By Sara Kennedy
When I discovered duathlon a few years ago, I found the ultimate multisport cheat code. Similar to triathlon (swim + bike + run) but with the swim leg replaced by a second run (or sometimes just removed altogether), duathlons are offered in a variety of distances. Often run side by side with triathlons, duathlons pull in a fraction of the participation and even fewer of the elite-level athletes. As a lifelong mid-packer, I relish the opportunities to podium that duathlon has offered. But beyond the mild ego puffing, this wholly underrated little sister to triathlon is just plain rad.
One of the greatest assets to opting for duathlon over triathlon is the simplified training. Cramming three disciplines into a training week can be a huge challenge, but choosing one to eliminate is easy. Don’t get me wrong: I love swimming. But the gear, the pool, the lap swim schedule, the wet hair, the goggle eye circles…not everyone has time or patience for that. When the training options are just bike or run, life feels a bit less complicated.
Duathlon is a natural fit for runners or cyclists interested in mixing up their training a bit. Dropping the swim also lowers the intimidation factor and barrier to entry that might make some athletes hesitate to jump into multisport racing.
It may be tempting to classify duathlon as just a triathlon for beginners, but that would be a mistake. There is an equivalent duathlon for every triathlon length, from sprint to long distance. And to really put your speed and endurance to the test, there are state and national-level championships. For duathlon, nationally governed by USA Triathlon, the annual national championship is open to everyone, no qualification needed. A decent finish at nationals will likely lead to an invitation to worlds and an opportunity to represent Team USA. Not bad for two activities most kids do without a second thought.
Visions of grandeur aside, local athletes can also keep it close to home. In the Inland Northwest, there are several fun races every year.
- Rage in the Sage Duathlon, Off Road Sprint, Benton City, May 2
- Trailblazer Triathlon, Sprint Duathlon, Medical Lake, June 20
- Post Falls Triathlon, Sprint Duathlon, Post Falls, Aug. 2
- CDA Triathlon, Intermediate Duathlon, Coeur d’Alene, Aug. 8
Triathlon has a storied history, Olympic heritage and a household brand name I don’t expect duathlon to ever overshadow. But for now, I’ll take my multisport dry.
