Doing a fall triathlon is a smart way to carry your summer fitness gains into another season. Triathlon training combines endurance and resistance exercise to work all your major muscle groups and build strength throughout your entire body. Not to mention that swimming, cycling, and running add a lot of variety to your workout regimen. With the cool temperatures, colorful foliage, and crisp autumn air making for ideal training and racing conditions, you have every reason to give it a try.
Iron Girl Sandy Hook Women’s Triathlon
Created in 2004, the Iron Girl race series has grown to include nine events nationwide, varying from 5-Ks to this sprint triathlon. The fast and flat course near the Jersey Shore traverses the Gateway National Recreation Area and the Sandy Hook Bay, and is lined with plenty of cheering supporters and helpful volunteers. It’s the ideal environment to take on your first triathlon. Be sure to stick around for the post-race breakfast.
When? September 7
Where? Highlands, N.J.
How Far? .3-mile swim/15-mile bike/3-mile run
How Hard? 2/5
How Much? $105
Pocono Challenge Adventure Race
Embrace your inner Sacagawea in this combination adventure race and off-road triathlon through the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area in northeast Pennsylvania. Bike down the McDade trail down to the Delaware River, then paddle a canoe or kayak downstream before jumping out and racing along the Hialeah Trailhead to finish at Smithfield Beach.
When? September 7
Where? Bushkill, Pa.
How Far? 10-mile paddle/14.5-mile bike/3-mile run or hike
How Hard? 3/5
How Much? From $115
Atlantic City International Triathlon
Do AC a whole new way by swimming the city’s back bay, cycling along the AC Expressway, and running down the boardwalk. There’s no gambling, but plenty of action on this fast and flat course.
When? September 14
Where? Atlantic City, N.J.
How Far? (Olympic distance) 1-mile swim, 20-mile bike ride, and 10-K run
How Hard? 3/5
How Much? $115 to $185
For an even more serious challenge in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, this Olympic-distance triathlon (there’s also a 70.3-mile half-Ironman triathlon for the truly intense) features a lake swim, a ride that plunges 475 vertical feet, and a hilly run through the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.
When? September 14
Where? Shawnee on Delaware, Pa.
How Far? (Olympic distance) .9-mile swim/24.9-mile bike/5-K run
How Hard? 4/5
How Much? $160 to $265
This weekend-long race festival includes sprint, Olympic, and half-Ironman triathlons, as well as relays and an aqua velo (swim/bike), in effort help raise money to finish the walking and hiking trail around Moraine State Park near Pittsburgh and to benefit Lupus Research.
When? September 20-21
Where? Portersville, Pa.
How Far? (Sprint distance) .25-mile swim | 13.5-mile bike | 5-K run
How Hard? 2/3
How Much? $85 to $265
Seaside Heights Sprint Triathlon
Boardwalk fires, Hurricane Sandy, and the Jersey Shore reality show have all taken their best shot at this iconic area. Now you can too, in this new sprint triathlon (there’s also a duathlon and aqua velo) that takes you from ocean swim to road bike race to boardwalk run.
When? September 28
Where? Seaside Park, N.J.
How Far? .25-mile swim, 16-mile bike and 5-K run
How Hard? 2/5
How Much? $75
Chilli Challenge Adventure Triathlon
Hydrophobic triathletes can skip the swim with this triathlon, replacing the first leg with a 2.2-mile kayak paddle across Lake Chillisquaque, just north of Scranton, Penn. The rest of the course takes you through the pastoral farmlands, teeming meadows, and forested hills populating Central Pennsylvania.
When? October 4
Where? Washingtonville, Pa.
How Far? 2.2-mile paddle/4.75-mile run/20-mile ride
How Hard? 3/5
How Much? $45
Beginning and ending in the Bass River State Forest, participants will swim in Lake Absegami, complete a flat and fast bike ride, and run a shaded course.
When? October 5
Where? Tuckerton, N.J.
How Far? (Olympic distance) .5-mile swim/ 29.9-mile bike/5.1-mile run
How Hard? 3/5
How Much? $85 to $150
This 41-year-old race covers 10 miles of wooded countryside around and in the Brandywine River in Chester County, Pa. Rain or shine, the race will go on, with the proceeds benefitting the West Bradford Fire Company and the Marshallton Conservation Trust.
When? October 5
Where? West Chester, Pa.
How Far? 2.3-mile ride/3-mile paddle/2.4-mile walk/2.3-mile ride
How Hard? 2/5
How Much? From $30
This seven-stage triathlon through Wells Mills County Park in southern Jersey packs a lot of bang for the buck. Instead of a simple run/bike/run this race goes run/bike/run/swim/run/bike/run to cover a total of 26.2 miles across a lake, country roads, and area trails.
When? October 12
Where? Waretown, N.J.
How Far? 1.25-mile run/9-mile ride/2.25-mile run/.4-mile swim/1.75-mile run/9-mile ride/3.1-mile run
How Hard? 4/5
How Much? From $91
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