If you have active kids or you like doing trips with lots of family-friendly activity, I have a fun trip idea for you. Our favorite trip tradition for Spring Break is to travel to St. George, UT and have the family participate in the SHAC Triathalon.
It's a really low-key, family-friendly race, and my kids look forward to it every year. We've been doing this race for 4 years now, and we love inviting friends to do it with us and make a fun weekend out of it. Add it to your calendar for next year. It usually happens the second Saturday in April!
My husband Jordan loves doing triathlons and half-Iron Man races, so having our kids do this race is such a fun way to let them see a little bit of his world and what he does during races. And it's the perfect family-friendly environment for it.
About the race:
The triathlon has multiple race lengths for kids and adults. We have done the adult race in the past and it's really fun. This year however, we decided to focus just on the kids due to some injuries and logistics. But if you have someone to watch the kids while you race, I'd highly recommend giving the adult triathlon a try! It's fun to show the kids that you can try new things too and take turns cheering each other on.
For the kids, they've all started participating in the race at 4 yrs old. My requirements for my kids to participate are: they're comfortable in the pool putting their face in, and are familiar with a freestyle stroke, and know how to ride a two-wheel bike. They're allowed to wear floaties in the pool, so even if they aren't strong swimmers, they can still participate! I'd recommend using a lifejacket over floaties though if they're comfortable with it, since they'll have more freedom in their arms to swim.
There's two kid triathlon lengths: Kids Sprint, and Kids Beginner. I had my 9 yr old do the Sprint, and my 7 and 5 yr old do the Beginner, although I'd definitely move my 7 yr old up next year since he has some experience with races now. The lengths for the Kids Sprint: swim 4 lengths (100m), 2 mile bike, 3/4 mile run. For the Kids Sprint, the distance is swimming 2 lengths (50m), 1 mile bike, 1/2 mile run.
The distances aren't too bad, and even without much training, most active kids will be able to participate and feel comfortable doing it.
Another thing I love is that there is so much adult help during the race. There's always someone showing the kids the direction for the ride and run so they never get lost. You also can have an adult helping them and even running next to them every step of the way if needed. Jordan brings his one wheel and rides behind our kids when they're really young doing the race in case they need help with the bike or with the transitions. It's a fun way to be there with them and cheer them on as well.
Throughout the race (the kids race is quick!) there's lots of places where you can watch them. My favorite spot is at the top of the first hill they come up on the bike because that way you can see them twice on the bike and twice on the run. Or, you can watch them on the swim and then walk down to the finish line to watch them and cheer them on as they run in. Because the kids race is so fast, it's hard to be in all these places at once, so I like to have one parent cheer them on for the bike and run, and one take the swim and finish line.
Also, the medals that they give out to the kids on this race are so cool. They're really nice and are super unique and make it feel like such a special race.
What to bring:
You don't need much for the actual race day, but there's a few things that will definitely be helpful for them to have, and for you as you cheer on your little athletes. I've compiled an amazon list here of what I bring.
I also like to get each of my kids a new shirt or outfit. Target's activewear line is absolutely killing it right now. My boys usually run in a swim trunks and a shirt. My daughter wears her bathing suit and then throws on a shirt and shorts over her suit when she goes to start biking.
Biggest thing to remember is to dress them in bright colors. It'll help you spot them easier on the course. The brighter the better.
For a quick list, here's what we pack: bring a swimsuit, goggles, towel, water bottle for at the transition and on the bike, shirt to put on (or for girls, shirt and shorts), a hat for running, bike and helmet, shoes and socks. That's it!
I also like to pack extra water and snacks, and an activity kit for my younger kids to keep them entertained while we wait for the race to start. This was a total lifesaver to keep them happy before the race.
For sleeping, I always bring a Slumberpod (discount code MINIVOYAGER) (for my Canadian friends, here's the link!) for my baby because it's a game changer when you're room sharing. You can keep all the lights on in the room and they'll still have a totally dark space to sleep.
During the race, I like to bring a wagon for the little kids to sit in, and a piggyback rider to put them on my back and be able to move quicker around the race course to catch the kids at multiple spots. I wore this last time and had so many people stop me telling me how awesome it was. It's so nice to have for younger siblings.
More Questions
If you have more questions about the race, head over to my Instagram and this reel to ask me anything about the triathlon. I'm happy to answer any questions I missed in this blog post!
What to practice before the race:
I asked my husband this question as the resident triathlete in our family, and he said most important thing to practice is the transitions. Have your kids practice getting out of a pool, drying off really quick, and getting their shoes, socks, shirt, and helmet on. That part is usually the hardest for kids.
The rest of the weekend details:
Now for the rest of the trip... where we stayed, and other fun things to do in St. George to make a great weekend out of the trip!
We stayed in a house with two other families and it made for such a fun weekend. This house was big enough for the three families and had a massive bunk bed room for the kids. They didn't sleep much but they sure loved it and it definitely made for a lasting vacation memory for them. This house also had a ton of arcade games, an air hockey table, a theater room, and a hot tub.
It also had access to a really fantastic water park/pool/splash pad which was really fun to take the kids to after the race. In St. George, there's tons of houses that are vacation rentals like this, and lots are big enough for large groups and have access to really fun pools with water slides. So if you want a place to easily take a big group, St. George is a great spot to look into. AirBnB and Vrbo has tons of options for large group houses.
We love traveling with friends! If you've never done it before, this triathlon trip is a great place to try it out. I recommend doing it with families with kids who are similar ages so bedtime is at a similar time for everyone. Traveling with friends is so much fun- and honestly I think it makes it easier because the kids have friends to play with, the parents all pitch in and help when needed, and at night, it's so fun to hang out after the kids go to bed. I can't recommend it enough!
St. George is also a great family-friendly place with lots of activities to do. We especially loved taking the kids to this ninja course obstacle and racing playground. It had a ninja course with a timer that the kids could press to start and race against the clock. It also had a sprinting track where you could race against friends. All of us got pretty competitive and into that!
Another great place we love to go in St. George is Pioneer Park and Dixie Rock. It's a natural playground filled with red rock formations, narrow slot canyons, and the iconic Dixie Rock. It's a great spot for families to explore, climb, and enjoy panoramic views of St. George. Snow Canyon State Park is also nearby and has fantastic hiking trails and options for families.
We also love stopping at Thunder Junction All Abilities Park. This dinosaur-themed park is designed for kids of all abilities. It features a wheelchair-accessible playground, a splash pad, and a miniature train that circles the park.
I can't recommend this trip enough for a really fun way to challenge your kids (or everyone if you all do the triathlon!) with something difficult, but super rewarding! And it's an easy spot to turn it into a long weekend getaway that's a perfect mix of relaxing and fun with friends. Again, if you have any other questions about this race or trip, reach out to me on this reel or in my DMs!