10 Greenest Races
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A decade ago triathlon was certainly not at the forefront of putting on carbon-neutral events. That’s changed considerably over the last 10 years, thanks in large part to people like Barry Siff of 5430 Sports in Boulder, Colo., who has won numerous awards for putting on sustainable, local events. While we give the entire Boulder Triathlon Series high marks for going green, our greenest race award goes to perhaps the country’s greenest city: Portland, Ore. As is often the case in Portland, the city takes triathlon to new levels of greenness. The finish line is made of local flowers. The race shirts are made from bamboo and moisture-wicking charcoal. Perhaps coolest of all, body marking is done by the Portland Society for Calligraphy with non-toxic markers. It’s a number you won’t want to wash off. So, if you’re down with bamboo bike racks, a naturopathic medical tent and locally sourced aid stations, head to Portland for the greenest race of your life.
Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon
Location: Portland, Ore.
2010 Date: Aug. 22
Distance: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Website: Portlandtri.com
Best of the Rest…
Boulder Peak Triathlon
Location: Boulder, Colo.
2010 Date: July 11
Distance: 1.5K swim, 42K bike, 10K run
Website: Bouldertriseries.com/peak
Marin County Triathlon
Location: San Rafael, Calif.
2010 Date: Oct. 31
Distance: 1.5K swim, 22-mile bike, 10K run
Website: Marintriathlon.com
Ironman 70.3 Vineman
Location: Sonoma County, Calif.
2010 Date: July 18
Distance: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Website: Vineman.com
Win for KC Women’s Triathlon
Location: Smithville, Mo.
2010 Date: July 31
Distance: 500-meter swim, 10-mile bike, 5K run
Website: Winforkctri.org
New Balance Victoria Half Iron
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
2010 Date: June 20
Distance: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Website: Triseries.ca/victoria
Boston Urban Epic
Location: Boston, Mass.
2010 Date: August (exact date TBA)
Distance: .5-mile swim, 10-mile bike, 4-mile run
Website: Urban-epic.com/Boston
Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon
Location: Philadelphia, Penn.
2010 Date: June 26-27
Distance:
Sprint: .9K swim, 24K bike, 5K run
Olympic: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Website: Phillytri.com
Rattlesnake Triathlon
Location: Aurora, Colo.
2010 Date: Aug. 14-15
Distance:
Olympic: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Sprint: 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike, 5K run
Website: Rattlesnaketri.com
Nutmegman Triathlon
Location: Southbury, Conn.
2010 Date: Aug. 7
Distance: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Website: Endureitmultisports.com