Root River Triathlon

The Root River Route

The race begins with a 6.8-mile canoe or kayak paddle along the Root River. The starting point is located at the mining area on the north side of the Root River Bridge, just before entering the town of Houston on Highway 76. Participants will paddle downstream to Mound Prairie (an easy route!). Upon arrival, a welcoming committee of Boy Scouts will be there to assist you in disembarking and transitioning to the biking portion of the race. Leave the task of landing your canoe or kayak to the scouts—they are experienced and will ensure you safely reach dry land!

When you come ashore, be sure to cross the timing mat to ensure your canoeing time is recorded. If you miss the mat, your time will not be captured.

After picking up your bike and putting on your helmet, turn left onto County Road 25 towards Houston. Watch out for other traffic, such as cars and farming machinery. You'll ride on a smooth paved road with some challenging hills. At the end of County Road 9, turn left onto Highway 76 and cross the bridge over the Root River. Then, turn right onto the levee and proceed to the bike transition area to start the running portion. Remember to cross both timing mats.

The run begins by going over the levee. At the end of the levee trail, turn left and cross Highway 16, where volunteers will be present to guide you. Follow the arrows on the road towards Houston and pay close attention to the volunteers' directions, especially when crossing Highway 76 (you'll cross it twice!).

After crossing the finish line, return your chip timer to a volunteer. Please note that there is a $30.00 fee for any missing timer chips.

All proceeds from this event benefit local and international Lions projects.

The motto of the Lions Club is; WE SERVE.
The objectives of the Lions Club are as follows:

*To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the people of the world.

*To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.

*To take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social, and moral welfare of the community.

*To unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship, and mutual understanding.

*To provide a forum for open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.

*To encourage service-minded women and men to serve their community without personal financial rewards, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works, and private endeavors.

Registration

• Individual Kayak / Canoe $65
• Individual Canoe $65
• 2- Person Kayak $130
• 2-Person Canoe $130
• Relay
  • 3 person - $190
  • 4 person - $240

Price Increases

Registration after midnight on 12/29/2024 will increase by $10 for each event.
An additional $10 increase will be added for registrations on the day of the event.
*Registrations after 5/2/2025 will not receive a t-shirt*   

Individual -1 person completes the entire course

 - Individual participants using a canoe or double kayak are paired with another individual participant in the same boat. Each participant's paddling time will be recorded separately and added to their bike and run times. 

- Sharing a canoe or kayak (2-person), the first person registers and creates the team, adding the second person during the process. Alternatively, the first person can create the team and have the second person register later, ensuring they join the same team. When registering both people at the same time, add the second registrant and proceed through the registration process. The price will initially show as $130 each and adjust to $130 total automatically at checkout. *Prices are dependent on the time of registration. 

3 Person Relay Team - 1 kayak, 1 bike, 1 run

4 Person Relay Team - 2 double kayak or canoe, 1 bike, 1 run

Timing chips are passed onto the next team member. When using a canoe or double kayak only one of the team members carries the timing chip and passes it on to the next team member. The times of all three race events are combined for the team’s final race results.

Teams should include a minimum of one female.

General Information

No drafting ;
Depending on somebody else's skills is against the idea of a "Personal" race and diminishes the value of your performance . Again, participating is more important than winning.

For their own, other participants' and volunteers' safety, participants MUST wear life vests during canoeing or kayaking and helmets while biking.
Drinking water will be available at the race start, all transitions, and every mile of the run.

The Root River bottom is sand but the shoreline may be muddy. A change of shoes is recommended.

NOTE - Registration is limited to the first 400 participants. 

Packet Pick Up - Race Day
Check in starts at 6:30 AM. Houston Nature Center located on West Plum Street (intersection of Highway 76 and Plum Street) to receive a bib number, timing chip, and T-shirt. Please be on time.

Final Instructions - Race Day
Get final instructions at 8:10 AM. at the canoe staging area. Staggered canoe/kayak start with 5 minute intervals beginning at 8:30am.

Bike & canoe/kayak check in on Race-day.
You must check your bike in at the Mound Prairie Bridge transition area starting at 6:15 AM. Bike check-in area can only be entered from County Highway 21 and must be exited south on County Highway 25 and then west on Highway 16 back to Houston. This area closes promptly at 8:00 AM. You cannot compete if your bike is not checked in.

​Canoes, kayaks and bicycles can be retrieved at their respective transition areas after showing the bib number that corresponds with the participants bib number.  The transition areas will be manned until 13:30 p.m.
Those providing their own canoes/kayak, paddles & vests must check them in at the canoe start area beneath the Root River Bridge at Highway 76.

Parking
Public parking lots are at the Nature Center; behind Farmer's Elevator on North Jefferson Street, behind the Root River Market and at Barista's Coffee Shop.
If parking at the "canoe-to-bike" leg, you must park SOUTH of Root River Bridge on County Road 25 and return to Houston on Highway 16W!

Swag
Annual Root River Triathlon T-shirt. 

Restroom
Port-a-potties are available along the route. Restrooms with showers are available at the Nature Center.

Gear Pick Up - Post Race
Bikes will remain at the "bike to run" transition area behind the Bandshell/ Finish area.

Canoes/Kayaks and any other gear left behind from the transition to bike will remain at the Mound Prairie Boat Landing. Pick-up by 1:00 PM

Awards Ceremony
Be sure to join your fellow competitors in the Bandshell at the Nature Center park for the presentation of awards at 12:00 PM. Complete race results will be  available at: www.rootrivertriathlon.org and then follow the link to race results.

Medals are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for each age-group. Age groups will be 19 and under; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 60; 70 and older. There will also be medals for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place of the relay teams.

Refund Policy
"No refund, no excuses and that means "YOU" (are responsible)

In the event of inclement weather, we will make every attempt to wait for an all clear from the local Law enforcement and proceed. If after 1 hour the weather prevents us from proceeding the race may be cancelled due to do an "act of God."

Waiver and Release
Before you can join our race you have to sign the following waiver:

"I know that participating in a canoe/bike/run multi-sport event is a potentially hazardous activity. I assume all risks associated with participation in this event including, but not limited to: falls; contact with other participants or spectators or the effects of the weather or water-including heat, cold, high humidity, traffic, or the conditions of the river, road surface, or trail; all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and in consideration of your accepting my entry. I, for Myself and anyone entitled to act for my behalf waive and release the Houston Lions and all other sponsors of the event, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event even though that Liability might arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver. I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use any photographs, motion picture, or record of this event for any legitimate purpose." 
 
 Additional Location Information
The canoe start will be at the Sand Dredge west of the Highway 76 Bridge over the Root River.
The first transition will be at the canoe landing west of the Mound Prairie Bridge on Highway 25 over the Root River
The second transition will be at the Natural Playground in Trailhead Park. 

The finish will be at the Bandshell in Trailhead Park
The Award Winning Ceremony will be at the Bandshell in Trailhead Park.

​In general the race will be cancelled if the level of the Root River at the bridge of Highway 76 is higher than 5 feet. You can check this out yourself. Use the link below.

ROOT RIVER WATER LEVEL

How do I create a Team for 2-person Canoe/Kayak or Relay during registration?

Please watch this video tutorial we made.

https://youtu.be/r-EUzT1jq_w

Are there restrictions or regulations on what kind of canoe/kayak, bike, or paddle I can use? 
No, you may use any type of bike, tandem, paddle, canoe or kayak. 

Do I have to wear a helmet while on my bike? 
Yes! All participants on the bike portion of the race will be required to wear CPSC/ANSI approved helmets.

Do I have to wear a life jacket while I am in my boat? 
Yes, all participants will be required to wear a US Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while on the river. We will have two boats on the river during the race to help you in any case of calamity. However a life vest is the first and foremost device to keep you afloat.

Will there be food at the Bandshell for participants? Yes, after the race there will be snacks, Gatorade and water for participants and volunteers. 

Are there other locations in the City of Houston that provide food and/or beverages?
Yes, visit one of our local businesses.

• Barista's Coffeehouse, Plum street 110 N Grant St, Houston, MN 55943​

• J.T.'s Bar and Grill 125 E Cedar St, Houston, MN 55943​

• American Legion 121 S Grant St, Houston, MN 55943​. 

Are there any other websites that can give us info about this area?
Yes, visit the City of Houston, MN website and the DNR  site for information about the Root River. State Water Trail guide to the Root River

Any more information outside the city of Houston ?  

Yes, visit the Historic Bluff Country website for valuable information about the Root River valley area.

Any more local information to use?

Yes, the website the Houston, MN Chamber of Commerce for information about local businesses & events.