly open water swim sessions, which are moving to Lawsons Lake, just outside Clarksville. For more info, visit: bethlehemtriclub.com.

At Saratoga Triathlon Club, club president Jeremy Davis has scheduled the weekly training swims that begin on Thursday, June 2 and run through Sept. 1. With over 50 athletes swimming most weeks, it’s a good opportunity to meet training partners and plan bike rides. STC had their spring kick-off meeting and outdoor gatherings are being planned in state parks. STC supports the Hudson Crossing Triathlon in Schuylerville on Sunday, June 5 – if you’re not racing, please sign up to volunteer: hudsoncrossingtri.com. Learn more and join: saratogatriclub.com.

At Adirondack Multi-Sport Club in Glens Falls, club president Greg Hewlett and members have been busy scheduling and participating in spring biking and running events, plus getting ready for hiking, paddling and swimming. Most train in small groups and the club is a social connection to like-minded people. Learn more and join: adirondackmultisport.com.

Be sure to sign up for the Summer Time Trial Series, hosted by Adirondack Multi-Sport: In Ballston Spa, Wednesdays, 6/1, 15, 29 and 7/13, and Fort Edward, Tuesdays, 6/7, 21 and 7/5. This welcoming series of 10-mile races/rides are great dedicated aero practice and an ideal way to get your mind/body in better biking shape. Register: bikereg.com.

Adirondack Multi-Sport is also hosting the first annual Rapid River Fondo in Warrensburg on Saturday, June 4. These gorgeous road rides of 33, 48 and 62 miles all meander along southern Adirondack waterways. All rides are fully supported and include rest stops at The Hub in Brant Lake: thehubadk.com. Even more incentive: proceeds benefit Adirondack Cycling Advocates, which goes a great job promoting safe and quality biking in the southern Adirondacks: adkcyclingadvocates.org. With no Saratoga Tour de Cure, with multiple distance offerings, this is a great event and training ride for all levels of riders! Register: bikereg.com.

Running and riding since 2004, the Memorial Duathlon & 5K Run in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, May 29 kicks-off the multisport racing season for many – and helps you train for triathlon races! Well-organized by the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, the duathlon features a 5K run, 30K bike and 5K run, based out of the Saratoga Casino Hotel. This event welcomes multisport athletes, runners and those who want a fun event on Memorial Day Weekend. You can also compete as part of a two- or three-person team. The run course is relatively flat near the harness and thoroughbred race tracks, and the bike route is on the popular Saratoga Lake training loop. They have a lot of great sponsors so buy raffle tickets online for a chance to win a Trek bicycle, stay at Mirror Lake Inn, day at the Saratoga Race Course and other great prizes. All event proceeds enhance Lions Club efforts to help individuals with sight and hearing disabilities, funding diabetes research, and supporting youth and community initiatives. Register: thememorialduathlon5k.com.

It’s back! The 11th annual Hudson Crossing Triathlon at the beautiful, historic Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville returns on Sunday, June 5. With a 500yd swim in the clean Champlain Canal, 12M bike in farm country, and 5K run through Schuylerville and park trails, the fast sprint distance course is ideal for competitive athletes and fun, relaxed environment for first-timers. The race is open to two- and three-person teams. A portion of proceeds benefit Hudson Crossing Park. There are limited entries so sign up soon. Register: hudsoncrossingtri.com.

Race the Adirondacks at the 40th annual Tupper Lake Tinman Triathlon on Saturday, June 25. Based at Tupper Lake’s Municipal Park, it’s back in person so sign up to see why the iconic Tinman is one of the longest running triathlons in the US! Participants can choose one of five races. Tinman 70.3: 1.2M swim on Raquette Pond, 56M bike to Cranberry Lake and back, and 13.1M run in and around the village – with aquabike (swim/bike) and team relay options. Olympic: 0.93M swim, 26M bike to Childwold and back, and 6.2M run. Sprint: 0.5M swim, 12.6M bike to Piercefield and back, and 3.1M run. Save 10% with discount code: TINMANADK10. Register: tupperlaketinman.com.

The Alpha Win Hudson Valley Triathlon is on Saturday, June 25 at Williams Lake in Rosendale, just southwest of Kingston. Racers swim in pristine Williams Lake, bike to the majestic Ashokan Reservoir, and run on the historic Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. The 70.3 distance is now a qualifying event for the Survival of the Shawangunks (SOS) Triathlon in New Paltz! The available race distances assure you a challenging course geared to your level of training, endurance and personal goals: Open (100m swim, 3M bike, 1M run), Sprint (750m swim, 12.4M bike, 3.1M run), Olympic (1500m swim, 24.8M bike, 6.2M run), 70.3 (1.2M swim, 56M bike, 13.1M run), and 140.6 (2.4M swim, 112M bike, 26.2M run). Register: alpha.win.

In its 37th year, the Vermont Sun Triathlon Series is six great triathlons, meticulously directed by the Steve Hare and family with Ruth Bullock, at Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore, just southeast of Middlebury, Vt. It’s a pristine place to race with beautiful courses in nearby central Vermont, 80 minutes from Glens Falls. The Vermont Sun Triathlon is on June 25, July 17 and August 14 with a 600yd swim, 14M bike, and 3.1M run. The Lake Dunmore Triathlon is on June 25 and August 14 with a 0.9M swim, 28M bike, and 6.2M run. Both races have aquabike options and the June 25 races are also the USA Triathlon Vermont State Championship. For something different and fun, I highly recommend the Branbury Classic on July 17, a 1.5M canoe/kayak/SUP, 14M bike, and 3.1M run triathlon – this was my first multisport race 30+ years ago! Register: vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

For a change of scenery, try the Henderson Harbor Sprint Triathlon at Henderson Harbor, just one-hour north of Syracuse. The Henderson Harbor Tri is a 750m swim, 20K bike, and 5K run on the beautiful eastern short of Lake Ontario! Options include aquabike, bike-run, and team relay races. Central NY triathletes are excited to see this awesome, long-running race happening again so let’s get more eastern NY folks out there to experience it. Register: auyertiming.com.

The Capital District Triathlon Club’s 21st annual Crystal Lake Triathlon is on Saturday, August 20 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 popular event for both experienced triathletes and beginners as well. There’s an aquabike option. Cool thing is you can train on the course all summer with CDTC’s summer training sessions on Tuesdays from 6/7-8/30. More good news: CDTC is offering “Crystal Lake or Bust,” their first-ever Tri Training Camp (Tuesdays, 6/7-8/16) at the summer training sessions, where beginners can learn the basics of triathlon and get prepared for a great day at the Crystal Lake Tri. For details, contact coach Kristen Hislop: hislopcoaching@gmail.com. Register for the race by 7/15 for awesome swag! Register: cdtriclub.org.

The Alpha Win Lake George Triathlon will take place on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, September 3-4 on 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 70.3 (1.2M swim, 56M bike, 13.1M run). Lake George is the USA Triathlon NYS Championships for age groupers and high school athletes. Prepare for the race at the Lake George Triathlon Camp on August 19-21, where you can swim in Lake George, bike and run on the courses in a group setting with personal instruction. Register: alpha.win.

There’s plenty to look forward to this summer so join/renew your club membership, get involved to meet/train with others, and sign up for races and events that interest you. See you out there!