First Responders "Bring in the Backup" Triathlon represents all branches of the Military, Firefighters, Nurses, EMS, Dispatchers, Corrections, and Law Enforcement. The First Responders will lead off the race, followed by all other race participants as 'backup' to support the First Responders. We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, July 27th, 2024 at Northwood, Iowa (Swensrud Park) Swimming Pool for this patriotic themed racing event. 

The First Responders Triathlon welcomes all athletes of all abilities. The goal is to get active and have a good time at a fun event. The Triathlon Race is a Sprint Distance Triathlon consisting of 150 meter swim, 10.4 mile bike ride, and a 5k run. The swim is held at the Northwood Pool. The bike course is on a public highway with rolling hills for most of the course. The 5k run is mostly flat, with one gradual hill.

**Athletes are able to compete in the triathlon as an individual or in a 2-3 person relay team. Duathlon is an individual event. Aquabike is an individual event. The Duathlon replaces the swim with a one mile run, followed by the same 10.4 mile bike ride and 5k run. Aquabike consists of a 250 meter swim and the 10.4 mile bike ride.

Proceeds raised from the triathlon will be donated to local non-profits, Worth County Sheriffs Office and Northwood Fire Department. Also, a portion of donations will go to the scholarship fund for registered nurse Lorena Schulte, 50, and correctional officer Robert McFarland, 46, both were killed in 2021 at the Iowa Anamosa Correctional facility. Schulte and McFarland tried to stop the escape of two inmates, and the inmates then attacked the employees. A scholarship fund was set up in their names for high school students hoping to get into nursing or law enforcement. 

Also, Waseca MN Officer Arik Matson was shot in January of 2020 when he and other officers responded to a report of a suspicious person. When they found the man, later identified as Tyler Janovsky, he ran onto the roof of a garage and shot at the officers, hitting Matson in the head. He spent 10 months in the hospital and underwent physical therapy in Omaha, Nebraska.  Donation proceeds will be sent to the Matson family and Shulte and Mcfarland scholarship fund. 

The entry fee will provide each athlete their race entry, a race t-shirt, a race medal, timing of all events, some prizes, and refreshments to race participants. Trutimeracing will have extensive breakdown of each athletes racing times. A t-shirt will be provided to athletes who register on or before July 16th, 2024. To guarantee yourself a shirt please sign up by this date.