How to Run a Triathlon / Duathlon Event in Colorado

Running a triathlon event in Colorado? Here's how to plan it, pick a format and run it on Colorado Under Par, start to finish.

What it looks like

Colorado multisport races take place at reservoirs and lakes with open water swims or pool swims, from late May to September, for first-timers through experienced age groupers.

Formats

Sprint

About a 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike and 5 kilometer run.

Olympic

A 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike and 10 kilometer run.

Half / 70.3

A 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run, totaling 70.3 miles.

Full / 140.6

A 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run.

Super Sprint

A very short race, often a pool swim, short bike and 1 to 2 mile run.

Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run)

Racers run, bike, then run again, with no swim.

Aquabike (Swim-Bike)

Racers swim then bike with no run, often alongside a triathlon.

Relay / Team

Two or three people split the legs, handing off a timing chip in transition.

Fastest Transition Award

Time each athlete from the moment they enter transition until they leave. The quickest change wins a prize and lots of cheers.

Sponsor a Leg

Businesses sponsor the swim, bike or run with signs and a cheer zone. Athletes see the support at every stage.

Last Finisher Celebration

Hold the finish line open and gather everyone to cheer the final athlete home. It is the moment people remember most.

Build it

In the Organizer Dashboard, click Create event and pick triathlon and your format. Every tab, word and Start here guide then follows your sport.

Registration

Ask for race distance, age on race day, gender division, swim experience or estimated swim time for wave placement, relay team name, shirt size and emergency contact.

Results

Open Course map and race info to upload a GPX file or draw the route, and pin the start, finish, water and parking. Bibs are automatic: set the first bib and every entrant gets the next number when they register. Time it with the phone finish line link, which works with no signal, or upload your timer's results file. Pick age groups and awards, and every entrant gets a results email when you post them.

Event day

Athletes pick up packets, get body marked, set up their spot in transition, attend a briefing and start in waves, then race through all legs to the finish for results and awards.

Fun ideas

Make it memorable. Three ideas people love. Fastest Transition Award. Time each athlete from the moment they enter transition until they leave. The quickest change wins a prize and lots of cheers. Sponsor a Leg. Businesses sponsor the swim, bike or run with signs and a cheer zone. Athletes see the support at every stage. Last Finisher Celebration. Hold the finish line open and gather everyone to cheer the final athlete home. It is the moment people remember most.

Tip

One tip for first-timers: check open water temperature and safety rules well ahead, and place enough kayaks or lifeguards on the swim course to watch every wave. Building is free, then 1% per paid order plus card processing, paid to your own Stripe account. Stuck? Ask Caddie or search Need help in your dashboard. Start at coloradounderpar.com/sell-tickets.