Triathlete’s 2024 Guide to the Best Beginner Triathlons in the U.S.
Looking for a low-pressure, fun, and friendly way to dip your toes into the multisport world? Check out our guide to the best triathlons for beginners in 2024.
Published Dec 14, 2023
Photo: Triathlete, Smiley Triathlon Festival, New England Season Opener Triathlon
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Looking to do your first triathlon or recommend a beginner race for a triathlete-to-be? Check out our curated list of the best beginner-focused races in the United States.
So you (or someone you know) want to be a triathlete? Let us be the first to welcome you to the wonderful world of multi-sport competition! Now that you’ve logged your first swim, bike, and run workouts—or even if you haven’t done a single one yet—you’re probably looking for a beginner-friendly triathlon.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from. You can dip your toe in slowly with a pool swim, or if you want to skip the swim entirely, try a duathlon (run-bike-run). An indoor triathlon might be just the thing to ease race-day anxiety, or pick a race that caters to beginners with triathlon clinics, pre-race meetings, or even a race-day concierge.
Read on to discover the best beginner triathlon near you, broken up by region.
If you can swim, bike, and run, you can be a triathlete. All you have to do is sign up for your first race to make it official! Check our free guide to your first triathlon to get started with training for your big day.
The Best Beginner Triathlons in the USA: West
Spring Classic Duathlon
April 21, 2024
Vancouver, WA
If you want to give multisport a try, but aren’t sure about the open-water swim portion just yet, try a duathlon. The Spring Classic Duathlon in Vancouver consists of a 5K run, followed by a 13-mile bike, and another 5K run. In 2024, the race returns to its original home at Vancouver Lake Regional Park with a pancake flat ride and run. The course is easy to navigate, has smooth pavement, and minimal traffic, making it an “ideal introduction to the world of multisport racing.”
This event also has a half marathon, 5K, and 10K races prior to the duathlon, so bring the whole family and make a day of it at this beautiful venue by the lake. There are relay teams with men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions, as well as Clydesdale (220+ lb) and Athena (165+ lb) categories.
Coeur d’Alene Triathlon
August 10, 2024
Coeur d’Alene, ID
The Coeur d’Alene Triathlon is home to an Olympic-distance race, scenic sprint, and duathlon, so there are plenty of events to choose from. The Olympic distance includes a 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and 10K run; the sprint has a .5K swim, 20K bike, and 5K run; and the duathlon consists of a 5K run, 40K bike, and 10K run. On the Friday night before the race, meet at the city park band shell at 6:00 pm for a pre-race meeting where you can get all of your questions answered.
This race venue is one of the most stunning in the northwest at scenic Lake Coeur d’Alene. The sprint swim begins at the east end of Coeur d’Alene City Park Beach and goes counterclockwise. In order to provide the novice triathlete with more confidence and enhanced safety, organizers have opted for separate men’s and women’s waves. When you’re ready to step up to the Olympic distance, you get to jump off the Coeur d’Alene cruise ship to start your race!
Pasadena Triathlon
March 9, 2024
Pasadena, CA
The Pasadena Triathlon is a California tradition. This is the 18th year for the annual event that takes place in conjunction with the Rose Bowl venue. A family-friendly event, there’s a sprint, duathlon, 5K, and junior triathlon for kids. The sprint is unique in that it’s a reverse triathlon (run/bike/swim) specifically designed to allow both new triathletes and seasoned competitors to shine.
Athletes will begin with a one-loop run around the Rose Bowl. The bike is three laps around the Rose Bowl, and the best part is that there’s no car traffic. Finally, run to the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and finish the race by swimming three laps in the pool.
The Pasadena Triathlon Club holds triathlon clinics ahead of the event including: a race rehearsal, “Introduction to Triathlon” clinics, and a swim clinic. The junior triathlons are for kids ages 5-10 years old and include a 1K run, ¾ mile bike, and 50m swim.
The Best Beginner Triathlons in the USA: Mountain
TriUtah Ice Breaker Triathlon
March 30, 2024
American Fork, UT
A triathlete races the TriUtah Icebreaker Triathlon, one of the best triathlon races for beginners in the USA.
With a pool swim and short-and-fast bike and run courses, the TriUtah Icebreaker triathlon is a great race for beginner triathletes. (Photo: TriUtah Icebreaker Triathlon)
This early season race includes a one-of-a-kind sprint pool triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and 5K. The triathlon consists of a 300-meter pool swim, 12.5-mile bike, and 5K run. The duathlon starts with the 12.5-mile bike and finishes with the 5K run, while the aquathlon includes a 300-meter swim and 12.5-mile bike. The TriUtah website has excellent resources for beginners with diagrams to explain the serpentine swim and detailed course maps.
When you cross the finish line, you will be presented with a very “cool” medal, Ice Breaker running gloves, and a custom winter hat. After the race, stick around for a pancake breakfast and take a photo with Eddie the Yeti!
Bozeman Triathlon
June 16, 2024
Bozeman, MT
Choose from an Olympic, sprint, super sprint, aquathlon, or aquabike at the popular Bozeman Triathlon at Glen Lake Rotary Park in Montana. The Olympic consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40K bike, and 10K run, while the sprint has a 750-meter swim, 20K bike, and 5K run. The aquabike (swim/bike) aquathlon (swim/run) will race on the Olympic-distance course. The super sprint is perfect for first-time triathletes with both age-group and youth categories, featuring a 300-meter swim, 5.8-mile bike, and 1.1-mile run.
The event serves as a qualifying race for the USAT Age Group National Championship and will provide medals to the top-three overall finishes in each gender for Olympic, sprint, and high school categories. The high school division will serve as the 2024 USAT Montana State Championship.
Oro Valley Triathlon and Duathlon Festival
March 16, 2024
Oro Valley, AZ
The Oro Valley Triathlon, one of the best triathlon races for beginners.
The Catalina Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for swim, bike, and run at the beginner-friendly Oro Valley Triathlon. (Photo: Oro Valley Triathlon and Duathlon Festival)
The 10th anniversary of the Oro Valley Triathlon and Duathlon Festival welcomes athletes to the beautiful Oro Valley Aquatics Center at the base of the Catalina Mountains. Race options include a beginner mini sprint, sprint, intermediate, duathlon, aquabike, and relay. The pool will be set to long course (50m) and competitors will swim in a serpentine pattern. The beginner’s race will start after the last intermediate athlete begins their swim. The entire bike course includes a dedicated lane that’s coned off from traffic, and the run is flat.
The Best Beginner Triathlons in the USA: Central
Route 66 Multisport Festival
May 31, 2024
El Reno, OK
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The Route 66 Multisport Festival returns to Lake Arcadia in 2024. Prepare for a party, because it will serve as the 2024 USAT Oklahoma State Championship. On Friday, there is an aquathlon with a 500-meter swim and a 2-mile run. On Saturday, the main event includes aquabike, duathlon, sprint, and Olympic events.
TriOKC also partners with The Bike Lab for a Bikes 411 series of informative talks with topics including: basic bike maintenance, traveling with your bike, equipment and parts, different types of bikes, and group-ride basics.
Tri WashU Indoor Triathlon
March 3, 2024
St. Louis, MO
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The Tri WashU triathlon is unique in that it takes place indoors! It’s put on by the WashU triathlon team, which is a 100% student run organization. The seventh annual edition of the event will take place at the Gary Sumers Recreation Center. The race begins with a 750-yard pool swim. Then, athletes head to the spin bike room for a 12.4-mile bike ride. Finally, complete the race with a 5K run around the outdoor track.
This race is USAT sanctioned and has both collegiate and age-group divisions. It will serve as a qualifying race for the USAT Collegiate Cup National Championship. Most notably, the top male and female collegiate athletes will receive coveted bobblehead awards.
Caveman Triathlon
April 7, 2024
Flower Mound, TX
Dallas Athletes Racing puts on this fun Paleolithic-style triathlon in Texas. The event includes a sprint triathlon, as well as a 5K run. The triathlon begins with a 275-yard serpentine swim in an indoor pool. The three-loop bike course is 11.5 miles. A 5K run finishes the race. The race swag is pretty fun with a cave-drawing style t-shirt, socks, and finisher’s medal.
The Best Begin
ner Triathlons in the USA: East
Smiley Sprint Triathlon Festival
July 27-28, 2024
Clemmons, NC
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