Start Your Season with a May Triathlon and Duathlon!

By Darryl Caron

After the recent summer-like weather, spring fever is here so lace up your shoes, get on your bike, and grab your PFD.

Schenectady County presents the 10th annual Pedal-Paddle-Run at Aqueduct Park in Niskayuna on Saturday, May 13 at 8am. With a paddling leg, it’s not your typical triathlon! 

Challenge yourself, get fit, have fun, and compete your best time-ever on this unique course. The course consists of three distinct legs: a seven-mile bike loop on the Empire State Trail/Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and along Aqueduct Road; a two-mile kayak, canoe, SUP or guideboat paddle on the legendary Erie Canal/Mohawk River, and 5K run in the opposite direction along the Mohawk River on the bike-hike trail.

Register to compete as an individual or as a two- or three-person team.  Check-in on race day at the Niskayuna Boat House and pickup your race day swag. At the finish line, you’ll receive a Pedal-Paddle-Run medal to mark your accomplishments. If you need a kayak, Schenectady County has partnered with Upstate Kayak Rentals to offer rental kayaks during the registration process on a first-come, first-served basis for just $10. Sign-up by April 29 for only $35 or after for $40. Register now: schenectadycounty.com/ppr.

Saratoga Springs Lions Club presents the 18th annual Memorial Duathlon & 5K Run/Walk at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday, May 28 at 8am. The event welcomes competitive runners and duathletes, along with those who just want to take a nice run or walk on Memorial Day weekend.

Well-organized by the Lions Club, the duathlon features a 5K run, 30K bike and 5K run. The run course is relatively flat near the horse race tracks, and the bike route is on the popular Saratoga Lake training loop. There’s also a raffle with $5,000 in prizes! Sign-up online for a chance to win a Trek FX3 bike, Bare Bones mattress/box spring, Mirror Lake Inn getaway, SPAC tickets, Saratoga Race Course seats, Saratoga National golf, and much more. 

For the duathlon, compete as an individual or as a two- or three-person team. Proceeds benefit the Lions Club efforts to help individuals with sight and hearing disabilities, funding diabetes research, and supporting youth and community initiatives. Sign-up early for the duathlon (individual $65; two-person team $50; three-person team $40) or 5K run: $30. There’s no day of race registration. Register now: thememorialduathlon5k.com.