The TriAmerica National Triathlon Series Tour is a destination based triathlon series tour. Each stop of the TriAmerica National Triathlon Series Tour will kick off with Saturday morning's TriAmerica Super Sprint Triathlon. This event is designed similar to a "fun run" where the distances are short and the focus is fun. The preferred distance of our Super Sprint is a 200 yard swim, a 6 mile bike, and a 2 mile run. This distance is perfect for first time triathletes of all ages. Following the Super Sprint is a TriAmerica TriKidz Triathlon for youths ages 6-14. Sunday is the big day and the featured race is our new TriAmerica Distance Triathlon that includes a 2K swim, 60K bike, and a 15K run. Select locations will also include a race of half those distances. The TriAmerica Festival of Sport and Fitness will encapsulate the weekend.
The Sport of Triathlon
Since its inclusion in the Olympics in 2000, the sport of triathlon has experienced tremendous growth in participation and popularity. Triathlon events around the nation are attracting record crowds, many reaching capacity months in advance. Standard triathlon distances range from the super short sprint triathlons to the Iron-distance with its 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. Currently there are not enough high-profile, quality, international to mid-distance triathlons available to meet the demand. An international distance triathlon includes a 1.5K swim (.93 miles), 40K bike (24.8 miles), and a 10K run (6.2 miles). After the international distance, the next longest distance is the half-iron with a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. The new TriAmerica distance falls between the international and half iron-distance and features a 2K swim (1 1/4 miles), 60K Bike (37 miles), and a 15K run (9.3 miles).
The TriAmerica Distance
Our surveys and research indicate that our new TriAmerica Distance will appeal to a larger audience than that of the international distance alone. Here is what Tim Yount, past Deputy Director and Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for USA Triathlon had to say about our new TriAmerica Distance, " I like it. What it does is give some credence to a new distance that could be good for people who don’t want to do an Ironman or half Ironman but find the Olympic/International distance just too short."
TriAmerica Weekend Events
Each event weekend will include the TriAmerica Festival of Sports & Fitness, a TriKidz youth triathlon for youths ages 6-14, the new TriAmerica Super Sprint Triathlon, as well as the featured event; the TriAmerica Distance Triathlon.