History

The worldwide POWERMAN Duathlon Series events are generally a distance equal to or similar in length to a 10k run/60k bike/10k run. In 2013 there were eight sanctioned POWERMAN events which qualified athletes for POWERMAN Zofingen in Switzerland. This race, often compared to an Ironman triathlon due to its grueling nature, attracts hundreds of athletes and thousands of spectators. The race consists of an 8.5k run, 150k bike and 30k run.

POWERMAN is the most recognized duathlon series in the world with events in Holland, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Germany and the World Championship in Switzerland. POWERMAN USA Duathlon Series events are official qualifiers for the World Championship, allowing athletes to compete in this exciting, fast-paced racing format.

The sport of duathlon in the United States hit an all-time high in the 1980s when big-time sponsors, such as Coors Light, produced series that had thousands participating in a single race. Though duathlon slipped in numbers when corporate sponsorship faded, the sport enjoyed resurgence in the late 90s and early 2000s with the Dannon Duathlon series and duathlon races growing across the country.

Unfortunately for athletes and race directors alike, the Dannon Duathlon series bowed out in 2004. Even with the fall of the corporate sponsorships, the US has witnessed a recent growth in sanctioned duathlons. Duathlon is especially popular with athletes who do not come from a swimming background. Nearly everyone who can ride a bike and run can participate.