AUGUST 28-29, 2021
Registration is open!
Thank you for sticking with us through the dynamically changing environment we all have been navigating. Together, we have proven our collective resolve and remarkable resilience through uncertainty.
As we look toward brighter days, our team pushes forward with planning a safe and exciting return of the iconic Chicago Triathlon this summer. We are working in consultation with the city and will follow all state and federal health guidelines provided. With safety at the forefront, we highly anticipate welcoming our valued athletes to the start line in the Windy City on Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29, 2021 – including you!
General registration for the 2021 Chicago Triathlon (August 28-29) is now open. This includes all speciality programs and competitions.
Saturday: SuperSprint & Kids Tri
Sunday: International & Sprint
For more information regarding all of our divisions, please visit the link below:
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
The Chicago Triathlon team continues to work closely with local, city, state, and public health officials to determine the best practices needed to ensure the safety of all community members. Final safety measures and protocols, along with participant requirements, will be made available closer to the race date. Here are a few examples of what you might expect to see – please note these are subject to change and will be based on local guidelines for your safety.
Pre-Event
- Pre-event questionnaire
- Routine disinfection of high-touch surfaces
- Increased hand sanitation stations
- Staff & Volunteer use of PPE or plastic barriers
- Increase spacing
- Assigned times for packet pick up
Race Day
- Face coverings before the start, post-event and at expo when not able to maintain a social distance of at least six feet
- Possible requirement to bring your own on-course hydration and/or water bottle stations – sealed single-use
- Prepackaged grab-and-go recovery food, water & medals
- Routine disinfection of high-touch surfaces
- Increased hand sanitation stations
2021 EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY
While Life Time is committed to planning our scheduled events in 2021, we don’t know the extent to which our lineup will continue to be impacted by COVID-19. As such we have revisited and revised our policy on entry refunds and deferrals to provide more athlete flexibility for event participation. A link to this policy will be included in the registration process, whereby participants must indicate that they understand and accept the terms.
Cancellation Policy Timeline

Policy Guidelines
- No refunds on services fees, donations, or merchandise.
- Fees may vary on select events.
- Deferrals are only good for the following year, in the same event.
- No refunds on transactions over 365 days.
- We have a strict no-transfer policy on triathlon events.
*Athletes who elected to defer their 2020 entry are no longer eligible for a refund, however, a complimentary deferral to the 2022 event is valid until May 31, 2021 (11:59 PM CT) after which registrants will incur a fee up to $60 based on distance in accordance with our 2021 Event Cancellation Policy.
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR DISTANCE
The Chicago Triathlon offers a variety of distances for kids and adults alike. Race weekend consists of five stand-alone triathlons, including the Life Time Kids Tri Chicago, SuperSprint and the Chicago Triathlon Sprint and International races. The Triple Challenge is our sixth event, consisting of three races unto itself.
KIDS RACE DISTANCES | Swim | Bike | Run | Total |
Juniors (7-10 years) | 100 meters 0.06 miles |
3.5 km 2.2 miles |
1 km 0.62 miles |
4.6 km 2.82 miles |
Seniors (11-14 years) | 200 m 0.12 miles |
7 km 4.4 miles |
2 km 1.24 miles |
9.2 km 5.64 miles |
ADULT RACE DISTANCES | Swim | Bike | Run | Total |
SuperSprint | 375 meters 0.23 miles |
10 km 6.2 miles |
2.5 km 1.5 miles |
12.9 km 7.9 miles |
Sprint | 750 m 0.47 miles |
24 km 15 miles |
5 km 3.1 miles |
29.75 km 18.57 miles |
International / Olympic | 1,500 m 0.93 miles |
40 km 24.8 miles |
10 km 6.2 miles |
51.5 km 31.93 miles |
Triple Challenge (all 3 above) |
2,615 m 1.63 miles |
74.5 km 46.3 miles |
17.5 km 10.85 miles |
96.12 km 58.79 miles |
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR DIVISION
The Chicago Triathlon is far from a one-size-fits-all event, as athletes now have the ability to decide how competitive they wish to be and/or whom they start alongside. The event offers a variety of special programs and competitions, each designed to accommodate participants of every ability, interest level and goal. During the registration process, registrants must select from one of the following “Divisions:”
Division | Capacity | Level | Participating Race Distance |
Competitive Age Group * | n/a | All Levels | Kids, Sprint or International |
First Timers’ Program | 300 | Beginner | Sprint or International |
Divvy Wave | 100 | All | SuperSprint |
Relay Teams | 100 | All | Kids, Sprint or International |
Premier Amateur/Masters | 50 | Advanced | International |
Triple Challenge | 175 | Advanced | SuperSprint + Sprint + International |
Clydesdales/Athenas | 200 | All | Sprint or International |
First Responders | 100 | All | Sprint or International |
Mountain Bike | 150 | All | Sprint or International |
Collegiate | 150 | All | Sprint or International |
* Competitive Age Group is the default classification for all participants.
STEP 3: GET REGISTERED!
Once the distance and division are known, it’s time to get registered. Registration opens November 1 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Separate links will be available for Saturday races (Kids’ Triathlon or SuperSprint) and Sunday races (Sprint and International).
All Registrants Receive
- Custom finisher medal for all participants
- High-quality custom gender-specific event T-shirt
- Awards 3 deep for male and female age groups
- Locally-themed, post-race food
- Fantastic aid stations
- Chip timing
- Post race party with live music
- Post race beer (for the adults)!
- Closed and certified race course
SUSTAINABILITY
The 2018 Chicago Triathlon is committed to being environmentally and socially sustainable. In 2012, the race earned certification as a sustainable race by the Council for Responsible Sport and was recognized as a green event by the Chicago Park District. This year we are applying for recertification.
Initiatives include:
- Recycling and composting in transition, at the swim start, on the course and at the finish festival
- Sourcing local food and beverages
- Minimizing our carbon and water footprints
- Donating unused food to charity
- Reusing signage and other materials
- Recycling race bibs and swim caps
- Supporting local charities
We encourage participants to help by:
- Carpooling or using public transportation to get to and from the race
- Using your own hydration system on the run to minimize paper cup waste and conserve water
- Using the recycling, compost and landfill bins provided
- Supporting our charities
The race is committed to respecting and including athletes and volunteers of all ability, and not discrimination on the basis of age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, race or religion. If you have comments or suggestions for how we can strengthen our commitment to sustainability and equity, please email us.