Use a winter or spring race to pull yourself out of hibernation.
January is the perfect month to begin plotting an early-season race. Not only does a race counteract the annual holiday weight gain (I’m looking at you, Grandma’s molasses cookies), but it also provides some purpose to your winter workouts, which might have started to fizzle out as the holiday parties and shopping ramped up (hopefully not!). Signing up for a race—and paying for it!—adds another level of motivation to your fitness and gives you a goal to work toward.
Still not convinced? Perhaps doing some good for others will give you the inspiration you need to get out the door for a workout on the most frigid mornings. Many races partner with charities, through which you can be a part of a team, join a training program, work with an experienced coach, have a guaranteed entry into an event (even after it’s sold out) and special race experiences, all while raising funds for a worthy cause. Find a cause you care about—for example, you can sign up for Team Save the Children, whose funds go toward giving children in the U.S. and abroad a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Other charities provide clean water for communities in developing countries, aid research for finding cures for diseases or help U.S. veterans transition back into society. Whatever you’re passionate about, you can find a charity to match—and doing something for others will give extra purpose to those treadmill miles.
There are lots of options around the country to kick off your season. (And the earlier you sign up, the lower the registration fees!) Whether the appeal is in the scenery, the theme, the unique challenge or the chance to escape the snow, there’s a race coming up in 2017 for you.
Winter Challenge Off-Road Triathlon
Feb. 18, 2017 | Springfield, S.C.
Mark this race in the “unconventional” column—while “tri” technically does mean three, this race replaced the swim with a kayak. The race starts with a 7-mile trail run on hard-packed farm roads and single-track woodland trails in view of a lake. Next up is a 6-mile kayak on a 75-acre still-water lake that requires three laps—there’s also a high chance of seeing heron, geese and osprey. The race finishes with a 10-mile mountain bike on a trail that features both double- and single-track. (There is also a relay and a duathlon/non-kayak option.) It’s a unique cool-weather challenge for the more adventurous triathlete. Check it out on Athlinks!
March 4, 2017 | Long Beach, Calif.
At just a hair over a half-iron-distance race (the swim is 1.3 miles instead of the typical 1.2), this is the perfect way to kick off your long-course triathlon season. This is one of those local, casual races that a lot of fast athletes show up for, so you get the best of both worlds—some competition if you want it, or a casual, no-pressure environment if you don’t. Held in Alamitos Bay, it features ocean and bay views, a calm bay swim, a flat bike path, a fast and protected beach-side run—and apparently quite the post-race party. Triathlete magazine named it one of the top 10 “off the grid” races in the U.S. Check it out on Athlinks!
March 12, 2017 | Keller, Texas
If you’re looking for an active—and charitable—way to participate in St. Patty’s Day festivities, look no further than this sprint race in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The finish area features bagpipes, an Irish band and green pancakes! The sprint-distance race, which includes a pool swim, a (mostly) flat and fast bike and a wooded trail run is a fun way for veteran athletes to test their speed and beginner athletes to gain some experience. The race currently has a streak of eight consecutive years of selling out at 650 athletes, so don’t miss out (or forget to wear green!). Check it out on Athlinks!
April 1, 2017 | Corvallis, Ore.
Started in 1993, this sprint triathlon has been a fundraiser for Oregon State University’s tri team for more than two decades. In 2010, the race claims it became the largest triathlon with an indoor swim in the U.S. With its community feel, it draws athletes of all experience levels and ages, as it offers road bike, mountain bike and relay categories. The race starts in one of two pools on the OSU campus and is followed by a ride through parts of the historic college district and on gently rolling country roads around Corvallis. The spectator-friendly run is three loops around the heart of the school’s campus with a finish in the Student Memorial Union Quad. If you’re interested in registering, you’ll have to mark your calendars—it opens the first Monday of February every year and sells out within a few hours. Check it out on Athlinks!
April 2, 2017 | Miami, Fla.
Calling all triathlete snowbirds! Warm up on the beaches of Miami when that spring snow just won’t melt. This race features classic and international distances plus a relay option, and Florida’s water is pleasantly warm (78 degrees). After the ocean swim, athletes ride their bikes on a somewhat flat course over Miami Beach’s famous causeways with views of the Intracoastal Waterway, downtown Miami and Miami Beach. The out-and-back run takes athletes along Miami Beach’s Art Deco District before a white-sand finish. It’s the perfect race to kick off your season, establish your base fitness or build your spring race-cation around. And, if you opt to raise funds for partnering charity Save the Children, Life Time will cover the cost of your entry. Check it out on Athlinks!
April 9, 2017 | Honolulu, Hawaii
Imagine it: palm trees swaying in the warm breeze; the sound of gently lapping, cerulean waves on golden, sandy beaches. Race backdrops don’t get much dreamier than the Hapalua Half (hapalua means “half” in Hawaiian). Starting at Waikiki Beach, this 13.1-mile out-and-back course hugs the coastline and encircles the Diamond Head crater. The sister race of the Honolulu Marathon is as fast as it is scenic, with only one significant hill. For post-race fare, finishers are treated to traditional Hawaiian malasadas and shave-ice. Secure a VIP charity entry and run in support of a partnering charity—it’s a total win-win. Check it out on Athlinks!
April 15, 2017 | Granite Bay, Calif.
There’s a reason this race has “ice” in the name—the water in Folsom Lake, where the swim takes place, averages a brisk 56 degrees this time of year (brrr!). Originally part of a local training group’s triathlon training class, the race is now in its 15th year of being open to more than just the class goers. The race offers sprint, super sprint, duathlon and relay options, all taking place in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and about 25 miles east of Sacramento. The swim starts from Granite Beach, the bike course winds through the hills and oak trees surrounding the lake, and the run takes athletes on lakeside single-track trails. Check it out on Athlinks!
Big Sur International Marathon
April 30, 2017 | Big Sur, Calif.
“If we were told we could only run one marathon in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it.” That’s some seriously high praise from Runner’s World chief running officer Bart Yasso. It’s easy to see why Big Sur shines bright on a crowded marathon season calendar—it tours a postcard-perfect stretch of rugged Northern California coastline. The course cuts through giant Redwood forest and sprawling fields occupied only by wildflowers, grazing cows and horses; runs across the beautiful Bixby Bridge; and boasts panoramic views that will take your breath away (in a good way). The 2017 marathon is already sold out (there are also multiple distance runs), but if you want to run this iconic race (you do), there are still charity slots available. Check it out on Athlinks!
