Friends, Family & Teams

These programs supported by the Team Ortho Foundation, encouraging Every Body to celebrate and share the pursuit of an active lifestyle.

Enjoy the support of your family and friends, and share your journey and achievement with our Friends, Family and Teams programs!

Buddy Wave

If you decided to try your first triathlon with a friend, the Buddy Swim Wave is for you! The Buddy Wave will be the last wave (or group) of participants to start the event. We will also assign you adjacent transition area spots. Note: Buddies must indicate their interest in the Buddy Wave during registration or by contacting by August 1. Buddies may sign up in groups larger than 2.

Friends & Family Finish Zone

Share your journey and experience with those close to you by having friends and fammily run with you across the finish line! Just have them meet you at the Friends and Family Finish Zone - a special area just before the finish line - where they can join you on the course. A zone marshal will be there to make sure the flow to the finish line is a positive experience for all.

Spectators

Septators are encouraged to cheer on their favorite triathlete! We welcome lawn chairs, signs, cowbells, and any other positive motivators! Please Note: Post-race food provided is for athletes only; spectators are encouraged to bring their own beverages and snacks, or a picnic lunch to enjoy by the lake after the race.

Family Teams

Mother-Daughter and Sister-Sister
Make it a family affair! Family members may choose to register a mother-daughter or a sister-sister team. You can choose only one category but may include as many immediate family members (women aged 14+) as you wish! You may include nieces/aunts and cousins on sister-sister teams and grandkids/grandma on mother-daughter teams. All members must register individually. Mother-Daughter and Sister-Sister teams are scored by adding up their individual times (each person does the whole race).

Relays

While we encourage everyone to tackle the full triathlon if they are able, we have a NEW relay option where relays of two or three women may put their strengths together to go the distance. Each participant will do one leg of the race, i.e. swim, bike or run. They will "hand off" in the relay zone of the transition area. We want everyone to have a chance to be part of the fun!

Athlete Quote:

WOW! A week out, the glow of the women's triathlon is still carrying me along, energized and excited, talking about it with everyone I meet. At 55 and a first time athlete, I felt very unsure about whether I could do this, but it was the best birthday present I could ever have given myself. It has essentially changed how I see myself, and dissolved thoughts that began with "I could never..." I am living a new life!

Next year many more of my friends and family will be involved. As I share the strength, power and beauty of all those women the light comes on in the eyes of women who have previously felt they couldn't consider such a thing. My daughter, a former runner, is making plans to do it with a friend. My 25 year old neighbor plans to do it with her mom. A 60-something friend who was blinded in one eye plans to begin bicycling again.

The triathlon classes were such an important part of learning what to expect and how to prepare. You offered them with a great combination of information and light-heartedness. Thank you! The support of the YWCA staff beforehand and on race day was Great! The chalk support notes written on the bike course were fun and encouraging. And of course, your vision and leadership made it possible. This is a gift that will send waves out and out, and touch many and more. Thank you, deep, strong and long.