March Classic Duathlon

Race Start Time and Location:

Our first race of the 2025 season is just around the corner. We are back in Central Park for our 39th Annual Central Park March Classic Duathlon on March 23! Is the time of the year to see how much fitness you have gained or lost during the off season. If you are new in our sport or just starting out, this is the prefect race to get your feet wet! Who knows, you may be doing your first Ironman 70.3 in your near future!

The race starts at 7:30 am and finishes by the Central Park Boat House parking lot. Both Run #1 and #2 is 2.2 miles each, in out/back format.  You will be running on the Central Park Drive and making your way to the 96th Street Playground, right after the crosswalk.  You will see a sign telling you to turn around and running back to the Central Park Boat House.  Don’t turn around early or late.  When you see the playground on your right, you aren’t far from the turn around sign.  No significant elevation gain other than at the beginning you have to run up the Cat’s Paw hill. 

The bike course consists of riding 2 loops around the Central Park drive. As a result of the current construction in the Harlem section of the park, Harlem Hill, we are skipping it. Instead, riders would loop around and to the west side through the 102nd st Traverse/Crossing and making a left turn. Effectively, you are riding 5 miles per loop, 10 miles in total. The total elevation gain is about 250ft per loop. Is still a challenging course for most athletes. The park is still open to the public and the course marshals may not flag you since they won’t know if you are racing.  They will assume you are heading down to the Harlem Hill.  If you see the marshals standing there, you know you have to make a left turn. 

Remember to read our Race FAQs if you haven’t done so.

March Classic Duathlon distance:

Run distance is 2.2 miles.
Bike distance is 10 miles (2 loops).
Run distance is 2.2 miles.

Volunteers:

You are needed from 5:00 am to 11 am. Our races start at 7:30am unless stated the otherwise. Once you arrived, report to our Race Directors (George or Hunter). They will go over your race duty as well as where you need to be. Don’t leave until the race is finished. You have to sign out to earn your race credit for your next race.

The March Classic Duathlon is not USAT certified or sanctioned. USAT racing license isn’t required to compete in our race.