News & Stories

UCare Teams Up with Loppet Foundation on Off-Road Triathlon Event

Minneapolis, MN — A summertime favorite in Minneapolis, the UCare Tri-Loppet will return in 2018 with registration opening this week. Participants in this annual event will compete in a three-part race, comprised of a 7-kilometer paddle through the Chain of Lakes, a 5-kilometer trail run, and a 13-kilometer mountain bike ride, all in the heart of Minneapolis.

“The UCare Tri-Loppet is an incredibly fun event for adventurers of all ages and abilities. But one thing that makes it unique is the opportunity it affords our athletes in Junior Loppet, another UCare-supported program, to show off the skills that they’ve acquired through our year-round outdoor education programming.” said John Munger, Executive Director of the Loppet Foundation.

The point-to-point race begins with the paddle portion at Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and this year will finish at the newly constructed Trailhead building at Theodore Wirth Park, which will be open to the public beginning this summer. The new finish line location is expected to introduce untapped audiences to the urban race, and hopefully inspire more community members to take up activities like trail running and mountain biking.

“We look forward to cheering on the Loppet athletes of all ages as they test their paddling, biking and running skills at the UCare Tri-Loppet,” says Ghita Worcester, UCare Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer. “This is a great example of how we bring the community together to benefit from health and fitness activities.”

Interested parties can learn more about the UCare Tri-Loppet and register themselves at loppet.org/triloppet.