By:  JoAnn Cranson

If the thought of an open-water swim has ever kept you from trying a triathlon, Michigan has an answer: the dry triathlon, sometimes called a “dri-tri” or “driathlon”.  I just don’t enjoy the open-water swim and thought I would give a Dry-Tri a “try”.  It was so fun that now I’m hooked and look for any Dry-Tri I can find!

Instead of swimming, athletes paddle a kayak, paddle board or canoe, then transition into a bike leg, and finish with a run. It’s the same endurance test and the same rush of crossing the finish line, minus the wetsuit and the worry about currents or cold water. With more than 11,000 lakes and countless rivers running through the state, Michigan turns out to be perfect terrain for this paddle-bike-run format, and a growing number of towns have built entire community events around it.  

While dry triathlons aren’t found exclusively in Michigan, they’ve become something of a signature here, with several races proudly calling themselves “the only dry tri” in their corner of the state. Rivers like the Flat, the Kawkawlin, and the Rifle give organizers a natural paddling course, and the surrounding trails and back roads make for scenic bike and run legs right after. The format also lowers the barrier to entry, kayaks are available to rent at the events and since paddling is far more approachable for beginners than open-water swimming, this helps explain why these races tend to be family-friendly and welcoming to first-timers and relay teams alike.

A few Michigan events worth putting on your calendar:

• The M22 Challenge in Leelanau County, (June) is the most popular event with a dune run, bike and then kayak. 
• The River Trail Adventure Triathlon in Lowell (June), billed as West Michigan’s only “DRI” triathlon, with a kayak-bike-run combo through the Flat River and North Country Trail available in two distances. 
• The Driathlon in Bay City (September), hosted by the Bay City Morning Rotary Club, featuring a 5K paddle on the Kawkawlin River, a 20K bike, and a 5K run, open to teams, relays, or solo kayakers. 
• The Chesaning Dry-Tri (August), a “for fun” community event where racers bike the back roads, run along the river, and paddle back to the finish in Showboat Park.

Another type of dry triathlon is an indoor, equipment-based twist, swapping water and roads for controlled, gym-friendly stations.  Participants complete a set distance on a rowing machine to mimic the swim, transition to a stationary bike for the cycling leg, and finish on a treadmill for the run, moving quickly between each discipline just like a traditional triathlon.  The event keeps all the intensity and strategy of multisport racing while eliminating weather, traffic and open-water challenges, makes it an accessible year-round way to test endurance and mental grit.