About PDX Triathlon Festival

Join us for the 40th Annual PDX Triathlon Festival at Blue Lake park and kick off the summer racing season. It is a scenic, flat and fast course with Super Sprint/My 1st Tri, Sprint & Olympic Distances & a FREE KIDS Tri too! NEW: Paddle Triathlon for those of you who would rather kayak or paddle-board! Relay options are great for friends, family & co-workers!

The Annual PDX/Blue Lake Triathlon was started by the Portland Triathlon Association and Frank Goulard, who is still an active, local Masters Triathlete. He participates in many of our events so come on out and meet the legend, the man who started it all for us here locally!

This weekend festival offers an Olympic and Sprint Distance Triathlon, Duathlon & AquaBike, and a Super Sprint / My 1st Tri course that offers shorter distances for those new to the sport or just going for pure, raw speed. The Super Sprint is also a great event for our Junior Triathletes!

Recognized by NW triathletes as the “must do” event to open the triathlon season, the PDX Triathlon encompasses two full days of racing (Super Sprint & Kids races on Saturday & Sprint & Olympic races on Sunday) including a Sports & Fitness Expo. Triathlon Clubs from across the NW gather to launch the MultiSport season.

The bike courses are flat and fast, with the majority occurring on a section of Marine Dr that is closed to all but local traffic. This makes the course one of the safest and fastest in the region.

Race Starts in:

Day(s)

Hour(s)

Minute(s)

Second(s)

Check out how much fun we have at PDX Triathlon Festival!

Date & Time

07/17/2021: 4:00pm & 6:00pm Start Times

07/18/2021: 8:00-8:30am Start Times

Super Sprint / My 1st Tri – This race is designed for the first time triathlete, those new to the sport, our Junior Triathletes and/or those looking for raw speed! The swim is a shorter, more manageable 1/4 mile distance, (instead of the standard 1/2-mile Sprint distance swim), 10 mile bike ride (vs 12 miles and it’s a 2 loop course making it very spectator friendly!) and a flat 2 mile run (vs 3 mile sprint course).

A maximum of 1000 athletes per day can race so be sure to register early as this race fills fast!

SATURDAY:

Kids Tri Races – Start at 4:00pm. Find details for the Kids Triathlon in the Course Details section.
Sunset 5K: Start at 6:00pm.

SUNDAY:

Super Sprint / My 1st Triathlon: 1/4 Mile Swim, 10 Mile Bike, 2 mile Run (Start Time – 8:00am in waves)
Super Sprint Duathlon: 2 mile Run, 10 Mile Bike, 2 mile Run (Start Time – 8:00am mass start)
Super Sprint AquaBike: 1/4 Mile Swim, 10 mile Bike (Start Tme – 8:00 in waves)
Sprint Triathlon: ½ mile Swim, 12.5 mile Bike, 5K Run (Start Time – 8am in waves)
Sprint Duathlon: 5k Run, 12.5 mile Bike, 5k Run (Start Time – 8am mass start)
Sprint AquaBike: ½ mile Swim, 12.5 mile Bike (Start Time – 8am in waves)
Olympic Triathlon:1.5K Swim, 40K Bike, 10K Run (Start Time – 8:30am in waves)
Olympic Duathlon: 5k Run, 40K Bike, 10K Run (Start Time – 8:30am mass start)
Olympic AquaBike: 1.5K Swim, 40K bike (Start Time – 8:30am in waves)

NOTE: Our 2020 PDX Triathlon Festival has been chosen as the USAT Triathlon Age Group and High-school State Championships. The High-school State Championship distance is the Sprint Triathlon only. The Adult Age-group State Championship distance is the Olympic Triathlon only. 25% of the top athletes in each division will qualify for nationals.

Location Details

BLUE LAKE PARK: 21224 NE Blue Lake Road – Do not enter from Marine Drive as this entrance will be closed.

Directions

DIRECTIONS TO BLUE LAKE PARK:
Blue Lake Park is located 15 miles east of downtown Portland, OR. Take I-84 to the Fairview Exit (exit #14). Follow the signs to Blue Lake Park. Do not try to enter the park from Marine Drive. That exit will be closed that morning for course setup.

Event Highlights & Post-event Festivities

Free Beer & Post-event meal

Technical Runner’s t-shirt & Finisher’s Medal

Sense of accomplishment – Feels so good

Enjoy the after-race party with music, food and beverages, awards and prizes, and lots of fun as we Rock the Park! The energy and fun keeps flowing after the races, making this a Race-Party not to miss!

Post-race food and beverages will help athletes refuel and Mt. Tabor will be onsite to help you celebrate your accomplishment! Vendors in the Sports & Fitness Expo will have samples for tasting throughout the events.

Packet Pickup Details

REMEMBER YOUR ID AND USAT MEMBERSHIP CARD (if applicable) - It's a USAT requirement! If you're picking up packages for other athletes, be sure you have a signed copy of the Authorization form and a copy of the athlete's ID.

If you unable to pickup at any of the times listed below, please email us at registration@whyracingevents.com to make other arrangements.

Friday, July 16th Foot Traffic NE (PDX) 10:00am-7:00pm

Saturday, July 17th On Site (Blue Lake Park) 2:00pm-7:00pm

Awards & Course Records

Super Sprint Triathlon:

2018- Scott McBeth 45:52

2018- Madison Wick 50:53

Super Sprint Duathlon:

2018- Kevin Cashatt 52:04

2018- Jodie Bolt 1:00:06

Super Sprint Aquabike:

2017- David Livengood 42:24.2

2019 – Hayley Espelund 40:05

Sprint Triathlon

2016- John Holland 55:01:00

2019- Lori Deschamps 1:08:04

Sprint Duathlon:

2019- Jason Klein 1:10:43

2017- Sarah Barber 1:15:22

Sprint Aquabike:

2018- Harmon Laurin 52:31

2018- Leslie Beard 54:01

Olympic Triathlon:

2012- Jeff Smith 1:55:29

2018- Catherine Harley 2:13:25

Olympic Duathlon:

2011- Jeff Hoppert 1:56:23

2014- Teri Sheasby 2:16:49

Olympic Aquabike:

2013- Jon Walker 1:22:04

2019- Barkley Hope 1:31:29

You’re a winner just for showing up to support this great community event. But to reward those speedy, kick-butt athletes, here’s what we’ve come up with.

Awards will be presented to the Top 3 Overall Male & Female champions and Overall Masters Male & Female champions (Overall Male & Female, and Masters Male & Female will be removed from the individual age division awards). Awards will also be presented to the 1st thru 3rd place finishers in each individual age group and division. The 1st and 2nd place Relay teams in each division will also receive awards.

Divisions: Individuals: 15 and under, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over. Clydesdale’s (men 220lbs & over) and Athena’s (women 165lbs & over)

Relay Teams: Men’s, Women’s and Mixed divisions for Triathlon and Mixed Teams for Duathlon & Aquabike.

Friends and Family Division – A non-competitive division created for the sole purpose of allowing participants of different ages and genders to swim in the same wave. For example, this allows fathers/daughters, mothers/sons, husband /wives, boyfriends/girlfriends, siblings, etc. to enjoy the triathlon together and to help one another through the swim leg of the event. When participants fail to swim in their correct wave, as determined by age & gender in most all triathlons, their split times and finish time are compromised. So, if you choose to participate out of your wave choose this division to uphold the integrity of your results and the overall results of the event.

Awards Ceremony will begin as soon as the majority of racers have completed the event. Hang out, have a drink, eat some food and share your racing stories while we wait for the results to be verified. Awards must be picked up. Unfortunately, they cannot be mailed.

Award Criteria:

If you choose to race in the Clydesdale (220+ pounds) or Athena (165+ pounds) categories, you are not eligible for Age Group awards due to USAT restrictions. You must choose one or the other.
Based on USAT age categories, if your birthday is prior to December 31st of that race season, you will race in the older age group even if you haven’t celebrated your birthday yet. Due to USAT sanctioning you will ‘age-up’.
Friends & Family – if you choose to race in this category, you will not be eligible for awards. This is a non-competitive category that allows friends and family to start in the same wave group together regardless of their ages.

Beneficiary

SPECIAL OLYMPICS, LOCAL SCHOOL ATHLETICS AND PROGRAMS

Why Racing Events is proud to support the Special Olympics, High School sports programs and other non-profit organizations through this event and all the races and fundraisers on the Why Racing Events calendar each year.

Contributions over the years from these NW races and fundraisers have exceeded $3 million dollars. We are very thankful to the athletes, sponsors, vendors, partners and volunteers who contribute to the success of our events, allowing us to offer this community support!

Special Instructions

Participants must pay a $5 park fee per vehicle when entering the park on race day. Please bring $5 CASH to keep the lines short!
Practice swimming is to occur INSIDE THE ROPED BUOY-LINE at the Swim Beach ONLY. Violators are subject to an $89 citation (Metro Title 10.01.130) and exclusion from the event.
Please be aware: Park officials have asked us to pass along to all the dog lovers out there – NO PETS ALLOWED IN THE PARK. Sorry, but pooches have to stay home for this event.

Kid’s Events

KIDS RACE THE KIDS TRI FOR FREE! Most kids love to swim, bike and run – so we say, why not give them a chance to put it all together in one fun and fantastic race! Parents can introduce their kids to the sport of triathlon in the perfect venue for the young ones to “try a tri” – what better way for them to actually be part of the multisport action during the event. There’s nothing more fun and exciting than to see happy, proud, young faces crossing the finish line – you might just see a future superstar triathlete blossoming into the sport! Let’s start them young!

Kids Tri race entry includes a t-shirt and a cool medal for the kids so they can brag about their well-earned accomplishment. It is a non-competitive, non-timed, no-pressure, fun event for the kids. Check the Course Details section for Kids Triathlon course details and logistics.

Note: More competitive Junior & Youth athletes may find a better challenge participating in the Super Sprint race. We will offer a separate wave for our younger athletes participating in the Super Sprint.

FAQ’s

Can I register on Race Day? Can my friend pick up my packet?

Can I get a refund? Can I transfer my registration to another race or athlete? All registration and packet pickup related questions can be found under the main navigation heading titled “Registration & Packet Pickup”. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please email us at registration@whyracingevents.com

What are the Rules?

We currently adhere to the USAT Rules for Triathlon & Duathlon. Please click here to review complete list of USAT Rules. Important rules include no drafting, you must wear a helmet and music is ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed during the bike for obvious safety reasons.

Can I use a personal music devise while cycling?

Absolutely no music devices are allowed during the bike segment for obvious safety risks and will result in immediate disqualification.

Can I use a personal music devise while running?

During any running segments, we prefer for athletes to NOT use music devices to maximize safety, assure a fair competitive environment and assure athletes can hear all course marshal instructions. With that said, we also understand that many athletes rely on music to help endure the challenge of running. To accommodate the needs of our athletes while still assuring maximum safety and a fair, competitive environment, here is the arrangement that we can accommodate.

If you chose to use a personal music device, you must always keep one ear open for instructions so only one ear-bud can be used at any time.
If you are using a personal music devise with two earbuds, you will be immediately disqualified. Trust us, we don’t want to have to enforce a disqualification but in order to assure the safety of all athletes, this is a very important rule.
We also request that if you chose to use a personal music device that you keep the volume to a minimum to assure all instructions can be heard.

Do I need to wear a wetsuit?

No, you do not need to wear a wetsuit. The water temperature at Blue Lake at this time of year is typically mid 60s. Many will not wear a wetsuit while others will choose to wear a wetsuit because of the buoyancy and warmth factor.

Will there be on-site mechanical/bike support?

Yes, we will have a Bike Mechanic on site to provide basic Bike Service and repairs.

Where can I find lost items?

Any equipment that is unmarked will be returned to the stage during the event. After the event, we will take to the Why Racing office and you can contact us to locate. Please come to the event with all personal belongings well marked with your name and/or race number.

What should I do if my shirt doesn't fit?

If the size of the shirt you ordered does not fit, we will be hosting a ‘Shirt Swap” after the event at the information booth. We cannot guarantee you will be able to swap, since it will depend on left over shirts, but we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Do I have to use a road or racing bike?

No. We welcome any type of bike as long as it is functioning properly with brakes and endcaps at the end of your handlebars.

Do I have to run?

No, you could walk, jog, wog, hop or prance your way to the finish line. As long as you get there under your own volition, that is acceptable!

Will there be water on the course?

Water Aid Stations will be approximately every 2 miles. You will have to carry your own hydration and fuel on your bike during the bike courses. Energy Drink and Gel will be available at the Aid stations.

Will there be bathrooms on the course?

We’ve ordered Porta-potties for the start/finish! We will have a couple porta potties located along the run course.

Where should I tell my friends and family to go to cheer me on?

The best approach for your family, friends and cheerleaders is to park at Blue Lake Park. They can see you start and finish. They can take a short walk up to Marine Drive and see you bike out, bike past you, bike in, run out and finish! Tons of action for them! Or they can just hang in the expo area after you start and then they can sit and enjoy the music and watch you swim/run in, bike out, bike in, and then head to the finish line to watch you finish. Be sure to tell them to make signs for you, bring cowbells, and bring you flowers for the finish. Especially if this is your first race, you’ve got to celebrate! It’s a big accomplishment!

We DO NOT want them driving on the Bike course to maximize safety for all cyclists.

Travel & Accommodations

Out of Town Guests: Fly into Portland (PDX) – The event location is about 10 minutes from Airport.

If you stay at any hotel near the PDX Airport, you will be 10 minutes from the start/finish venue.

Portland Oregon Visitors Association: www.travelportland.com

Portland has so much to offer so come for the entire weekend and make it a fun and memorable RACE-cation! Although a weekend is not nearly enough to see all the beauty in this area, so feel free to extend your stay or be sure to come back for one of our other local races. You can check off one bucket list item each time you visit – there really is that much to see!

Restaurants

Portland is known for it’s fabulous restaurants and night life. We would love to suggest Mt. Tabor Brewing, one of our season partners who support Running, Triathlon & Multi-sport races all year!

Click here to check out some other popular options.

Training & Preparation

Ok, Step #1. Register! That puts purpose to your training and forces you to commit – an important part of getting to the finish line!

Learn More

Sponsors & Exhibitors

Our athletes – triathletes, duathletes, runners, walkers, cyclists – are active, educated, middle to high income earners who are committed to their fitness while also supporting our community.

Become a Sponsor

Volunteers

This event requires a ton of volunteers so if you can recruit friends, family, companies, churches, or sports teams to help that would be extremely helpful. They will get front row seats to all the action!

Learn More

Event Partners

We’re honored to partner with these great companies to provide you the absolute best race experience. We couldn’t do it without them so please show them the LOVE and support them as a thank you for all they do for our community.