USA Triathlon (USAT) has opened registration for the Power Within Virtual Tri Across America presented by Toyota. The six-week team challenge encourages athletes to share their love of the outdoors while collectively swimming 7 miles, biking 2,400 miles and running 905 miles between October 15 to November 29.
Teams and individuals can sign-up now at virtual-tri.com; registration closes on October 25.
The Power Within Virtual Tri Across America is inspired by Eric Byrnes — a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player. Byrnes is a current MLB Network Analyst and avid triathlete who undertook his own Triathlon Across America in 2018 in an effort to bring awareness to the lack of youth physical fitness in the United States.
Over 57 days, Byrnes swam 7 miles across the San Francisco Bay, biked 2,400 miles to Chicago and ran 905 miles to Yankee Stadium in New York City. Through the effort, he raised funds for his non-profit, the Let Them Play Foundation, which provides grants to local and national organizations that empower play.
The Power Within Virtual Tri Across America is free to enter, with an option to make a US$45 donation to the USA Triathlon Foundation. Participants who choose the donation package will receive a finisher’s medal and a digital copy of ‘Let Them Play — A Triathlon Across America’, the documentary film recapping Byrnes’ journey.
Teams may also choose to fundraise as a group for the USA Triathlon Foundation, and every team member will receive a finisher’s medal if the fundraising minimum is met.
The USA Triathlon Foundation will work with Byrnes and the Let Them Play Foundation to direct all proceeds to organizations supporting youth multisport programming.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic upended our daily lives, it inadvertently led many athletes to discover – or rediscover – their passion for the outdoors,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“We hope that through the Power Within Virtual Tri Across America presented by Toyota, multisport athletes nationwide will have the chance to showcase the amazing places they get to swim, bike and run.
“This first-of-its-kind team challenge provides an opportunity for athletes to work together with friends and family to accomplish a collective goal, all while generating support for more youth to get outside and play.”
Eric Byrnes said “Our message regarding youth health and physical fitness is as important today, as ever Families are home together, and activities are restricted, but it’s important to stay moving — it will make you feel physically and mentally better.”
Dedra DeLilli, Group Manager, Toyota Olympic and Paralympic Marketing, said “As a mobility company and a proud partner of USA Triathlon, Toyota is dedicated to helping people move in a barrier-free world, regardless of whether that’s safely outdoors or indoors.
“We hope that this unique virtual challenge inspires people all over the country to demonstrate that when people work as a team and are free to move, anything is possible.”
The Power Within Virtual Tri Across America is also supported by KitBrix, which designs and makes modular, highly water-resistant bags that zip together to enable easy access as well as protection. The company will give away six KitBrix USA Bags (Stars and Stripes, Limited Edition) as prizes for Tri Across America participants.
In addition, one Power Within Virtual Tri Across America participant will be selected randomly to receive a USA Triathlon-branded TrueForm Trainer Treadmill valued at US$4,995.
The following USA Triathlon partners will also offer more than US$1,500 in prizes to participants: Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, ROKA, the USAT Store, Wahoo Fitness and XX2i. All prize winners will be selected at random and notified by November 16.
During the registration process, individuals can create a new team or join an existing one. There is no minimum or maximum number of participants per team, and each team can create its own strategy for finishing the total mileage for each discipline. There is no minimum or maximum distance or number of disciplines that any one team member must complete. Teams do not need to be USA Triathlon Certified Clubs.
Individuals who do not have a specific team affiliation may join one of the following teams captained by members of the US National Team and Toyota US Paratriathlon National Team:
- Kyle Coon’s Team #Eyeronvision,
- Chris Hammer’s Davis & Elkins College,
- Kevin McDowell’s Multisport Madness,
- Grace Norman’s Team Norman,
- Morgan Pearson’s Team Pearson,
- Aaron Scheidies and Ben Collins’ Team Lights Out,
- Taylor Spivey’s Team Spivey and
- Melissa Stockwell’s Team Stockwell.
Athletes can upload their workouts to the Power Within Virtual Tri Across America platform, powered by FitRankings, over the course of the six-week challenge.
Run and bike workouts can be synced to the platform automatically via most GPS-enabled workout devices, smartphone apps and smartwatches – including Garmin, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Misfit, Polar, Strava, Suunto, Google Fit, RunKeeper, Apple Health and MapMyFitness. Manual uploads are also available.
Workouts may be completed outdoors or indoors while observing social distancing and all applicable government guidelines. Spin bikes and stationary bikes, bike trainers, treadmills, indoor and outdoor pools and open water swims are all acceptable.
Participants are encouraged to share experiences from their journey and their love of the outdoors by posting on social media with the hashtags #TriAcrossAmerica and #PowerWithin.
www.virtual-tri.com
www.usatriathlon.org
www.usatriathlonfoundation.org
