We are looking forward to having the 4th Annual First State Duathlon at Bellevue State Park and the first time the race will be held since 2019.
What is a duathlon? A duathlon is an athletic competition featuring running and cycling events, and consists of a running leg, a cycling leg, and another running leg. In ordinary years, the First State Duathlon is a trail-race duathlon, with all three legs of the competition taking place on different trails. A mountain or trail bike is needed for the cycling leg. The running legs will be on cross country trails.
Can I compete as an individual? Individual competitors can sign up to compete in the First State Duathlon. The cost for an individual competitor is $90. This price includes the admission cost for one car to park at the park that morning and additional swag courtesy of the event sponsors.
All competitors in the individual competition will complete all three legs of the duathlon (5K cross country race, trail bike race, shorter trail race). For scoring purposes, the individual race will be divided into men's and women's competitions and subdivided into age groups. Fastest time wins.
Can I compete as a relay team? Yes, friends or families can compete together as a relay team in the relay team division of the duathlon. Larger organizations or groups of friends can enter multiple relay teams and individuals in the duathlon. In the past, friends have competed as 2-person relay teams were one person does the running legs and the other does the bike. We have also had families compete where the youngest does the shortest running leg (either as a 2-person relay or 3-person relay).
Like the individual duathlon race, the relay teams will complete all three legs of the duathlon. For scoring purposes, there will be a 2-person team division and 3-person team division, which will be subdivided into men's, women's, and co-ed divisions based on the number of team registrations.
Three person teams are $90 ($30/person). Each person will complete one of the three legs, with the bike leg starting when the 5K runner reaches the finish line and transition area. Fastest time wins.
Two person teams are $90 ($45/person). One person will complete the running legs and the other person will complete the bike leg. Fastest time wins.
Note: You will have to pay for your other teammates when you register for the relay option.
What kind of bike do I need? Any bikes work, but hybrids, trail bikes, mountain bikes, or cycle cross bikes are best. All bikers need to provide their own helmet. For those who need to get a bike that day, we expect to have a small selection to choose from to rent or purchase.
What is the distance of the race? The map for the First State Duathlon course at Bellevue State Park is provided below. The first leg distance is a 5K (3.1 miles) on the Bellevue State Park cross country trail. The second leg distance consists of three ~3.2K loops (2.35 miles each) (total approximately ~7 miles). The third leg will be a shorter (approximately 0.8 mile) leg along the oval track/trail. The arrows in the map below show the direction for each leg. The transition area is at the start of the cross country course. The finish line is near an open picnic area so it will be easy to see everyone finish and cheer on your friends who are competing. Awards will be announced in the area near the finish line.
The total distance for the entire race will be approximately 11 miles. We have developed this event so that it is a fun and competitive race for any skill level.
Official Course Map
Course Map Legs
How long does the race take? In previous years, the fastest competitors (men and women) finished the course in less than an hour. The slowest competitors finished the course in under two hours. The previous records/results (linked here) are a good way to gauge the event’s competitiveness. It’s a lot of fun.
I'm not in the best shape, will that matter? You should know your own limits. For those who may struggle on the course, we have adjusted it in the past to accommodate some competitors so they complete one or two bike laps instead of three and also anticipate having volunteers to help those who are really struggling but want to finish. The 5K and bike path is on cross country trails (mostly dirt or unpaved), so we recommend being in good enough running and biking shape to go for at least an hour of a hard workout.
Tell me more about the Delaware Interscholastic Cycling League. The Delaware Interscholastic Cycling League is a youth development organization with a mission to build strong bodies, minds, characters and communities, with an unwavering focus on inclusivity and equity in everything we do. We believe every youth in Delaware can be a part of a thriving cycling community. Learn more on our website here.
What if I have another question? Please contact us with any questions.
Thank you for supporting our 2020 Virtual First State Duathlon event!
