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Paddle, bike, and run along the American River
Teams and solo athletes paddle, cycle, and run beside the American River in a modern revival of Sacramento’s celebrated summer endurance tradition.
Event details
The Great American Triathlon replaces the swim with a paddle, linking river travel, cycling, and running along Sacramento’s treasured parkway, with relay teams and solo athletes sharing a festive finish after moving through the shaded recreation corridor along the river. Shaded stretches of the parkway make it comfortable to walk alongside much of the bike and run course on foot.
The paddle-first format makes this an especially approachable triathlon to watch as a family, since the calm river current and shaded parkway give spectators an easy, shaded place to walk alongside much of the course rather than losing sight of a swimmer entirely underwater.
Equipment, transitions, and an early start make a local overnight base useful for visiting racers and their families alike. Reserve a Sacramento-area Stay, pack sun protection for the shaded but warm parkway route, and use Lake Natoma or Folsom Lake for an easy warm-up or recovery outing around race day. It is a distinctive, family-watchable revival of a Sacramento summer tradition, easy to follow on foot or by bike alongside the parkway. Morning river conditions can vary, so check race organizer updates the night before if paddling is part of the family’s own plans.
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