Top 12 Triathlon Cities To Live

No focus groups. No formal polls. A group of very passionate editors discussing the most suitable locations for triathletes to compete in. These cities are ideal for those looking for perfect weather, amazing sights, excellent places to practice, vibrant culture, and inexpensive living conditions.

Favourite locations for living were classified into one of three groups.

Though it’s a bit of a truism, the mountains, ocean and all-year sunshine make these locations a top choice when deciding on the top spots for triathlons—and they always will be. Can you blame us?

Best metropolitan areas: You won’t get wide-open spaces. You might need to put your bicycle inside your kitchen. Even though these cities have less room for personal space, they have abundant sources of benefits for triathletes.

Off the radar: They’ve got almost everything—except the recognition. These towns may not be the first locations that come to the minds of triathletes, but they will be remembered shortly.

1. Boulder, Colo.

Beneath the Rocky Mountains, the city of Boulder, Colo. takes advantage of the high elevation and gorgeous panoramic views. The town is the main residential spot for numerous professional triathletes either for the whole or part of the period.

“Living and training in Boulder is a triathlete’s dream,” says Pam Shuckles, Team Captain for the Newton Foundation Racing Team and member of the Boulder TriClub. “It’s not unusual to cross paths with an Olympian or an IRONMAN World Champion running on a trail or out on the road cycling.”

Because it is so parched, it’s not as chilly as it could be and the temperature can be hovering at around 32 degrees it is still nice to go on a jog, especially when the sun is out. Shuckles states that they experience considerable amounts of sun throughout the year.

There are plenty of races held nearby where one can participate, from smaller-scale duathlons, triathlons and aquathlons, to celebrated competitions such as Bolder Boulder and Boulder Peak Triathlon and Boulder 70.3. Boulder happily accepted the chance to host the very first IRONMAN Boulder event in 2014.

Gaining an edge by being close to exceptional trainers and other support like physiotherapists, massage therapists and dietitians who specialize in sports.

Interact with experts and host an elite triathlete in your own home. Shuckles has welcomed guests from Australia (Tim Reed), Germany (Faris Al Sultan), and the US (Jenna Shoemaker).

2. Carlsbad, Calif.

Carlsbad is a city located in North County San Diego that is highly populated. It functions as a connection between the coastal cycling trails which are level and the terrain of East County which is more sparsely populated and difficult.

When triathletes reminisce about the great athletes who have resided in San Diego, many will think of the city of Carlsbad.

Carlsbad experiences the optimal weather conditions for working out throughout the entire year that Southern California has to offer. The ocean can typically be enjoyed for swimming during most of the year, and it is possible to run without a shirt on in the month o December. The Triathlon Club of San Diego has a lot of participants, which guarantees that you won’t ever find yourself without a training buddy.

IRONMAN 70.3 California, the traditional commencement of the season, is located in Oceanside on the edge of Carlsbad. It is possible to reach IRONMAN 70.3 Vineman and IRONMAN 70.3 St. George within a day’s drive. There are plenty of local competitions to join in on.

Fill up after an ocean swim with some fish tacos, one of the area’s pleasant beers, or an acai bowl from a beachside cafe. Carlsbad is an ideal spot for beach aficionados, beer connoisseurs and triathletes alike.

3. Madison, Wis.

 

Madison, located in the Midwest, is a superb place to ride bicycles due to the abundance of trails that provide difficult paths as well as large lanes and fantastic terrain. Kyle Larson, the owner of Endurance House Madison East, exuberantly states that his business is very welcoming of bike riders.

Madison is situated next to multiple bodies of water, and it’s not uncommon to see triathletes exercising alongside a group of friends and fellow athletes on any given day. According to Larson, the sights of the city and of the capital are fantastic when running or biking.

IRONMAN Wisconsin, IRONMAN 70.3 Racine.

This eccentric college city provides a great deal for triathletes, whether they desire to be with their household or to take it easy at the neighbourhood tavern to view a football match. Or both.

“There are outstanding restaurants at nearly every turn,” says Larson. “A favourite hangout is Memorial Union on Lake Mendota which features live music, great food and great beers.”

4. Miami, Fla.

 

It is rare in the United States that one can swim in open water without wearing a wetsuit, yet it is possible in Miami throughout the year. During the winter, the lowest temperature at night usually does not go below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the summer, the heat and humidity proved to be beneficial according to Tim Reimink, president of Team Hammerheads triathlon club. He humorously remarks that he can practice running eight-minute miles in the warmer climate, and then when competing in a more northern location such as Augusta, Georgia, he can achieve seven-minute miles, while the other competitors struggle in the heat.

“Open water swim in Key Biscayne and South Beach. An immense number of cyclists use the Key as part of their morning commute. Venturing to the south towards Homestead, Key Largo and past regions typically involve the absence of congestion.

It takes three and a half hours to get to Clermont, and when you get there you’ll encounter beautiful hills and the National Training Center. “I’ve been there twice in the last month! Can’t get enough,” Reimink says.

IRONMAN 70.3 Miami, St. Anthony’s Triathlon, IRONMAN Florida.

5. Salt Lake City, Utah

Rory Duckworth, the leader of the Salt Lake City Triathlon Club, experienced no difficulty with the height at IRONMAN Lake Tahoe a year ago. He insists that there is more to Texas than being a place with absolutely no topographical variation.

Duckworth finds Salt Lake City to be a great place to train given its many options and culture. He states that they are renowned not for their late-night partying, but for the open-air ambience and prompt bedtimes to go on a morning jog.

Duckworth indicates that Salt Lake City features an array of terrains which are optimal for exercising, and the local population is very supportive of cycling as a lifestyle choice.

St. George is our favourite destination when we feel the need to escape from the snowfall. The city is home to the highly acclaimed IRONMAN 70.3 St. George in May. The journey is a direct route on the freeway, but it will take three and a half hours to get there. Duckworth states that there are a lot of local races put on by local organizers.

The atmosphere here promotes and encourages being healthy and participating in physical activities with one’s family. Nearly all of the members of my family, which includes my parents who are both over the age of 60, participate in triathlon events. Duckworth states that although there is a lot of busyness in the city, you don’t have to be far away from nature, as the mountains, canyons and country roads are just a few minutes away and you don’t have to worry about any traffic there.

6. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Preston Miller of the TriScottsdale triathlon club expressed his admiration for living there by commenting that he could not recall a time when he was not able to exercise outside. He estimates that there are approximately 360 days in the year which are suitable for outdoor learning activities.

We possess numerous Masters’s courses as well as well-known attractions such as Mt. Cyclists from all around the globe visit Lemmon, Bartlett Lake/Seven Springs, Rio Verde/9 Mill Hill. It is possible to practice for the same duration at heights of 0, 7,000 and 10,000 feet in a single 24-hour period. Furthermore, you are near a vast selection of designated routes for running, walking, and cycling in protected regions.

Miller made a humorous remark that there are numerous direct flights to Kona each day. IRONMAN Arizona is Scottsdale’s home race.

Scottsdale offers a competitive triathlon club atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to enhance both one’s competitive sport sports capabilities and social life.

7. Naperville, Ill.

Naperville is an Illinois city that lies within the suburbs of Chicago, located both in DuPage and Will counties. Daniel Dziubski, part of EndureIt! – a sports store and training centre with its own triathlon club – has stated that the interest in IRONMAN is rapidly increasing.

Naperville is conveniently located near roads that are ideal for exercise. You can get coffee in busy downtown Naperville (which has a population of more than 140,000) and within 10 minutes be riding on nearly deserted country roads, according to Dziubski.

According to Dziubski, there are plenty of triathlon events located within an easily driveable distance of Naperville. For instance, IRONMAN 70.3 Racine is around an hour and a half away, and IRONMAN Wisconsin isn’t too far away either.

Finish up a day of top-notch training by visiting some remarkable healthy eateries and markets.

8. Atlanta, Ga.

Despite not having the best climate, Bethany Rutledge of the Atlanta Tri Club believes that the strong sense of the triathlon community in Atlanta more than makes up for it.

Wherever you are and whatever your timetable is, there are numerous running clubs, cycling clubs, and swimming clubs readily accessible, she states. She stated that during rainy weekends, a large number of athletes choose to train inside Energy Lab, an exercise studio built specifically for athletes. She states that for amusement, they present a selection of IRONMAN Hawaii videos from 1985 on projector screens.

Most athletes who want to get in some miles during the weekend tend to go beyond the city limits since riding in cities is filled with cars. No matter where you are, you’re never more than half an hour away from an open road.

Atlanta is a thriving city that offers many dining and entertainment opportunities that some of the lesser populated places do not have. Living here ensures that you will never be bored as there are plenty of sports events, museums, and a variety of different cultural backgrounds.

9. Tucson, Arizona

Tucson’s pleasant climate, various terrains and high elevation (2,000 feet above sea level) make it an ideal location for triathlete training.

Samantha McGlone, Hillary Biscay, Chris McDonald, and T.J. are some of the professionals residing in the town. Tollakson and a plethora of other sports teams take advantage of Tucson’s warm climate and its vast highways for their winter practice sessions. Tucson has 500 miles of bike paths within the city, 27 public swimming pools, and a plethora of trails in the Tucson Mountain District’s valleys and hills. Beating the 6,000-foot, 19-mile climb of Mt. Lemmon is a great accomplishment similar to proudly displaying an M-dot tattoo.

Tucson is an expansive city, therefore if you were to travel from one end to the other it would take you approximately one hour. The unbearable warmth makes it far from the perfect spot to practice during the summertime.

The Catalina highway meanders 25 miles up Mount Lemmon from the city of Tucson to a high-altitude pine forest with enough snowfall in the winter for the Mount Lemmon Ski Valley ski hill.

The cooling temperatures during the summertime in Tucson are perfect for relief from the city’s scalding heat and make for an ideal spot to get good exercise while enjoying the scenery.

10. New York, New York

Chris McCormack recently posted a tweet which pointed out that New York is now one of the leading locations for multi-sport events in the United States. Numerous triathlon clubs, shops, and training centres popping up in the New York City area are all drawing attention to the multisport scene.

Clubs situated in New York City, like Full Throttle Endurance, have some of the top competitors in the nation. In 2012, they will also be running a full Ironman competition in the city.

Cyclists and runners find solace inside the 843-acre area of Central Park. While the rest of the municipality dozes, triathletes jog and cycle on the park’s six-mile round trip, which comprises the strenuous Harlem Hills.

Throughout the summertime, NYC Swim runs open-water competitions in the Hudson River. If a rustic atmosphere is desired, the picturesque highways of Westchester County and the popular exercise spot for many pro athletes in New Paltz can be reached through a simple car ride.

New Yorkers admit that it’s not for everyone. The hordes of people, the coarseness, and the absurdly high rent costs can be enough to drive anyone to seek refuge on Long Island.

The day before the Nautica New York City Triathlon (Nyctri.com) is the Jamaica Underwear Run – which consists of hundreds of triathletes jogging through Central Park wearing barely anything other than their underwear – the biggest gathering of individuals in their undergarments in the world.

11. Washington, D.C.

D.C. was late to join the triathlon community, however, is now making a vigorous effort to catch up. The D.C Tri Club, which consists of 1,200 people, has achieved five Mid-Atlantic Regional Titles in a row. Furthermore, the Nation’s Triathlon, which was founded 4 years ago, is among the most popular and rapidly growing races in the United States.

Former Mayor Adrian Fenty is at the forefront of this effort, motivating the people he used to represent by putting in fast times as an age-group athlete while he was still in office.

In D.C., you have many options for working out, ranging from the routes alongside the Potomac River to Rock Creek Park, a collection of paths that give the illusion that you are exercising in a rural area. Likely, you will never forget the stunning views of running or biking beyond the city’s famous spots at dawn.

Conversations have a tendency to be categorized as one of two sides, so if you are not fond of discussing politics when you are jogging, you may want to steer clear of them. If you do not live in the city, your journey to work can be incredibly lengthy due to congested traffic.

The Tuesday night bike ride hosted by Conte’s Bike Shop in Arlington, VA has become so renowned, the police provide an escort for those participating in the journey. Come to the shop at the start of every month and take part in the complimentary BBQ they are offering.

12. Chicago, Illinois

Triathlons are incredibly popular in Chicago, especially the massive Life Time Chicago Triathlon which receives a whopping 8,000 entries every year, making it the most well-attended triathlon in the US. The sport is as globally recognized in the city as the famous deep-dish pizza.

Geneva’s MultiSport Madness club is one of the busiest in the city and produces the finest junior athletes in the nation.

In Chicago, wherever you go, you will find easy access to the shores of Lake Michigan.

Triathletes look fondly upon the Ohio Street and North Avenue beaches. Furthermore, an eighteen-mile stretch of asphalt alongside the lake offers sights of both the body of water and the urban landscape without interruption from traffic signals.

Two words: cold weather. Late spring can be especially trying to get in quality exercise outdoors due to the cold weather carried on from winter. Bicyclists and joggers often struggle to navigate around visitors who wander aimlessly in public areas, something that is common in many cities.

Competing in the Chicago Triathlon allows you to view the beautiful city of Chicago while racing along Lake Michigan on Lake Shore Drive and by Soldier Field with thousands of competitors.