Complimentary race entry
Your entry to Optimism Cal Tri Newport Dunes, covered in full.
This isn't about being the fastest athlete on the course. It's about inspiring others through your journey, supporting fellow competitors, and showing that optimism is a choice we make every day.
Selected athletes receive
05Personalized coaching
A plan built around your distance, leading into race weekend.
An exclusive goodie bag
Handed to you at the athlete meet-and-greet on Saturday.
A featured athlete profile
Your story, shared with the Cal Tri Events community and on the Optimism platform.
Lunch with the founders
An intimate Saturday lunch with Nicholas Pardon, Founder of Optimism, and Thom Richmond, CEO of Cal Tri Events.
Who should apply
Athletes of every age, ability, and experience level.
Tell us why you represent the spirit of optimism. Share your story — how you've overcome challenges, how you lift others up, and why you'd be a great ambassador for our community.
Race weekend
Oct 31 - Nov 1, 2026Saturday
Athlete meet-and-greet
Lunch with Nicholas Pardon and Thom Richmond
Photography, interviews, and team portraits
Sunday
Optimism Cal Tri Newport Dunes
Post-race storytelling with the team
Perseverance
The training days no one sees, and the reasons you kept going.
Positivity
Optimism as a practice, not a mood — chosen again each day.
Encouragement
The athlete who doubles back to run someone else in.
Community
How you show up for the people around you, all year.
Apply by September 4, 2026
Short application. Most athletes finish in under 20 minutes.
We read every story
Cal Tri Events and Optimism review applications together, one by one.
Ten athletes announced
Selected athletes hear from us directly, then meet the rest of the team.
Because the best races aren't defined by finish times — they're defined by the people who inspire everyone around them.
Apply today
Applications close September 4, 2026