Reston Relay Triathlon Returns to Raise Money for Youth Programs

The Reston Relay Triathlon is back for another year, encouraging healthy lifestyles and physical fitness while raising money for kids’ programs throughout town.

The race is USA Triathlon (USAT) certified, but is unlike a traditional triathlon in that it’s a relay race, not an individual race. This makes the competition more inclusive town-wide, allowing participants to focus on just one discipline — swimming, biking or running — without having to be proficient in all three to participate.

The race is sponsored by the YMCA and Reston Association, and in addition to promoting the sport the triathlon will also raise funds for kids’ programs within both sponsoring organizations.

The registration fee for a three-person team is $105, and that fee is non-refundable as well as a $12 fee for every non-USAT entrant. Dogfish Head Alehouse of Chantilly is also sponsoring the event, and each participant’s first celebratory beer after the race goes on the Alehouse’s tab (provide the competitor is 21 years old, of course).

The competition will begin on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Lake Newport Pool at 5:45 a.m. Swimmers will take to the pool at 7 a.m. for the swimming portion of the event, which entails 400 meters in the form of eight 50-meter laps up and down the pool.

The swimmer will then pass his or her team’s token, which tracks that team’s time (since not all swimmers can begin at the same time), to the biker, who will then pass the token along to the runner after completing the 11.2-mile bike course. The running course is 3.1 miles to the finish line.

Click here to register for the race, and visit the local YMCA at 12196 Sunset Hills Road on Friday, Aug. 15, to pick up your team’s race packet.