Late Season Races – As Summer heads into Fall

By Darryl Caron

If you’re looking for upcoming triathlons and duathlons, we have an awesome variety of well-run events in our region for competition and fun times.

The 40th annual High Peaks Cyclery Mini-Tri Series has races for solo and teams in Lake Placid every Monday through August 12. It’s on the same classic course of a 400yd swim in Mirror Lake, a 12M bike around the River Road loop, and a 3m out/back run on Mirror Lake Dr. and Mt Whitney Rd. Visit: highpeakscyclery.com.

The 39th annual Vermont Sun Tri Series continues from Branbury State Park on Sunday, July 21. The Vermont Sun Triathlon is a 600yd swim in Lake Dunmore, 14M bike around the lake, and 5K out/back run. For paddlers, try the Branbury Classic with a 1.5 mile canoe/kayak/SUP, 14 mile bike, 5K run. Bring the family to enjoy the lake, beach and mountain setting. Visit: vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

On Sunday, July 28, the Findley Lake Triathlon Festival, produced by Wilson Endurance Sports, takes place two hours south of Buffalo in a beautiful lakeside community. It’s a sprint (750m swim, 14M bike, 5K run) and Olympic (1500m swim, 28M bike, 10K run) triathlon and aquabike, with no cut-off times. Or challenge yourself with the Double Findley – do the sprint and Olympic tri or aquabike. Relay teams can do the sprint and Olympic. Visit: coachmarkwilson.com.

This year’s 24th annual Crystal Lake Triathlon is on Saturday, August 17 in Averill Park, hosted by the Capital District Triathlon Club – with great volunteer support. It’s one of the most scenic races in the area with a 0.5M swim in Crystal Lake, 18M challenging out/back bike, and a mostly flat 3M run around the lake. It’s popular with new and experienced racers, it’s open to solo and teams, and there’s an aquabike option. And you can preview the course at CDTC’s Tuesday Night Training Series. Visit: cdtriclub.org.

The 12th annual Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon is on Sunday, August 18 at Indian Pines Park in Penn Yan. The ‘steel distances’ are slightly longer than traditional races due to a longer bike course. With 11 races to choose from, including relays, duathlons and aquathon, there’s one for you: Full (144.6), Half (72.3), Intermediate (36.6), Sprint (17.6). Visit: firstknightracing.com.

For something different, the fifth annual Aevitas Triathlon is at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland on Sunday, August 25. Like previous events, they’ll have a couple course options to meet the needs of every type of athlete. The Pro race will be a 500m swim in the pool, 15K bike completed in laps on the park road, and 2.5K trail run. The Amateur category is for those who don’t have a bike or are not comfortable swimming, so they ski erg 2K in place of the swim, then complete a 15K assault bike ride, and a 2.5K trail run. The Open division is for those who wish to swim or bike, but not do the full pro division. They can choose the pool swim or ski erg, and pick the road bike or assault bike, then do the 2.5K trail run. There will be prizes for the pro and amateur divisions. Visit: aevitasfitness.com.

The CassadagaMan will be held on Saturday, August 31 in Cassadaga, an hour south of Buffalo. The long distance race is a challenge you won’t soon forget, with a 1.2M swim, 56M bike and 13.1M run. New for their fifth year, is addition of an intermediate distance race, with 1.2M swim, 28M bike, and 6M run. The courses have similar elevations to the courses in Lake Placid, with aquabike options, and no cut-off times. Visit: coachmarkwilson.com.

The Vermont Sun Triathlon Series concludes on Sunday, August 18 at Branbury State Park. The Vermont Sun Triathlon has a sprint 600yd swim, 14M bike, and 3.1M run. The Lake Dunmore Triathlon has an Olympic 0.9M swim, 28M bike, and 6.2M run. Both have team and aquabike options. Visit: vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

The Alpha Win Lake George Triathlon is on Saturday-Sunday, August 31-Sept. 1. Based near Million Dollar Beach in the village of Lake George, it’s a fun, competitive weekend with great views throughout the course. On Saturday, the long course is a 1.2M swim, 56M bike, and 13.1M run. The festival has a family-friendly atmosphere, with a Saturday early dinner cruise on a Lake George Steamboat. On Sunday, there are Sprint (750m swim, 12.4M bike, 5K run) and Olympic (1500m swim, 24.8M bike, 10K run) distances, including the New England Collegiate Triathlon Conference race. The weekend has duathlon, aquabike and team options. Visit: alpha.win.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, the KBR Triathlon – Kayak Bike Run in Cassadaga is a challenging and fun event for individuals and teams. It includes a 1M kayak, 13M bike, and 2M run, and there are separate categories for SUP and e-bike users. Post-race has a potluck picnic and beer garden by Southern Tier Brewing. Visit: coachmarkwilson.com.

Join the 47th annual Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon on Sunday, Sept. 15. It’s the oldest paddle triathlon in the world and there are 45 categories for teams and ironpersons. About 500 bikers start in Great Barrington, Mass. and race 27M on backcountry rolling hills through the Berkshires to Stockbridge, where they hand off their wristband to paddlers waiting at Stockbridge Bowl. Canoeists, kayakers and SUPers sprint 5M around the lake ending at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, where the wristband is tossed to runners waiting on the beach. Runners go 6.4M around the lake and finish back at camp, where thousands cheer on the finishers. Then celebrate Josh ‘Bash’ with food/drink, live music, awards, and a free kids fun run. Need a teammate? The Josh ‘Matchmaker’ will help put teams together. Proceeds benefit the Berkshire United Way. Visit: joshbillings.com.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Saugerties Triathlon, you can race in Alpha Win’s hometown. The swim is from the Saugerties Village Beach, then once you surpass the hill near the starting line and transition, you can enjoy a rolling bike ride and flat run course in this quiet yet lively town. Distances include a long course, Olympic, sprint and open races. There are also Splash & Dash kids races. Visit: alpha.win.

The inaugural Knight’s Fury Duathlon will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Mendon Ponds Park in Honeoye Falls. There are two distance options, the Formulae Unum with 2M run, 10M bike, 2M run, 10M bike, 2M run, and the Super Fury with 2M run, 10M bike, 2M run. This is brought to you by the ‘Peasantman’ team, now known as First Knight Racing. Visit: firstknightracing.com.

If you’re ready for a great day, do the Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon at Riverview Orchards in Rexford on Sunday, Oct. 20. The fall event consists of a 2M run, 12M bike, 2M run along the scenic route of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway in Clifton Park. It’s open to individuals and teams, and proceeds support Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. Visit: trisignup.com.