Race Radar: Southern California’s OC Triathlon
A local favorite in Orange County, Calif., the OC Triathlon and Duathlon is known for being challenging and beautiful.
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A local favorite in Orange County, Calif., the OC Triathlon and Duathlon is known for being challenging and beautiful. Located in the town of Mission Viejo, it features a flat, clear lake swim (uncommon in Southern California) in Lake Mission Viejo, a canyon bike course and a challenging run course. “The bike course was part of the 1984 Olympic bike course and goes up and down Santiago Canyon,” says Kari Davis, who’s the race owner and director along with her husband, Scott Davis. “The run course is on bike paths, trails and is challenging but a lot of fun.”
Another highlight of the course: crossing the finish line of the 1984 Olympic bike race held there, which is commemorated by a permanent brick finish line in the street, says local triathlete Steve Gilman, who lives in Mission Viejo. “It is a very competitive course with a great lake swim, canyon bike ride and a very challenging run. … It is well organized, well run with lots of community support.”
Davis expects 850 athletes to race in both the triathlon and duathlon this year, to take place on June 7.
Details
What: Orange County Triathlon
Where: Mission Viejo, Calif.
When: June 7, 2015
Distance: Olympic, duathlon
Website: Octriseries.com
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