Selecting your first triathlon can be as challenging as the actual race. Triathlons are a strenuous and exciting way to push yourself physically and mentally, but if you’re new to the sport, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a triathlon race as a beginner.

1. Distance: Triathlons come in a variety of distances, from sprints to full Ironman races. As a beginner, it’s important to start with a shorter distance race to get a feel for the sport and build up your endurance. Sprint triathlons, which typically consist of a 400 yard swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 5k run, are a great option for first-timers.
2. Location: Consider selecting a race that is located in a place that is close to your home. This will hopefully help keep costs down but it will be a good way to make sure you’re comfortable with the logistics of the race as well. 
3. Course: Before signing up for a race, research the course. Look for a race that has a swim course that’s safe and well-marked, a bike course that’s not too hilly, and a run course that’s flat and easy to navigate.  The race website should have a section dedicated to discussing the course as well as providing maps for you to review and in some cases course videos too.  The Cal Tri Fort Worth course page is a perfect example of all the details on the race course in one location.
4. Support: Look for a race that has a good support system in place, including aid stations, medical teams, and volunteers. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your race.
5. Race atmosphere: Look for a race that has a supportive and welcoming atmosphere for beginners. Cal Tri Events is a perfect example with both virtual and in-person clinics to encourage and help ensure every athlete is ready for their race day. The clinics are a great way to meet other triathletes, get tips, and advice from more experienced athletes too.
6. Race organization: Research the race organization and make sure they have a good reputation for putting on well-organized and safe events. Don’t forget to check their policies on transfers and deferrals too in case the unexpected happens.  For example, Cal Tri Events has free race transfers, deferrals and participant transfers as late as the day before the race.  Check out online reviews, social media and ask for recommendations from other triathletes too. 
7. Race entry fee: Don’t forget to factor in the cost of the race entry fee. Triathlon races can vary widely in price, so make sure you find a race that fits within your budget. But also don’t let the cost of the entry fee be the only consideration, since there may be options like the Volunteer One, Get One program offered by Cal Tri Events where you can earn a free race entry by volunteering.
8. Training: Lastly, make sure you have enough time to train before the race. For your first event, the goal should be to complete the race and have fun.  Don’t put the added pressure of trying to finish in a particular time.  There will be plenty of additional races to worry about hitting a specific time. Not sure how to start then check out California Triathlon’s free training plans and workouts here.

By considering these factors, selecting your first triathlon will ensure the race is both challenging and enjoyable, and will give you the confidence you need to continue competing in triathlons in the future. And don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience! 

2022 GRAND PRIX USA.
The 2022 Grand Prix USA Series Competition is heating up and will eventually include 30 races across the U.S.  A total of 195 athletes will be recognized (Top 5 Overall Male, Female, & Non-Binary.  Plus,180 Age Groups). Athletes who successfully complete 2 scored events are eligible for series awards. Athletes who participate in more events have their 2 BEST scores count.

AWARDS. 

• In 2022, over $10,000 worth of prizes will be awarded.Top 5 Overall (Male, Female, & Non-Binary)
• Top 3 Age Group (Male, Female, & Non-Binary) – 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+
• Participant ages will be calculated as of 12.31.22.
• Maximum point score allowed per race is 150.
• If an athlete finishes 1st overall and 1st in their age group, they receive 1st place points in each scored category.

How are points calculated?

• Most Cal Tri Events races have 14 events. Each is scored separately.
• An athlete’s score = 100 x (average time for that event) / (athlete’s time for that event)
• 150 is the max number of points that can be earned
• The Top 2 results are summed for consideration for Grand Prix USA awards

2022 Cal Tri LA - 10.23.22 Race Overview

In SoCal, the convenience, safety and affordability of races like Cal Tri LA are few and far between. A quick Sunday morning drive to Playa del Rey, parking next to the transition along Dockweiler Beach and speedy morning packet pick-up providing athletes the opportunity to spend the morning focused on getting race ready. Athletes aren’t the only ones busy race morning. A full cadre of lifeguards from LA Beaches & Harbors and LAPD Traffic Officers are getting ready to keep athletes safe in the water and on the roads. Hours earlier, thousands of barricades, signs and cones are deployed on the bike and run course per the traffic control plan. Financially, the closer a venue is to a population center the higher the fee structure and producing a triathlon near LAX is no exception. However, tales of skyrocketing municipality fees are greatly exaggerated and Cal Tri Events remains lean with this year and next year’s prices locked in at 2015 rates.

Pro Tip: Want to stay only 3.5 miles from the race venue? Our host hotel, the Hyatt Regency LAX, has extended a limited time only special Cal Tri Events $169/night rate.

Cal Tri Events has 14 events; triathlon, triathlon relay, runbikerun, swimbike, swimrun, swim & run at both the sprint & Olympic distances. The course maps are on the website, are downloadable, and include distance and elevation.

Swim Course (Ocean). The sprint swim is 400 yards. The Olympic swim is 1640 yards (2 lap course). The professional lifeguards from LA County Beaches & Harbors bring all the toys and support athletes with a 15 to 1 athlete to lifeguard ratio. First timers are greatly encouraged to get race ready at Saturday morning’s free swim and transition clinic with Olympic Silver Medalist Clay Evans.

Bike Course (Partially Closed) . The sprint bike route includes S. Marine Avenue, Imperial Highway, Pershing Drive and Westchester Parkway with a U-turn at Sepulveda Westway and a singular out and back on Vista Del Mar before a right turn at Imperial Highway returns to Dockweiler Beach. The Olympic bike route is approximately two laps of the sprint bike route without a return to Dockweiler Beach between laps. While not a completely closed bike course, 80% of the course is either closed to vehicular traffic or along the Dockweiler Beach access road. The sprint bike distance is 12.6 miles with 411’ of elevation. The Olympic bike distance is 24.2 miles with 808’ of elevation.  

Run Course (New for 2022). The fast and flat, closed run course is an out and back from Parking Lot 2 onto S. Marine Avenue, the access road to Dockweiler Beach. This is a major improvement from 2021 where the run started from Parking Lot 3 and was on the shared beach bike path which was congested. Athletes run north and return south on a closed course supported at aid stations by the UCLA Tri Team. Sprint/5K athletes (1 lap) and Olympic/10K athletes (2 laps). 

Cal Tri LA - Swim 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. The seeded, rolling swim start is beginner friendly and not the scrum of the traditional wave start.

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA Swim. Calm waters like those enjoyed in 2021, are always appreciated.

Cal Tri LA - Bike 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. Smiles for miles on this fantastic bike course.

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. 80% of the course is either closed to vehicular traffic or along the Dockweiler Beach access road.

Cal Tri LA - Run

The fast and flat, closed run course is an out and back from onto S. Marine Avenue, the access road to Dockweiler Beach. Athletes run north and return south on a closed course supported at aid stations by the UCLA Tri Team. Sprint/5K athletes (1 lap) and Olympic/10K athletes (2 laps). 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. Planes departing LAX as volunteers await the first finisher.

RDLaunch Live Events are a one of kind setting where race directors can come together to learn and share timeless fundamentals about the planning, promotion, and production of endurance sporting events.

At RDLaunch Live: Triathon -Newport Dunes, join America Multi-Sport CEO Steve Tomboni as he and select guests including Cal Tri Events founder, Thom Richmond, share the best industry knowledge from the last 30 years of Triathlon.

Topics include:

• Increasing Race Attendance through Smarter Marketing
• Race Ownership
• Create Comprehensive Safety Plans
• Sponsorship Negotiations
• Race Team Building
• Reducing Stress on Race Day and Race Week
• Keep your athletes coming back…year after year!

From beginners organizing their first event, to seasoned veterans running their own masterminds, RDLaunch is in the business of helping others produce Life Changing Finish Lines!

To find out more about the event, visit here.

SwimBikeRun Fun Events, a Texas-based producer of triathlon and duathlon events, including the PinkStrong Triathlon & PinkStrong Duathlon, has shifted its race insurance coverage to the California Triathlon Race Director Insurance Program.

Camille Baptiste, Race Director at SwimBikeRun Fun Events, said “By working with California Triathlon, we are able to tackle the high costs and hassles of traditional triathlon insurance and race registration.

“Immediate administrative reporting, financial and time savings are passed onto athletes, helping us grow and expand multisport racing to new participants.”

Thom Richmond, President of California Triathlon, added “We welcome SwimBikeRun Fun Events, Camille Baptiste and her athletes to the growing list of organizations that use the California Triathlon Endorsed Race Director Insurance Program.

“Camille and her team are doing great grassroots work, and we are pleased to support them with industry leading insurance that doesn’t require sharing athletes’ personal information.”

Registration:  $100 is the special introductory price.  Registration opens June 1st and closes July 15th.  New race registrants can add the Coaching Option during race registration.  Existing race registrants must return to their race registration confirmation email.  Click on the “Manage Your Registration” link.  Then click “Manage Registration”.  Click “Add-Ons” on the menu.  Finally, confirm payment.  Space is limited.  Register Today!

Questions?: Click here to email your questions to program director, Julie.

Who is Cal Tri Events?  Cal Tri Events is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a safe, affordable & accessible mission with the largest national short-course triathlon series in the U.S..  Besides making donations to nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve, our athlete community raises funds for worthwhile causes. Learn more at Triathlete Magazine, Endurance Business & The New York Times.  

The California Triathlon Race Director Insurance Program has committed US$60,000 in marketing support for race directors in 2022.

California Triathlon notes that the insurance program is a US$2.50 per athlete insurance product being used by a growing number of race directors in the United States,

The US$60,000 marketing support will be used to boost page rankings on Google for participating races in the insurance program.

“We are pleased that 100% of race directors who utilized the California Triathlon Race Director Insurance Program last year are returning in 2022,” said Thom Richmond, Founder at California Triathlon.

“These race operators almost universally saw participant growth, and these resources will help further fuel them in 2022 and beyond.”

California Triathlon cites a number of comments from participating race directors:

• “The process was seamless, and athletes saved a lot of money compared to previous years.” Patrick Hight, People Powered Sports, TX
• “The quickest I’ve ever received a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and the easiest, most streamlined process as well.” Keaton Garrett, Heartland Racing, MO
• “The best a race director can provide for their athletes.” Thierry Rouillard, Run941, FL
• “Easy, affordable, great process. Gets the athletes insured so we can compete.” Chris Jackson, Canyon Lake Triathlon, CA

California Triathlon Race Director adds that its insurance program features include:

• An insurance product that meets or exceeds almost all municipal requirements in 50 US states;
• Athletes pay significantly lower insurance fees;
• Race directors keep their athlete data 100% safe from being harvested; and
• Does not require significant technical integration.

The insurance affiliate program includes general liability, non-owned/hired auto liability and excess accident coverage. California Triathlon points out that it is… ‘not making any profit from any race director that chooses to sign up with the race insurance offering.’

To find out more, race directors can get in touch with California Triathlon, e-mailing thom[at]californiatriathlon.org for further details.

2022 CAL TRI EVENTS WATER TEMPERATURE & WEATHER FORECAST. The forecast provided is just that, a forecast.  It is the best guidance we have months in advance relative to the expected air and water temperature on race day at a particular venue. We measure the water temperature both the day before the race and the morning of the race and that information is communicated to race participants.

With the rare exception, all of our races are wetsuit legal. In several cases, a wetsuit is recommended but not mandatory. 

• 52.9 or below. Cancelled swim
• 53-57.9 Wetsuit is mandatory. If the water temperature is below 58 degrees.  Any athlete without a wetsuit will not be allowed to compete.
• 58.0 - 64.9 Wetsuit recommended if the water temperature is between 58-65 degrees
• 65.0 - 78.0 Wetsuit is legal if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower.
• 78.1 - 83.9 Athletes may wear wetsuits but will not be reflected in the overall results or eligible for awards.
• 84 - 88.0 Wetsuit prohibited If the water temperature is 84 degrees or above
• 88.1 or above. Cancelled swim

NEED A WETSUIT? Enjoy the 20% discount code at blueseventy. Learn more about what to look for when buying a wetsuit by listening to our California Triathlon Soup Podcast with John Duquette, CEO of blueseventy.