Let’s Tri and Thrive Together

By Kristen Hislop

Research has told us how important community is to longevity. Many people come to triathlon to continue their endurance journey with a goal of longevity in sport. A theme for 2026 could be “no one thrives alone.”

Yes, triathlon is an individual sport and you do toe the line by yourself. But the training miles? The early morning swims? The windy bike rides? The moments when doubt creeps in? Those are easier and better when we do it together.

This season look for opportunities and events that build and support our community. Every athlete is at a different place in their journey. The beauty of our regional race calendar is that it offers entry points for everyone. Here are a few early season races to consider. 

Pedal-Paddle-Run – Multisport doesn’t have to mean traditional swim-bike-run. Swimming is often a barrier to entry into the sport. In May, most people haven’t had the chance to practice open water swims, so get on the water instead of in the water. 

On Saturday, May 9 at Aqueduct Park in Niskayuna you will bike seven miles, paddle (kayak, canoe or SUP) two miles, and run a 5K. This year our country celebrates its 250th birthday and this covers a lot of historic terrain. The bike ride traces the original Erie Canal’s historic path. Then, you paddle on the Mohawk River on a two-mile stretch of the historic waterway and finish the journey on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail. A true community event you can race solo or as a relay. What a perfect way for friends or families to experience a multi-sport adventure together: schenectadycountyny.gov.

Keuka Lake Triathlon – On Sunday, June 7 in Keuka Park, it’s one of the most beloved early-season races, and one of the largest in the Finger Lakes Region. The Keuka Lake Triathlon offers a beautiful setting right on the Keuka College campus. 

The event is a First Knight Racing – Peasantman – production, where athletes can choose between intermediate (Olympic) and sprint triathlon, aquabike, relay teams, or sprint duathlon, tri or du relay teams. The usually calm waters and rolling hills make it an ideal event for both seasoned competitors and first-timers. Housing is available on campus and the post-race meal is hosted by the college – in the cafeteria, so yes that means soft serve ice cream: firstknightracing.com.

Bolton Landing Triathlon – New this year, it’s set on Lake George in the Town of Bolton on Saturday, June 13, it offers two options: the sprint (one loop) and Olympic (two loops) distances. Bolton Landing is the perfect destination for athletes, and families, or anyone looking for the perfect quaint town getaway. 

With a swim in beautiful Lake George and biking and running amongst the Adirondack Mountains surrounding the lake, this race offers a taste of everything Upstate New York has to offer: alpha.win.

Tupper Lake Tinman – Few races embody community like the Tinman in Tupper Lake. The Tinman is one of the country’s older long course races, celebrating 44 years on Saturday, June 27. You can opt in for the Tinman (70.3), Olympic, sprint, aquabike, or relay option. 

This classic race brings together first-timers, seasoned veterans, families, and longtime Adirondack racers. Athletes return year after year not just for the rolling hills and clear Adirondack water, but for the shared experience and shared meal post-race. Advice is exchanged at packet pickup. Stories are told at the finish line. New athletes are welcomed into a long-standing tradition: tupperlaketinman.com.

Hudson Valley Triathlon – Options are a theme this season! On Sunday, June 28 in Kingston, athletes can choose long course, Olympic, sprint, or the open division over the course of the weekend. That flexibility matters. It allows training partners of different experience levels to race the same weekend at the same venue. Pick the distance that fits your training and life. 

The Hudson Valley routes features a swim in Williams Lake, a bike toward the Ashokan Reservoir, and a run along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. It’s scenic and ideal for athletes building confidence through experience: alpha.win.

Vermont Sun Triathlons – Nestled against the Green Mountains in the lake region is a pristine place to swim, bike, and run. Novice and advanced athletes will enjoy the mountains, lakes, and streams of central Vermont – just 85 miles northeast of Saratoga Springs. 

On Sunday, June 28, you have two options to race at Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore. The Vermont Sun Triathlon is a 600-yard swim, 14M bike, 5K run. It’s also the USA Triathlon Vermont Championship and Vermont Senior Championship races. Or skip the swim, and paddle instead at the concurrent Branbury Classic Triathlon with a 1.5K paddle (kayak, canoe or SUP), 14M bike, 5K run. Both races offer relay options for two or three person teams: vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

JOIN A CLUB

Behind every confident athlete is usually a group ride or run, a shared open water swim, or a training partner who said, “you’ve got this.” We are lucky to have a number of clubs in the region that help support and build our community. 

The Saratoga Triathlon Club offers monthly learning opportunities over the course of the winter. Check out their STC Forums on Facebook for more information. During the summer season, the Saratoga Triathlon Club has weekly meet ups at Moreau Lake State Park in Gansevoort on Thursday evenings, along with a couple of low-key practice triathlons in the beautiful park, conveniently located near Exit 17 of the Northway: saratogatriclub.org.

Adirondack Multi-Sport Club whose roots were founded in the sport but has grown beyond just swim, bike and run. They ski, mountain bike, do paddle races/tours, hike and run trails, along with winter activities – plus in season swims and ice cream rides. The club also offers bicycle time trials every second Tuesday of the month, all summer long with staggered starts, so you can race the clock – and have pop-up group rides: adirondackmultisport.com.

The Capital District Triathlon Club meets on Tuesday evenings for training sessions – with swim, bike, and rub options at Crystal Lake in Averill Park, and hosts their popular Crystal Lake Triathlon there on August 15. CDTC offers a tri camp and will be raffling off race entries at the Upstate Sports Summer Expo in Saratoga Springs on March 14-15. Make sure to visit the expo since the area clubs and many events will be represented: cdtriclub.org.

Additional clubs – The Bethlehem Triathlon Club, who trains at Lawson Lake in Feura Bush on Thursday evenings. BTC offers a mentoring program, so put in a request by June 15 and you’ll be matched by month-end, and they’ll have clinics near race season. The Hudson Valley Triathlon Club holds a super sprint triathlon series in the Catskills. And the CNY (Central New York) Triathlon Club hosts a summer sprint race. 

If you aren’t a member of a local club this is a great chance and perfect timing to join! They offer accountability, knowledge and belonging – to a community fuels joy and progress.

Those who live in the multisport world gain much from the community. They seek knowledge, share lessons learned, show up for group workouts, encourage athletes around them, and willingly take on new challenges. This is a great season to train with others, race together and grow together. When we do it together, the finish line becomes an even more meaningful celebration. New opportunities and challenges are out there, let’s go tackle them together!

Kristen Hislop (hislopcoaching@gmail.com) is a USA Triathlon and Ironman U coach, and race director for the Delightful Run for Women. Hislop Coaching offers a mindset program for all ages/abilities called Stronger Than Yesterday. She is a proud mother to two sons who ran in college and her husband who races and volunteers at many local events.