Ceasar Creek Ohio Duathlon

Waynesville, Ohio

Mid April

Don’t let them fool ya! This is a brutal, hilly, curvy, course. It’s a good way to measure fitness in the early part of the season. If you want something challenging, this is the race for you. The run is primarily through trails and grass with one huge hill at the turn around. The bike is very hilly with sharp curves. You will definitely want a 12-25 or 27 cassette. This is a very well organized race in a beautiful state park. Focus on hills if you plan on attending this suffer-fest.

Gulf Coast Half Ironman

Panama City Beach, Florida

Early May

This race is a must do! It is extremely organized and well run before, during, and after the race. The race is scheduled in early May and can be hot, but is usually in the low 80’s with low wind. The timing of Gulf Coast makes it difficult to get acclimated to the heat if you live somewhere like South Bend. Therefore, it makes it hard to set a personal record. The swim is a one-loop course in the gulf. Wetsuits are usually allowed. The bike is primarily smooth with one big over pass and some false flats. The bike course has food and liquid every 10 miles. The run is also a flat out and back route that winds through neighborhoods along the lagoon and a state park. It has aid stations every mile, with cold towels available! The awards banquet is held at a large bar right on the beach. Everyone is there to celebrate accomplishments and have a good time! It is usually quite this time of year in Panama City, Florida, pricing of hotels is very fair. Panama City, Florida is about 14 hours from South Bend/Chicago and about 11 hrs from Indianapolis.

Memphis In May

Memphis, Tennessee

Early May

This is a popular race. It is in early May, so a great way to start the season. It is time trial start, something unique. They start each person 3 sec apart, so the swim is easier for slower swimmers. This swim is usually wetsuit legal. The bike course is screaming fast, a great course for a PR. The run has changed several times over the past few years. This is an extremely fast race. The race is part of a huge ethnic festival that Memphis has every year. The post race party here is second to none with beer, ribs and music.

Tux Bros-Eagle Creek

Indianapolis, Indiana

June-August

This is a series of races held right outside of the Indianapolis area. These races are great to test your fitness level anytime during the season. It is a challenging course with a lot of hills and winding roads on the bike. The run coarse starts with a big hill and follows a sunny out and back route.

Shelbyville Triathlon Series

Shelbyville, Indiana

June-August

Another series of races about 35 minutes south east of Indianapolis. It takes place at the Hoosier Downs horse-racing park. The swim course is a small man-made pond. The swim exits into the center of the horse track for transition one. The bike course winds through some beautiful country roads, with very few climbs. You then return to transition two for a flat, out and back 3 mile run. This race is put on by Tuxedo Brothers and is a little expensive but very safe and well organized.

Seahorse

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Early June

A very popular race in southern Michigan. Seahorse offers both sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and also a duathlon. The swim is one loop in a beautiful lake, transitioning to a very safe bike course with a couple big rollers. The run is around the lake and through trails. I enjoyed the race, but it is expensive. Also, this race might not be sanctioned by USAT any longer.

Lake Macatawa Triathlon

Holland, Michigan

Mid June

Just North of Holland, Michigan, Macatawa is a very popular race that is very well organized. Every year it grows, and draws in better athletes. They award money to the top three men and women. For age groupers, they give hand carved clogs, a Holland tradition. The swim is a can be mucky, but it is only for ½ mile. The bike is a beautiful closed course on fast rolling roads. The run is through neighborhoods along the lake. The course is marked, however, it is easy to get off course. You will want to know the run course before the race. Don’t plan on sprinting to the finish, as it is through a tight chute for about 100yds, and then onto grassy field.

Johans Trifest

Hopkins, Michigan

Mid June

Johan’s is a fun race on a very challenging course. The swim is wetsuit legal, and tends to have a lot of seaweed upon entry and exit. You leave the water and climb a big hill into transition. The bike course is extremely hilly and can be windy. The run is around the lake, over dirt roads, and through neighborhoods. They have water every mile and the run course is flat. This race usually has a cool start, but can warm up quickly.

River City Triathlon

Logansport, Indiana

Mid June

Logansport is a great beginners race, and takes place in a small park on a quarry. The water is very clear, but the run to the bike transition can be very dirty. The bike is along country roads, but can still have some traffic. You can expect a lot of turns, so it can be hard to get up to speed. If you like running trails this run is your cup of tea.

Warsaw Optimist Sprint Triathlon

Warsaw, Indiana

Late June

This is the perennial Mid-west race with numbers constantly over 500 people. The participants range from novice to elite. It is a very fast race with an out and back swim, a primarily flat bike course and moderately hilly run. The downside to this race is the extended wait for the awards presentation. You can expect to be there for at least 2 hrs after the last person finishes. Warsaw held the Mid-East Sprint Championships in 2005.

Great Lakes Championship

Middleville, Michigan

Mid July

This is an outstanding race that is very well organized. For the elite athlete, it offers “prems” for the fastest swim, bike and run for men and women. It also offers money to top three finishers. GLC is both an Olympic dist tri and long course duathlon. The swim is a quick out and back, but bring tinted goggles, because the sun can be strong. The bike is a very difficult rolling course leading into a hot rolling run that rounds the lake. The “shirts” are usually a useful bike jersey. They also have a nice awards ceremony and good “refuel” food.

Cleveland Triathlon

Cleveland, Ohio

Late July

Cleveland is a great spectator friendly race. You will be able to see your athlete 2 times on the bike and 6 times on the run. Both are loop courses. It does have its price though. At a $100.00 entry fee you can find many less expensive races. However, there won’t be any that close down 80/94 and allow a race on an elevated eight-lane highway! The swim starts in Lake Erie and seems a bit long. You take off and immediately enter the closed highway for a two-loop adventure. The run is a neat tour of downtown Cleveland, going by the Browns Stadium and the Rock “N” Roll Hall of Fame.

Laporte YMCA Triathlon

Laporte, Indiana

Early August

This is a nice, late season, sprint triathlon. It is a little expensive for a sprint, but very well organized. The course is a ¼ mile swim starting in four waves. The swim is followed by a rolling, but fast, out and back bike course. You transition into a three mile rolling run around the lake. It is a great race for a first timer, and very close to South Bend and Chicago.

Chicago Accenture Triathlon

Chicago, Illinois

Late August

I would recommend that everyone experience this race, but once will probably be enough! Both sprint and Olympic distance races are offered. There is even a kids triathlon. Registration is $100.00 for Olympic, and not to mention the money you’ll spend on a hotel and food in downtown Chicago. The weather can be unpredictable and invariably windy! You must arrive the night before for the mandatory meeting and check-in. The swim is in Lake Michigan. It is in a busy harbor that is very wavy and riddled with gasoline. Upon exiting the water you have a 3-4 minute run into transition one. The bike is unbelievable. They close down Lake Shore Drive, and you do a two- loop excursion through the city. After leaving transition two, the run is a scenic tour of several museums and along the lakeshore.

Akron International Sports Festival

Akron, Ohio

Early September

Akron is a HFP race that is a fun, late season race, on a closed course in a state park. It is also a spectator friendly race, as the athlete does loops on the swim, bike and run courses. The bike course is fairly hilly but you can still ride seated. The run course was a one-mile loop that is done six times. The run takes place on dirt and gravel, so it is easy on the knees!

Ironman Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

Mid September

One of the hardest courses you will ever experience. Madison was most importantly, and will be remembered as, an incredible experience. As are most Ironmans, this is a very organized race with substantial guidance. You will receive e-mails four weeks before the race, telling you everything you need to know about before, during, and after the race. If you are considering doing this race, I would highly recommend you visit the venue. The swim is fairly uneventful but upon exiting volunteers strip off your wetsuit and you must run up a 3 level helix into transition one. This transition is at least 7 minutes long, and I would suggest not too wear cycling shoes until you find your bike. The bike is a 14-mile hilly trip to Verona where you do two, 41-mile loops that are extremely hilly!!! I would suggest a 27-tooth bail out gear for this course, spinning is essential. The marathon is phenomenal and mostly flat. It winds through University of Wisconsin campus and even visits the stadium. It is a two-loop course with substantial support. You will be hard pressed to find a better race and an experience so memorable.

Greg Mueller, Certified Level 2 USA Triathlon Coach