WINDSOR, CA (March 15, 2023) – Cal Tri Events announced today that Kendall-Jackson winery will be both the official wine partner for the 2023 Cal Tri Events Series, the largest national short-course triathlon series in the U.S., and title sponsor at the 2023 Kendall-Jackson Cal Tri Sonoma – 6.25.23 event.

“We’re excited to partner with the Cal Tri Events team on this year’s triathlons. Collaborating with Cal Tri is a perfect way to reach the athletic community who are pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle, especially as we’ve just launched our Kendall-Jackson Low Calorie Chardonnay,” says Maggie Curry, Kendall-Jackson’s VP of Marketing. “The bright and balanced Low Calorie Chardonnay, at just 85 calories per serving, provides calorie-conscious consumers with an alternative wine offering that still delivers the Kendall-Jackson full-bodied, round and vibrant taste profile consumers have come to know and love.”

“Kendall-Jackson, producer of America’s #1-selling Chardonnay for 30 years, is one of the few remaining family-owned wineries in the nation. We welcome Kendall-Jackson winery to the Cal Tri Events family. From pre-race sampling, awards presentations, and post race pouring at select races, their presence will be felt in 2023,” said Thom Richmond, CEO Cal Tri Events.

While Kendall-Jackson is the official wine sponsor for the 2023 Cal-Tri Event Series, they are also the title sponsor for the 2023 Kendall-Jackson Cal Tri Sonoma – 6.25.23 event, as the race takes place near Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, Sonoma County’s hub of culinary and garden excellence. The expansive 4-acre awe-inspiring culinary gardens provide visitors a picturesque food and wine experience. “We wish everyone a great race and look forward to welcoming race participants, friends, and family for a glass of wine during the race weekend,” said Curry. Kendall-Jackson is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers a variety of food and wine pairing experiences.

About Kendall-Jackson Winery

Kendall-Jackson is one of America’s most beloved family-owned and operated wineries. Founded by entrepreneur and visionary Jess Jackson in 1982, and now led by his wife Barbara Banke and the Jackson family, Kendall-Jackson is based in Sonoma County and offers a range of acclaimed wines grown on the family’s estate vineyards along the coastal ridges of California. A leader in sustainable vineyard and winery practices, including water and energy conservation and natural pest control, 100 percent of Kendall-Jackson’s vineyards in California are third party certified by SIP (Sustainable in Practice) and CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing). Kendall-Jackson was recently named 2017 winery of the year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, recognized as a benchmark in the California wine industry. The winery’s seminal wine, the Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, has been the #1 selling Chardonnay in America since 1992. Learn more online at www.kj.com, and follow Kendall-Jackson on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About Cal Tri Events. Cal Tri Events, a 501(c)3, is the largest national short-course triathlon series in the U.S. Their safe, affordable & accessible mission combined with difference-making impact in the communities they serve is made easier with the support of public-private partnerships. Learn more at Triathlete Magazine, Endurance Business & The New York Times.

You have decided you want to compete in a triathlon some time in the near future and are now on the hunt for an option on the right weekend that won’t break the bank. Make sure you do your homework relative to some of the tricks of the trade and how to protect your rights and investment before you get locked into something that you may regret later.

RunSignUp’s Processing Fee Schedule

Hidden SignUp Fees.

RunSignUp, the most widely used registration processing platform with 35-40% market share, publishes their signup fee schedule which is 6% + $1 for a typical triathlon (see above) . This fee is above and beyond the listed race fee. If you are paying a processing fee of 8-10% or more this is likely an example of a race director hiding profit in the processing fee and counting on athletes to miss it when they are rushing to sign-up. If you discover a race using this business practice, contact them and request they waive that fee. Most races will accommodate to save the sale. 

Exorbitant Liability Insurance Fee.

Unlike the running world where the cost of insurance is included in the race fee, triathletes can sometimes be expected to fork over up to $15 for liability insurance. With options that meet or exceed municipality requirements in all 50 states, top race directors with good safety records are able to pass along lower fees starting as low as $3.71 per athlete. California Triathlon Endorsed Race Director Insurance Program. Races with higher and/or cumbersome insurance options often experience a higher incomplete registration or consumer abandon rate. We advise athletes to choose races with affordable liability insurance. 

Draconian Transfer, Deferral & Participant Transfer Policies.

Athlete-centric policies relative to transfers, deferrals and participant transfers (or bib swaps) are slow to change because DNS or “Did Not Show” athletes are a major race profit center. “Breakage”, the difference between the number of registrations and the number of participants, is typically 20-33% of total registrations. An additional layer of schemes charging athletes $25 or $50 to transfer or defer are reminiscent of the airline industry. Bold letters in caps with the word “no” are a strong indicator they aren’t consumer friendly. You may pay more a few days before the race but when life happens, you aren’t out a stack of cash. We advise athletes to read the transfer and deferral policies and register with races that are consistent with their values.

Allianz “Event Registration Protector” or Similar 3rd Party Insurance.

For about $10, this type of product is supposed to be an almost failsafe solution for athletes who have to miss out on the race to recover their fees. The race director benefits by outsourcing an unpleasant part of the business to a third party in exchange for a small profit sharing arrangement. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where if it is too good to be true it probably is. Our experience is that athletes are saddled with a lengthy claim process and the number of exclusions as well as their ability to receive prompt and helpful customer service. Race directors get no reporting from Allianz relative to usage or customer service issues. It is basically a black hole. We recommend choosing races with consumer-friendly transfer and deferral policies that make these types of products superfluous.

With knowledge comes power. We hope this helps you avoid some of the common tricks- and traps- of the trade and allows you to enjoy your time preparing for a great race day. Good luck!

Returning to Training

Returning to training after a break can be a challenging task, but it is possible. Whether you took a break for the holidays, due to an injury, illness, or simply because you were too busy, getting back into the routine of regular exercise can be a great way to improve your physical and mental health.  

Check With Your Doctor First

Before you start working out again, it is important to consult with your doctor to make sure that you are cleared for exercise. This is especially important if you took a break due to an injury or illness. Your doctor can also provide you with guidance on what types of exercises are appropriate for you and how to progress safely.

Getting Started

Once you have the green light from your doctor, it is important to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts. This will help to prevent injury and allow your body to adjust to the demands of exercise. A good way to do this is to start with one discipline at a time, such as swimming, and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts over time. Once you feel comfortable with that discipline, you can then add in the next one, such as biking and then running. By starting with swimming and biking first, your body can use the low-impact disciples to prepare itself for the more demanding aspects of running.  Since running is so hard on your body, you may even want to start with walking or hiking until you feel like you are ready for the impact of running.

Goal Setting

It is also a good idea to set realistic goals for yourself. For example, instead of trying to jump back into your previous workout routine, it may be more realistic to start with a less intense version of your previous routine, or to start with shorter workouts and gradually increase the duration.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

When you first start working out again, it is normal to feel a bit sore. This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and it is a sign that your muscles are adapting to the demands of exercise. To reduce the soreness, it is important to warm up before exercising and to cool down afterwards. You can also try using a foam roller, massage ball or even a massage to help release tension in your muscles.

Build a Solid Foundation

When training for a triathlon, it’s important to focus on building a solid foundation of fitness. This includes building endurance, strength and flexibility. Endurance can be built by gradually increasing the duration and intensity of your workouts over time. Strength can be built by incorporating strength training exercises such as weight lifting and bodyweight exercises. Flexibility can be improved by incorporating stretching and yoga into your routine. In addition to physical preparation, it’s also important to prepare mentally for your return to working out.

Find a Training Buddy

Many people struggle with motivation when getting back into a workout routine, so it’s important to find ways to stay motivated. One of the best ways is to find a workout buddy or even join a group session with a local team or at the gym.  Having someone to exercise with can make workouts more fun and can also help to keep you accountable.  

Track Your Workouts

Another way to stay motivated is to track your progress. This can be done by keeping a journal of your training or using a program like TrainingPeaks or Strava. You can track anything you wish from the distance, time, maybe your body measurements or photos you took during your workouts.  Looking back at your notes and/or photos can be a great way to stay motivated and see how far you have come. 

Motivation Through Music

Music can be a powerful tool to help motivate training and improve performance too. The right music can help to increase energy levels, improve focus, and boost mood. Here are some examples of good songs that can help to motivate training based on our recent Instagram survey as well as what gets our leadership moving:

1. “Lose Yourself” & “Till I Collapse” by Eminem
2. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
3. “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
4. “The Final Countdown” by Europe
5. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
6. Rusty Cage – Soundgarden
7. Overcomer – Mandisa
8. Dark Dark Dark – Daydreaming
9. Till The Day I Die – TobyMac
10. Unstoppable – Sia

The Wrap Up

Finally, it’s important to remember that setbacks are normal. Even if you have a great workout routine, you may have days when you don’t feel like exercising or when you don’t have time due to work or family. It’s important to be kind to yourself and not to beat yourself up for missed workouts. Instead, focus on getting back on track and continuing to make progress.  Remember constant forward motion and have fun!

Selecting your first triathlon can be as challenging as the actual race. Triathlons are a strenuous and exciting way to push yourself physically and mentally, but if you’re new to the sport, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a triathlon race as a beginner.

1. Distance: Triathlons come in a variety of distances, from sprints to full Ironman races. As a beginner, it’s important to start with a shorter distance race to get a feel for the sport and build up your endurance. Sprint triathlons, which typically consist of a 400 yard swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 5k run, are a great option for first-timers.
2. Location: Consider selecting a race that is located in a place that is close to your home. This will hopefully help keep costs down but it will be a good way to make sure you’re comfortable with the logistics of the race as well. 
3. Course: Before signing up for a race, research the course. Look for a race that has a swim course that’s safe and well-marked, a bike course that’s not too hilly, and a run course that’s flat and easy to navigate.  The race website should have a section dedicated to discussing the course as well as providing maps for you to review and in some cases course videos too.  The Cal Tri Fort Worth course page is a perfect example of all the details on the race course in one location.
4. Support: Look for a race that has a good support system in place, including aid stations, medical teams, and volunteers. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your race.
5. Race atmosphere: Look for a race that has a supportive and welcoming atmosphere for beginners. Cal Tri Events is a perfect example with both virtual and in-person clinics to encourage and help ensure every athlete is ready for their race day. The clinics are a great way to meet other triathletes, get tips, and advice from more experienced athletes too.
6. Race organization: Research the race organization and make sure they have a good reputation for putting on well-organized and safe events. Don’t forget to check their policies on transfers and deferrals too in case the unexpected happens.  For example, Cal Tri Events has free race transfers, deferrals and participant transfers as late as the day before the race.  Check out online reviews, social media and ask for recommendations from other triathletes too. 
7. Race entry fee: Don’t forget to factor in the cost of the race entry fee. Triathlon races can vary widely in price, so make sure you find a race that fits within your budget. But also don’t let the cost of the entry fee be the only consideration, since there may be options like the Volunteer One, Get One program offered by Cal Tri Events where you can earn a free race entry by volunteering.
8. Training: Lastly, make sure you have enough time to train before the race. For your first event, the goal should be to complete the race and have fun.  Don’t put the added pressure of trying to finish in a particular time.  There will be plenty of additional races to worry about hitting a specific time. Not sure how to start then check out California Triathlon’s free training plans and workouts here.

By considering these factors, selecting your first triathlon will ensure the race is both challenging and enjoyable, and will give you the confidence you need to continue competing in triathlons in the future. And don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience! 

2022 GRAND PRIX USA.
The 2022 Grand Prix USA Series Competition is heating up and will eventually include 30 races across the U.S.  A total of 195 athletes will be recognized (Top 5 Overall Male, Female, & Non-Binary.  Plus,180 Age Groups). Athletes who successfully complete 2 scored events are eligible for series awards. Athletes who participate in more events have their 2 BEST scores count.

AWARDS. 

• In 2022, over $10,000 worth of prizes will be awarded.Top 5 Overall (Male, Female, & Non-Binary)
• Top 3 Age Group (Male, Female, & Non-Binary) – 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+
• Participant ages will be calculated as of 12.31.22.
• Maximum point score allowed per race is 150.
• If an athlete finishes 1st overall and 1st in their age group, they receive 1st place points in each scored category.

How are points calculated?

• Most Cal Tri Events races have 14 events. Each is scored separately.
• An athlete’s score = 100 x (average time for that event) / (athlete’s time for that event)
• 150 is the max number of points that can be earned
• The Top 2 results are summed for consideration for Grand Prix USA awards

2022 Cal Tri LA – 10.23.22 Race Overview

In SoCal, the convenience, safety and affordability of races like Cal Tri LA are few and far between. A quick Sunday morning drive to Playa del Rey, parking next to the transition along Dockweiler Beach and speedy morning packet pick-up providing athletes the opportunity to spend the morning focused on getting race ready. Athletes aren’t the only ones busy race morning. A full cadre of lifeguards from LA Beaches & Harbors and LAPD Traffic Officers are getting ready to keep athletes safe in the water and on the roads. Hours earlier, thousands of barricades, signs and cones are deployed on the bike and run course per the traffic control plan. Financially, the closer a venue is to a population center the higher the fee structure and producing a triathlon near LAX is no exception. However, tales of skyrocketing municipality fees are greatly exaggerated and Cal Tri Events remains lean with this year and next year’s prices locked in at 2015 rates.

Pro Tip: Want to stay only 3.5 miles from the race venue? Our host hotel, the Hyatt Regency LAX, has extended a limited time only special Cal Tri Events $169/night rate.

Cal Tri Events has 14 events; triathlon, triathlon relay, runbikerun, swimbike, swimrun, swim & run at both the sprint & Olympic distances. The course maps are on the website, are downloadable, and include distance and elevation.

Swim Course (Ocean). The sprint swim is 400 yards. The Olympic swim is 1640 yards (2 lap course). The professional lifeguards from LA County Beaches & Harbors bring all the toys and support athletes with a 15 to 1 athlete to lifeguard ratio. First timers are greatly encouraged to get race ready at Saturday morning’s free swim and transition clinic with Olympic Silver Medalist Clay Evans.

Bike Course (Partially Closed) . The sprint bike route includes S. Marine Avenue, Imperial Highway, Pershing Drive and Westchester Parkway with a U-turn at Sepulveda Westway and a singular out and back on Vista Del Mar before a right turn at Imperial Highway returns to Dockweiler Beach. The Olympic bike route is approximately two laps of the sprint bike route without a return to Dockweiler Beach between laps. While not a completely closed bike course, 80% of the course is either closed to vehicular traffic or along the Dockweiler Beach access road. The sprint bike distance is 12.6 miles with 411’ of elevation. The Olympic bike distance is 24.2 miles with 808’ of elevation.  

Run Course (New for 2022). The fast and flat, closed run course is an out and back from Parking Lot 2 onto S. Marine Avenue, the access road to Dockweiler Beach. This is a major improvement from 2021 where the run started from Parking Lot 3 and was on the shared beach bike path which was congested. Athletes run north and return south on a closed course supported at aid stations by the UCLA Tri Team. Sprint/5K athletes (1 lap) and Olympic/10K athletes (2 laps). 

Cal Tri LA – Swim 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. The seeded, rolling swim start is beginner friendly and not the scrum of the traditional wave start.

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA Swim. Calm waters like those enjoyed in 2021, are always appreciated.

Cal Tri LA – Bike 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. Smiles for miles on this fantastic bike course.

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. 80% of the course is either closed to vehicular traffic or along the Dockweiler Beach access road.

Cal Tri LA – Run

The fast and flat, closed run course is an out and back from onto S. Marine Avenue, the access road to Dockweiler Beach. Athletes run north and return south on a closed course supported at aid stations by the UCLA Tri Team. Sprint/5K athletes (1 lap) and Olympic/10K athletes (2 laps). 

A photograph from 2021 Cal Tri LA. Planes departing LAX as volunteers await the first finisher.

RDLaunch Live Events are a one of kind setting where race directors can come together to learn and share timeless fundamentals about the planning, promotion, and production of endurance sporting events.

At RDLaunch Live: Triathon -Newport Dunes, join America Multi-Sport CEO Steve Tomboni as he and select guests including Cal Tri Events founder, Thom Richmond, share the best industry knowledge from the last 30 years of Triathlon.

Topics include:

• Increasing Race Attendance through Smarter Marketing
• Race Ownership
• Create Comprehensive Safety Plans
• Sponsorship Negotiations
• Race Team Building
• Reducing Stress on Race Day and Race Week
• Keep your athletes coming back…year after year!

From beginners organizing their first event, to seasoned veterans running their own masterminds, RDLaunch is in the business of helping others produce Life Changing Finish Lines!

To find out more about the event, visit here.