HITS Championship Sarasota 2027 hotels

Sarasota, FL Triathlon is a USAT-sanctioned draft-legal race that opens the 2027 USA Tri Cup Series. It takes place at Nathan Benderson Park, a 600-acre multi-purpose recreation center built around a 400-acre artificial lake, with winter temperatures that make it a perfect destination for early-season racing. The bike leg for the Olympic and Sprint distances is draft-legal, so athletes ride in packs on a brand-new looped course that rewards strategy and teamwork. Aerobars and triathlon bikes are not allowed, and USAT draft-legal regulations apply. Beginners can enter the Open distance, a short and welcoming format for a first triathlon. Athletes can choose between Open, Sprint and Olympic triathlon, Sprint Aquabike, Sprint Duathlon or relay teams in Sprint and Olympic distances. Youth, military, student, first responder and youth categories receive discounted registration. All finishers get a medal, with overall and five-year age-group awards, plus specific categories for Clydesdale, Athena, physically challenged athletes and relay teams. Registration is open online until race start, and packet pickup runs the day before the race and on race morning. A certified EMT is on duty throughout the event, aid stations appear every 10-20 miles on the bike and every 1-1.5 miles on the run, and course maps, athlete guide and travel information are published on the official event page. Sarasota combines easy access to Gulf Coast beaches with a lively downtown, which makes the race a convenient weekend escape for athletes and their families. Plan your stay early: the January race weekend coincides with Florida's high season, and hotels near Nathan Benderson Park fill up fast.