Late Season 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 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 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.

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.

Alpha Win has been working on some new features to make the race an exciting and safe experience for athletes. Course changes include a new run course for Sunday’s Sprint and Olympic distance races. This will provide athletes a chance to run alongside the lake and through the Village of Lake George next to hundreds of spectators. Additionally, for the swim, all distances will now be starting at Million Dollar Beach. Athletes will also enjoy some new swag including race belts, swim caps, and Lake George Triathlon jackets.

The Lake George Triathlon Festival is now the first-ever USAT-sanctioned NYS Championship event. On Sunday, September 4, age group and high school athletes will have a chance to compete to win the NYS championship in their respective age group. The top five finishers in each age group will qualify for USAT Nationals. The race will also remain a sanctioned North East Collegiate Triathlon Conference event. The festival weekend will also feature a dinner and festivities while aboard a Lake George Steamboat on Friday, Sept. 2. All of the local triathlon clubs will be recognized at this 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 46 years in the beautiful Berkshires, with a great time for everyone, on Sunday, Sept, 18. Josh 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 on Monday, Oct. 10. Race distances include 70.3 half Ironman, Olympic, Spring, and Kids’ Splash & Dash. Learn more and register today at: alpha.win. 

The 19th annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon on held on a scenic route, based out of Riverview Orchards, in Clifton Park on Saturday, Oct. 16. The USAT sanctioned race course includes a two-mile run, 17-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!