We’re back in the Multisport business! We’ll be taking an active role in assisting Driathlon organizers this year and we’re geeked about it. Triathlon has seen 400+ participants in the past and is an outstanding multipart event - especially for those who aren’t strong swimmers. Compete alone or with a friend. Paddle/Bike/Run!

For more comprehensive information, including the participant guide and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Official Driathlon Event Page by clicking on the Register Now button below!

15th Annual Driathlon!  Race day: Sunday, September 14

Triathlon with a twist: Paddle, bike and run.  The Driathlon hosted by the Bay City Morning Rotary Club is a fun and exciting event that gives participants the opportunity to team up with a partner or done individually.  Our event is a major fundraiser for our club and all money goes back to the community.

Paddle 5K, Bike 20K and Run 5k your way to happiness.  Grab a partner to compete in the Team or Relay division, or go it alone and compete in the Kayak Division.

Event Location:

Castaways Bay City 3940 Boy Scout Rd, Bay City MI 48706.  Paddle on the Kawkawlin River, bike on Bangor Twp roads and Run along the river.  This will be a spectator friendly venue!

One of a kind triathlon! The Bay City Morning Rotary is proud to host the Driathlon. This is a signature fundraising event for our club and we are excited to share it with you and the City of Bay City. The Driathlon is a unique event that changes the typical triathlon with canoeing or kayaking instead of swimming. Teams of two compete against each other in a “team” or “relay” format or the individual kayak division.  Canoe/kayak on the Kawkawlin River, Bike on an easy to follow course on Bangor Twp. Roads, and run along the river, is what you’ll be experiencing to compete at the Driathlon, and it all kicks off from the transition area situated at Castaways Bay City.

As a club we are very happy with the outcome and excited about the prospects of our signature event. The money raised are granted to organizations in Bay County.  Participants have come from all over the state to experience Bay City and its surroundings. Help make this a big draw allowing the Bay City Morning Rotary Club to disperse funds to local charities.

Canoe Division Prices for Team/Relay:

• March 1st – May 31st $140

• June 1st – July 31st $150

• August 1st – September 12th $160

• Saturday 14th and Race Day $180

Individual Kayak Division Prices:

• March 1st – May 31st

  • Kayak Provided $70

  • Your Kayak $60

• June 1st – July 31st

  • Kayak Provided $75

  • Your Kayak $65

• August 1st – September 12th

  • Kayak Provided $80

  • Your Kayak $70

• Saturday 14th and Race Day

  • Kayak Provided $90

  • Your Kayak $80

Registration can be done on RunSignUp.com, or, by clicking on the “REGISTER NOW” button below. Online registration starts on March 1st and will continue through September 12th.  Register early so we can plan for you.  Late entries CANNOT be guaranteed a race shirt. The field is maxed at 100 teams/relays and 50 Kayakers. Entry fee includes a tech shirt, canoe (or kayak) rental, medal, bag; prizes, food, chip timing and an opportunity to mingle with cool Rotarians…don’t miss out!

NEED HELP REGISTERING? CLICK HERE

Cancellations: Sorry, no refunds–entry can be transferred to next year’s event if notification is received prior to the Friday before event date. Email John Shankool at john@shankool.com

Here’s the low-down so please. Read. Carefully! 🙂

Team/Relay Canoe Division: 5K Canoe (PROVIDED), 20K Bike (closed course), 5K Run (paved). Done as a two person team OR two person relay.  TEAM, both partners will participate in all 3 events; canoe>bike>run.  RELAY, both partners will canoe, one partner will bike and the other partner will run (or one person will bike AND run) when the biker is finished. Age Category is COMBINED AGE OF PARTNERS.

If racing as a TEAM both partners will participate in all 3 events; canoe>bike>run, and times will be combined for awards. If racing as a relay, both partners will canoe, one partner will bike and the other partner will run (or both canoe and one person can bike AND run).

1. Decide if you are doing it as a Canoe Team or Relay

2. Both male, both female or co-ed and

3. Combine your ages and you will either be in under 80 or 80+ divisions.

If you or your partner have trouble using addition to find the sum of your combined ages, our children will perform the necessary calculations for a $10 fee. A wrong answer on your part will automatically qualify you for the fee.

Individual Kayak Division: 5K Paddle (use your own or rent), 20K Bike (closed course), 5K Run (paved).  Option of using your own kayak or we provide the kayak (different price points).

Registration is done as an individual and the main decision you need to make is will you want to rent a kayak or use your own (don’t mess this up!).  There are no rules regarding the type of kayak you own but you must use a life vest.  A rented kayak will be a single person with paddle and life vest included.

Kayaks will be released @ 8:00AM; limited in rental at 20, later registrants will leave in the next available wave.  Canoes will be released in waves promptly starting at 8:10AM. *if not sooner*, so don’t let a nervous pee get the best of you!!! You will find out your wave number in an email prior to the event and at packet pickup.

It is very important you start your race in your assigned wave to get your correct time!!! No corrections will be done and a DQ will be issued if you go off in the wrong wave.

Transition Area

The transition area will open at 6:30AM and will close at 7:30AM sharp…you must be out of the transition prior to that time so we can properly start the race.  Hang your Bike/s on racks designated by your race number.  You will be given two wristbands with your bib number which will need to be secured to your wrist and on your bike.  You will need to place your gear under your bike or your partner’s bike if doing a relay. For the bike start you MUST wear a helmet and have your number visible. You MUST walk your bike in the transition area.  Mount and dismount your bike outside of the transition area.  Failure to do so will lead us to ridicule you, yell at you, belittle you, and then throw you in the river…we have special volunteers to take care of such tasks.  Absolutely no head phones on the bike!  Runners for relays will exchange their bib number with the chip at the designated exchange corral.

5K Canoe/Kayak

The canoe/Kayak trek on the Kawkawlin River starts at Castaway Bay City MI. Two person canoes will be provided as part of your race entry fee. NO PERSONAL CANOES WILL BE ALLOWED…Kayaks are a different matter!!!

CANOE DIVISION ONLY: Personally owned single blade paddles will be permitted (DOUBLE BLADE PADDLES ARE NOT ALLOWED).

Life jackets will be available and MUST be worn during the entire canoe and Kayak trip (feel free to use your own). Please have your race numbers on. The paddle will take a minimum of 35 minutes (West up river for 1.5 miles, U-turn east back to Castaways (buoys on your left at all times with the large yellow buoy as your U-turn). Plan on wearing shoes that could get wet.  Canoes/kayaks are started in waves and leave when a wave is ready.  To start a wave we’ll get you to settle on the river and sound the horn!  Be smart, take your time and no dirty tricks.  As much we like seeing them, our insurance policy doesn’t have a “dirty tricks” clause. We will have power boats on the river to help you if need be…if you can help it you don’t want a “need be” situation. Yikes!!  If you should tip one of the power boats will come to the rescue…help them help you by getting in the boat and helping them flip the canoe so you can get back in to continue. Interactive Map

22K-ish Bike

2024 Change: 3 Loop course

Leaving the transition area you will take a right (east) onto Boy Scout Rd making a right (south) onto State Park Dr., a right (west) onto Wheeler Rd., a right (north) onto Euclid Ave., a right (east) onto Lauria Rd, and finally a right (south) back onto State Park Dr.

You’ll go past Castaways to start a SECOND LOOP and same for the THIRD LOOP.  Use caution after every loop since others will be joining the course.  Traffic will be light but use caution at all times since this is an open course!!!  As you approach the transition slow down and dismount near the transition area on Boy Scout Rd. Interactive Map

5K Run

What can we say, but it will be a fun and fast road run!  The run course will be on Kawkawlin River Dr. from Castaways to Bowman Rd. turn-around and back to Kawkawlin River Dr. to Euclid Ave. turn-around and back to Castaways for the finish under the cool blue arch, and remember to smile for the photographer!  Proceed through the shoot to get your finishers medal and food…remember to get an extra medal for your partner if doing a relay. Interactive Map

Packet pick-up will be @ Castaways Bay City for both days Saturday September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. & Sunday, race day, September 14th 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. One partner can pick up both packets. The packet will include your race bib with the chip timing. If your partner cancels a substitute may be recruited. Please notify the race director, John Shankool ASAP and submit the application and waiver by e-mailing to john@shankool.com.

Directions & Parking

Castaways Bay City MI is located at 3940 Boy Scout Rd, Bay City MI.  Parking is available just north of Castaways on State Park Dr. in open field off of Pembroke Rd.

Relay Exchange Etiquette

• At the exchange, alert your teammate by screaming and yelling.

• The exchange MUST be done at the exchange corral.  DO NOT meet your partner at the bike rack!

• Allow adequate space to execute the exchange. No pushing, no crowding, no peeing in the pool. Huh?…sorry, wrong list.

• Exchange is usually made by making physical contact with your partner at the exchange corral. 😉

• If doing “RELAY” make sure to exchange the race bib with the chip time!

For “team” teams, you will have two race bibs chips to combine your team time.  For “relay” teams, you will have one race bib chip & one race bib with no chip; the person that will bike should have the bib chip on during the canoe. upon returning form the bike the exchange will happen.

Kayakers, you don’t have to worry about number of bibs and exchanges and all that stuff that smart people need to worry about, so consider yourself “special”. 🙂

For your safety, ONLY racers with a race numbers will be permitted to enter the transition area, no exceptions and please abide by this rule. Please keep in mind: no one will be allowed to remove their bike and items until the last bike is off the bike course…you get to stick around and hang out with a cool group of Rotarians—lucky dog).

Please be a good sport to all and follow the rules.  Don’t force us to hurt you, we just don’t like to see the look on your loved ones faces when we have to “enforce” the law.

Awards

Canoe Teams and canoe relays will be scored separately. The all-male, all-female and co-ed categories under 80 and 80+ will be awarded a first-third place trophies in each category. Individual Kayak Division will be awarded as overall male and female first – third place.

Unclaimed trophies: Make arrangement for pick up.

Finish the race and receive a finisher’s medal. Awards for team costumes: interested teams, dress as crazy, creative, and different as you would like…make sure you can compete AND finish in them safely. There will be giveaways for variety of categories such as the coveted first team to register, oldest, youngest, coolest team name, and furthest traveled…must be present for the giveaways, so stick around after the race!  *Categories may change*

Miscellaneous

• FOOD:

  • Pre Race: Coffee, donuts & bagels

  • Post: ShineWater, water, fruit & Castaways will have protein bowls

Water will be available at 3 locations along race route: entering transition area from the paddle, as you exit for run & at run turn-around.  Runners Performance, DJ Hidalgo, Jack’s Bicycle Shop and more will be at the event.

Bad Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather, dangerous water conditions, or situations beyond our control the course may be modified, delayed or canceled. If modified than the event could be a duathlon consisting of a 2mile run – 20k bike – 5k run.

Click on the link above to view a map of the routes.
(If you don’t, you’re liable to get lost and start crying or get frustrated or both…you will have no one to blame but yourself)

Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you interested in being a sponsor in this exciting event? Check out these forms:
2024 Driathlon Sponsorship Letter
2024 Driathlon Sponsor Packet
The more money we raise the more money we give away!
We ask for sponsorship commitments no later than July 31 to guarantee advertisement in race marketing

Volunteers

Would you like to volunteer or know someone that would? Send Lori Appold, (she’s the one in the cool safety vest) an email with your name, contact number and what you would like to help out with. We have plenty to do.

Refund & Transfer Policy

We completely understand that plans change and athletes will sometimes be unable to compete in an event they've signed up for.  Unfortunately, refunds will not be provided for any event unless the event is cancelled for reasons within our control.  Dangerous weather, natural disasters, and local emergencies are examples of reasons an event may be cancelled that are NOT within our control.

What does this mean?  Example:  If this event is cancelled due to weather, organizers are not obligated to refund registration fees OR to transfer registration to another event. 

Should an athlete have an injury or other medical issue keeping them from competing in an event they've registered for, we would be happy to transfer their registration to a similar TriToFinish-owned event up to and including the same event the following season.  A doctor's slip may be required as proof of injury or ailment.  Failure to provide proof if requested will result in non-transfer of the event.

Transferring registrations to other athletes is NOT allowed.