That’s a wrap.
No Race Day is ever perfect, of course. But, yesterday was the perfect send-off for The Edinboro Triathlon. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate its legacy – whether you raced, volunteered, supported, or cheered. It was a glowing commemoration for what I feel this event (and the sport of triathlon) embodies – challenge, human spirit, and, most importantly, being there for one another.
We don’t always have the opportunity to know when we’re doing something for the last time – but when we do, it allows that chance to reflect on the memory you’re creating while you’re creating it. I hope that your lasting memory of not only yesterday’s race, but of the many years of Edinboro’s triathlon, is looked upon with a sense of accomplishment, community, and “dang, I did that.”
I hope the lessons you’ve learned about yourself and others throughout your ET journey (whether your path began here in 1986, 2023, or somewhere in-between) have a positive impact on your life and the lives of those you touch – and I’m cheering on each of you as you go.
Love, Lauren
The Edinboro Triathlon Finale
To quote Isaac Asimov,
“It lasted for a long time, I believe.”
“A very long time. It was a great success, but even great successes come to a natural end.”
After much thought, alternative-routes-brainstorming, some hard realistic observations, and reflective conversations with both former Race Director Pat Davis and Race Founder Hugo Goldthwaite, we’ve come again and again to the same conclusion – the time has come to give The Edinboro Triathlon the send off, the exclamation point, the finale it deserves. The 35th Edinboro Triathlon will be the last.
Our team is grateful to all of you who have raced or volunteered with us at The Edinboro Triathlon for what ended up being “bonus years” since we first took over for the 2019 edition. To take an event that had publicly ended in 2018 and bring it back with the smiles and successes we’ve seen could not have been accomplished without each person who showed up to support the event.
The “why” behind this decision is multifaceted. Route options and the “boxed in” issue our course faces, increased vehicular traffic, increased costs – were just some of the many considerations that went into this decision. These past seasons we tried new routes and new strategies. Time and again, we have re-visited options of feasibility and sustainability for this historic race.
Please know this decision was not made lightly or close-mindedly, quite the opposite in fact. When I took over the reins as Race Director for ET2019, I was already thinking things like, “What cool things can we do for the 50th ET? Can we have fireworks?”
What we’ve learned along this journey is that many times the right decision is to push forward to “make it happen;” but, sometimes, truly the right decision is knowing when to bring it to a close. I am confident that ET is at that time, that natural end.
ET2023
This event deserves a celebration send-off worthy of its history and meaning. I recognize that this race has touched many lives, because mine is one of them. We want to give athletes, volunteers, and the community the opportunity to celebrate Edinboro’s Triathlon, knowing it’s the last one.
I would like to invite all athletes and volunteers to share photos and memories of ETs past.
We’re going to compile everything we receive to include on Race Day. You are welcome to email them to me or submit via our Google Form linked below. There are so many stories to share, and we’d love to see and hear yours.
Edinboro Triathlon Finale | Memory Submissions
We are excited for The 35th Edinboro Triathlon, presented by PNC Bank, on Saturday, June 3, 2023 and hope you’ll be a part of it.
For those of you already registered – we will see you in June.
If you’ve been thinking about whether or not to come back to race in Edinboro, this is your chance to do it.
One last hurrah, one last swim start and finish line, one last victory lap – the finale.
Lauren, Race Director
The Edinboro Triathlon 