Last Sunday marked an exciting milestone as the 2025 Athletica Cal Tri Austin at Decker Lake officially kicked off the triathlon and multisport season in Texas! The air was buzzing with the energy of nearly 500 athletes and their enthusiastic supporters, and we at SBR Fun Events were incredibly grateful to be a part of such a dynamic event.
More than just a race, this season opener was a testament to the shared vision and passion between SBR Fun Events and our fantastic partners at Cal Tri Events – a partnership built on a foundation of collaboration and a shared altruistic mission.
For us at SBR Fun Events, fostering opportunities for women in endurance sports has been a core focus. Since 2021 (with the exception of 2024), we’ve proudly hosted our own women-only duathlon events, the PinkStrong Duathlon. Typically held just 1-2 weeks apart from Cal Tri Austin in early March, our event provided a supportive and empowering environment for women to experience the thrill of multisport.
This year, driven by a sense of collaboration and our altruistic mission to expand opportunities for athletes, we were thrilled by the invitation from Cal Tri Events to bring our PinkStrong Duathlon into their larger event. Imagine it as a “race within a race” or a special wave designed specifically for our participants within the broader Cal Tri Austin framework.
This offered our athletes the chance to be part of a significantly larger event, experiencing a new venue and course alongside a vibrant community of multisport enthusiasts. We were also incredibly grateful that Cal Tri Events pledged to donate 100% of our race revenue back to SBR Fun Events, directly supporting our ongoing work of building and servicing the Austin Triathlon Community.
Of course, combining events required flexibility and a true spirit of teamwork. One notable difference was that Cal Tri’s standard run-bike-run event features double the run distance of our traditional PinkStrong Duathlon.
Demonstrating incredible compromise and a team-level of planning and execution, Cal Tri Events was willing to accommodate our familiar run distances, provided we could align our bike route with the course being used by all other athletes. This willingness to try, bend, peel, give, take, and fill on both sides – even when neither of us knew exactly what to expect – truly exemplified the collaborative spirit of this partnership.
Our ladies participating in the PinkStrong Duathlon enthusiastically embraced the new venue, the new course, and the opportunity to be part of something much larger and rise to the challenge of what bike course was hilly with a capital H!
Our experience working alongside the Cal Tri Events team provided first hand insight into what makes their events so special, always keeping the athletes’ best interests in mind:
- A Focus on Value: We witnessed how Cal Tri Events prioritizes affordability without compromising the quality of the race experience. This commitment ensures that more individuals have the opportunity to participate and discover the joys of multisport.
- Putting Athletes First - Even Before Race Day: Their commitment to athletes was evident even before the starting gun. The free swim and transition clinic offered the day before the race was a fantastic resource, providing valuable guidance and building confidence for participants of all levels. This proactive approach truly underscores their dedication to athlete success and enjoyment.
- Athlete-Centric Flexibility: The flexibility of free race transfers, deferrals, and participant swaps, even at the last minute, showcased their understanding of the realities of training and life – a level of consideration that is deeply appreciated by participants and speaks volumes about their athlete-first philosophy.
- Championing Inclusion and Choice: We were particularly impressed by the diverse range of race options available at Cal Tri Austin. From Swim-Bike and Aquabike divisions catering to those who might find running challenging, to the classic Sprint Triathlon and our empowering PinkStrong Duathlon, Cal Tri Events created a space where athletes of all abilities and preferences could find their perfect challenge.
- Athlete Support and Development: This year’s event also marked an exciting partnership with Athletica, the title sponsor and an innovative online AI coaching platform. Demonstrating a true commitment to athlete development, Cal Tri Events and Athletica provided all race participants with 30 days of free coaching enrollment. This app-based platform offers personalized and adaptive training plans based on individual fitness levels and activity, providing invaluable support and guidance to athletes as they pursue their multisport goals. This forward-thinking initiative further highlights Cal Tri Events’ dedication to providing added value and empowering their participants.
The athlete energy on race day was infectious. It was incredible to see athletes from 30 U.S. states and five countries, spanning an impressive age range of 7 to 83, come together to compete across 19 different race formats. The sheer diversity of participants underscored the universal appeal of multisport.
Moments like watching a determined 7-year-old complete their first sprint triathlon alongside their proud parent, or an entire family of five celebrating their finish line achievements, were deeply moving and highlighted the positive impact of events like these.
By the smiles and enthusiastic fist bumps at the finish line and even before the race, it was clear that athletes deeply appreciated all the hard work Cal Tri Events put into creating a top-notch experience. This included a new and efficient transition layout, thoughtful touches like carpet for tender feet in transition, convenient bathrooms strategically placed on the course, dedicated in-water safety patrol and kayakers ensuring swimmer well-being, comprehensive full traffic control along the bike course for rider safety, and the unwavering support of a mega team of volunteers. It was evident that Cal Tri Events hit all the high marks by which to measure a successful event. And most importantly, all athletes went home safe, ready to celebrate their accomplishments.
A special nod must also go to MJ and the entire Athletica crew, whose enthusiastic presence and support along the transition area and run course undoubtedly fueled the athletes’ determination with high-fives and motivating fist pumps. And of course, the tireless efforts of the volunteers, team captains, emergency personnel, and SBR board members were instrumental in creating a seamless and memorable race day for everyone.
Our experience working with Cal Tri Events on the Athletica Cal Tri Austin season opener has left us feeling energized and optimistic about the future of triathlon and the power of collaboration within our community. To be transparent there were a few hiccups and waypoint finding moments as with any new adventure journey into the unknown and akin to being on a first date.
Their commitment to accessibility, athlete well-being, and fostering a vibrant community, now amplified by their innovative partnership with Athletica and their meticulous event execution, aligns perfectly with our own values at SBR Fun Events. This event wasn’t just a race; it was a beautiful example of how organizations can come together, embrace flexibility, and ultimately provide a richer and more diverse experience for all athletes.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Cal Tri Events for their leadership, for their collaborative spirit, for inviting us to bring our PinkStrong Duathlon into their event, and for their incredible generosity in pledging 100% of our race revenue back to SBR Fun Events.
We look forward to future collaborations and continuing to work together to make triathlon accessible, enjoyable, safe, and now even more supported through resources like Athletica ai coaching, for all!
The triathlon landscape is changing and we are glad we are helping to paint the big picture.