The Yuba triathlon will always have a special place in my heart since it was my first tri. A few years later, it still holds up as a good race now that I’ve done it a few times. (Except for the year I was recovering from food poisoning. That’s a race I block out). Put on by Racetri every September, it’s a great end to the summer.
The Pros
- Yuba isn’t quite as packed as some of the other races can be. You don’t feel as though you’re running in a herd.
- It’s a state park so there’s a great campsite with showers and shade. I love any race where I don’t have to drive up in the morning. Also if the campsite fills up, there’s plenty of camping on the beach.
- Fairly flat bike ride. And the Olympic distance is one giant loop (watch for cows, however).
- The run is an out and back for both Olympic and sprint distances.
- Since it’s in September, you have all all summer to train
- A huge variety of competitors make a good race for beginners and challenging for the more experienced.
The Cons
- Yuba isn’t exactly near anyplace so no matter where you’re from, you’re driving in.
- Transition areas are not assigned. I can’t stress how nice that is.
- Yuba Reservoir can be a tad murky and green.
- The bike race goes along a road with graveled sides and it’s hard to tell where the road ends and the gravel begins. Many a racer has torn themselves up making the turn around.
- The run goes straight up the side of a hill on a dirt road—a dirt road with ruts and lots of rocks.
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