 The start of a triathlon in Boulder, Colo. |  |
Boulder is our pick for the city that's best for Masters triathletes
In the following story, Masters Athlete publishes its rankings of the top 10 triathlon communities in the United States. Our staff evaluated the towns in terms of climate/terrain; training facilities; events and the number of local participants. For each criterion a town could earn as many as five stars. A perfect score in each criterion would yield a total of 20 stars. In the end no one town was quite perfect, but the winning community earned 19.5 stars to be ranked Tops in Triathlon…
1. Boulder, Colo.
With abundant workout venues, reliable sunshine, an obsession with all things athletic and the Rocky Mountain foothills as a backdrop, it's not surprising that Boulder is home to an amazing concentration of multisport athletes, both elite and amateur. Between the city and the towering foothills, large tracts of open space have been preserved providing miles of easily-accessed running trails without a car in sight. Group rides are popular on the country roads north of Boulder, while several bike-friendly canyon roads wind uphill to the west. On the 18-mile climb up Left Hand Canyon to the funky little hamlet of Ward, you'll see more bikes than cars, even on weekends. If winter triathlon is your thing, a short drive into the mountains will bring you to a network of groomed and ungroomed snow-covered backcountry trails.
Climate/terrain: 5 stars
Training facilities: 4.5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 5 stars
Total: 19.5 stars
2. San Luis Obispo, Calif.
At first glance, San Luis Obispo appears to have it all. At second glance, too. Sitting midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, a dozen miles from the coast, this college town of 45,000 boasts a mild, Mediterranean climate and a near-endless diversity of bucolic roads and endurance-building trails. You can bike endless miles on the Pacific Coast Highway, while taking in some of the country's most exquisite coastline. Or ride the rolling hills of the nearby wine country under shady oaks draped with Spanish moss. You can run every day for weeks and never do the same route twice. The town's fortuitous location puts scores of multisport events within easy reach. Local competitions include the SLO Triathlon in July and Scott Tinley's Adventures which takes place in October.
Climate/terrain: 5 stars
Training facilities: 4 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 5 stars
Total: 19 stars
3. San Diego
Triathlon was born in San Diego in 1974, and this Southern California coastal metropolis has been a mecca for multisport enthusiasts ever since. Nicknamed "America's Finest City," San Diego is mild and dry year-round, attracting many world-class athletes who live or train there. Running options abound, ranging from the roads of Mission Bay to the boardwalk at Mission Beach to canyon trails such as Penasquitos Canyon Preserve to all-weather tracks including Balboa Stadium. Cyclists can choose from coastal routes to gut-busting mountain ascents such as the classic 4,500-foot climb up Palomar Mountain. La Jolla Cove is popular for open water swimming, but avoid encouraging a harbor seal to be your training partner. Despite the dry climate, dehydration is easy to avoid as San Diego is home to some of the country's finest microbreweries.
Climate/terrain: 5 stars
Training facilities: 4.5 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local triathletes: 5 stars
Total: 19 stars
4. Austin, Texas
Austin may promote itself as the live music capital of the world, but triathletes know the Texas capital as one of the country's premier multisport communities. Test the local waters in one of Austin's unique swimming venues such as Barton Springs Pool. Located in Zilker Park, the pool is fed from underground springs, is over 1,000 feet long and covers 3 acres. The water temperature averages 68 degrees. The city's extensive trail system offers a wealth of running options. Close to downtown, the ever-popular Town Lake Trail parallels a dammed section of the Colorado River with a variety of loop options up to 10 miles. Austin has scores of great rides and great riders. Get acquainted with some of both on a Saturday morning "taco ride." which leaves from Austin Tri-Cyclist. It's one of the largest group rides in the country and offers a choice of a 30- or 50-mile loop.
Climate/terrain: 4.5 stars
Training facilities: 4.5 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local triathletes: 5 stars
Total: 18.5 stars
5. Tucson, Ariz.
Long a favorite wintering ground for the multisport set, Tucson's dry desert climate and college town vibe is attracting a growing number of year-round residents to this Southern Arizona city. Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson's workout options are plentiful and varied. At Reid Park, in the middle of town, runners gather for regular workouts on the paved, lighted, 3-mile circuit. Outside the city limits, the trails of Saguaro National Park take runners through the unique scenery of the Sonoran Desert. The park has sections both east and west of Tucson.Numerous other trails traverse the nearby foothills and mountains offering a diversity of running experiences for athletes of all abilities. Riding options are equally varied from 500 miles of in-town bikeways to challenging climbs including the 6,000-foot, 26-mile ascent of Mount Lemmon on the Catalina Highway. To round out the tri training options, Tucson boasts 27 public pools, of which seven are open year-round.
Climate/terrain: 4 stars
Training facilities: 4 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 5 stars
Tucson: 18 stars
6. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Each fall, the world's top triathletes arrive in Kailua-Kona, on Hawaii's Big Island, for the annual Ironman World Championships. Following the Ironman hoopla, Kailua-Kona remains a fitness-oriented town with an idyllic climate and laid-back lifestyle. Get a taste of the Ironman on the 112-mile out-and-back bike route that follows the coast on the Queen K Highway. The little town of Hawi is the Ironman turnaround, but a more challenging return route takes the Kohala Mountain Road. You'll climb from 600 to 3,000 feet in nine miles on your way to the town of Waimea, below the Mauna Kea Volcano. For a water-based workout, venture south of town for a swim with the dolphins at Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook took his final breaths. As a break from training, enjoy Kona's other diversions such as snorkeling, golf, scuba diving, sportfishing and viewing dramatic sunsets.
Climate/terrain: 4.5 stars
Training facilities: 4 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 4 stars
Total: 17.5 stars
7. Twin Cities, Minn.
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, the outdoor training season may be shorter than in other locales, but the huge community of devoted triathletes packs a ton of activity into the fair-weather months. Cycling options are varied with hundreds of miles of bike-friendly roads. In fact, if you choose your route carefully, you can ride a century with nearly all of it on a 10-foot wide shoulder. The Twin Cities are said to have some of the finest running paths in the country. At The Lakes, in the heart of Minneapolis, a chain of water bodies are encircled by miles of paved paths. They're an all-season favorite, as their icy surface is plowed in the winter months. Nearly every summer weekend features a multisport event of some sort. The biggest is July's Life Time Fitness Triathlon which draws over 2,000 participants.
Climate/terrain: 3 stars
Training facilities: 4.5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 4 stars
Total: 16.5 stars
8. Clermont, Fla.
"Florida hill country" may sound like an oxymoron, but the rolling terrain of Central Florida's Lake County offers some vertical relief to a state dominated by vast expanses of flatland. In the southern part of the county, on the shores of Lake Minneola and Lake Minnehaha, the community of Clermont has long attracted triathletes. Nearby is the hill country's most notorious climb; the short, steep, ascent of Sugarloaf Mountain. The rise tops out at 310 feet, making it the highest point in Peninsular Florida. The undulating topography and promise of mild winters are not Clermont's only attractions for the athletically-inclined. The growing community, 25 miles from Orlando, is the home of USA Triathlon's National Training Center. The fitness area, pool and track at the 300-acre facility are open to the public. Once you've attained race form, you won't have to travel far to compete. Clermont hosts a variety of multisport events including October's Great Floridian Triathlon.
Climate/terrain: 3.5 stars
Training facilities: 5 stars
Events: 4 stars
Local triathletes: 3.5 stars
Total: 16 stars
9. Lake Placid, N.Y.
The Winter Olympics may have put Lake Placid on the map, but it's the annual Ford Ironman Lake Placid Triathlon that keeps the Adirondack village in the sights of multisport fans and practitioners. Its northern location and 1,800-foot elevation make for long, snowy winters. That's just fine for training on the extensive Nordic ski trails of the Jackrabbit trail system. For a track workout, you can do some laps on the Olympic speedskating oval. Once winter releases its grip, a new world of training options opens up in Lake Placid. Keep your legs loose with an easy 3-mile run around Mirror Lake, site of the Ironman swim course. Or get in some trail miles back on the Jackrabbit Trail. Road ride options are many and varied in the Adirondacks. The Ironman bike route is a 56-mile loop over rolling hills with several more substantial climbs. Test your Ironman mettle and do it twice.
Climate/terrain: 3 stars
Training facilities: 5 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local triathletes: 3.5 stars
Total: 16 stars
10. Chicago
To most, Chicago is synonymous with art, architecture and the blues, but this vibrant Midwestern metropolis has much to offer multisport athletes of all abilities. While some places brag about leafy running trails and leg-burning mountain roads, no place can match the aesthetics of Chicago's Lakefront Path, the city's premier outdoor workout venue. The paved pathway runs for 18.5 miles along the shores of Lake Michigan offering runners, bikers and multitudes of other path users an ever-changing panorama of the city's awe-inspiring skyline. Local multisport clubs and triathlon training programs like Together We Tri are available to help you reach your athletic potential. In August, it'll be time to put your training to the test at the Accenture Chicago Triathlon, among the largest in the country.
Climate/terrain: 2.5 stars
Training facilities: 4 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local triathletes: 4 stars
Total: 15.5 stars