NORTHEAST

Triathlon Name: Annapolis Triathlon
Link: http://www.tricolumbia.org/Annapolis/
Dates: September 7, 2008
Location: Annapolis, MD
Price: $135; $240 relay
Rating: Difficult
Swim the tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and then bike and run down the provincial capital's brick-lined, historic streets.

Triathlon Name: The Lobsterman
Link: http://www.tri-maine.com/
Dates: September 13, 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Price: $110; $155 relay
Rating: Difficult
With water temperatures in the mid-60's, wetsuits are standard. After the swim, tough out a bike and a run over rolling hills for the right to be called a lobsterman.

Triathlon Name: Mighty Hamptons Long Island Triathlon
Link: http://www.longislandtri.com/2008/index.cfm?ID=5
Dates: September 14, 2008
Location: Sag Harbor, NY
Price: $165; $205 relay
Rating: Moderate
After the summer crowds have left the Hamptons, swim Noyac Bay, bike the rolling vista, and finish with a flat run. You can rest while sitting in the traffic jam back to the City.

MIDWEST

Triathlon Name: Peregrine Charities Triathlon
Link: http://www.peregrinecharities.org/TRI/
Dates: September 28, 2008
Location: Waterloo, IA
Price: $75 per person
Rating: Moderate
Yes, it's flat out here, but there might be some strong headwinds. The course runs over scenic rural Iowa roads and through George Wyeth State Park.

Triathlon Name: Southern Hills Triathlon
Link: http://www.hotspringslibraryfriends.org/3.html
Dates: August 30, 2008
Location: Hot Springs, SD
Price: $75; $125 teams
Rating: Difficult
Chow down at the "Pasta Feed" at the Hot Springs Masonic Lodge (free with your registration), then race through the Southern Black Hills.

Triathlon Name: Cleveland Triathlon
Link: http://www.pacificsportsllc.com/cleveland/athlete.html
Dates: August 3, 2008
Location: Cleveland, OH
Price: $125; $180 teams.
Rating: Easy
A workmanlike triathlon for a blue-collar town, starring a swim in Lake Erie and a run past Browns Stadium.

SOUTH

Triathlon Name: The Nation's Triathlon
Link: http://www.thenationstriathlon.com/
Dates: September 14, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Price: sold out!
Rating: Moderate
The perfect race for the speed tourist who wants to see all the historic sights in a day: from the FBI building to the White House.

Triathlon Name: Escape to Miami Triathlon
Link: http://www.escapetomiamitriathlon.com/
Dates: October 5, 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Price: $110; $130 relay
Rating: Moderate
Start from Escape Island, swim the 78-degree waters of Biscayne Bay, bike the causeway, and then run by Star Island, waving to Julio Iglesias along the way.

Triathlon Name: Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon
Link: http://www.usopentriathlon.com/site7.aspx
Dates: October 5, 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Price: $175; $215 relay
Rating: Moderate
Race the final leg of the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon Series. Start with a swim in Joe Pool Lake, bike from Cedar Hill, and then run a loop back to the beach.

WEST

Triathlon Name: Marin County Triathlon
Link: http://www.marintriathlon.com/
Dates: October 26, 2008
Location: Marin County, CA
Price: $190; $285 teams
Rating: Moderate
All-green, all-charity. A bagpiper leads the athletes to the swim, and a steel drum band brings them in to the home stretch.

Triathlon Name: Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon
Link: http://www.portlandtri.com/
Dates: August 31, 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Price: $110; $185 relay
Rating: Difficult
Bike racks made from bamboo, a living finish line—even the medals are recycled from old bike cogs in this leafy romp in and around the Willamette River.

Triathlon Name: San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island
Link: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/SF2008-main.htm
Dates: November 8, 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Price: $125; $195 teams
Rating: Difficult
Run, swim, and bike on and around Treasure Island, just off the Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco.

Triathlon Name: Los Angeles Triathlon
Link: http://www.latriathlon.com/
Dates: September 7, 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Price: $190; $275 teams
Rating: Moderate
From Venice Beach through Hollywood and downtown to Frank Gehry's gleaming concert hall: the best way to see downtown LA without getting in a car.