Events
4th Annual Dry-Tri
5K Run/Walk
Place
Chesaning, MI US 48616
Description
Hello Racer!
Thank you for your interest in Chesaning’s 4th annual Dry-Tri, where you will bike the back country roads, run along the river, and float/paddle back to the finish line to celebrate your accomplishment and our beautiful parks! We are super excited to have Ope! Racing providing
chip timing again this year!
PLEASE READ THIS THOROUGHLY. There is lots of info you will want to know before the race!
WHEN: Saturday August 15th, 2026, at 9:00am (plan on getting there early so you are ready to go at 9!)
WHERE: You will start and end in Showboat Park. Please note you will need to drop off your kayak pre-race at Parshallburg Park!
WHO: ANYONE is welcome to race, no matter what skill level you are as an athlete. Bring your family or a friend to complete it with or go for gold! This is a “for fun” event that we encourage everyone to come out and challenge themselves!
PRE-RACE
1…Equipment needed:
● Bike-doesn’t have to be fancy, but make sure tires are aired and the bike is tuned up prior to race day!
● Helmet- A helmet MUST be worn to complete the bike section of race
● Kayak/canoe/paddle board and paddles- please make your watercraft floats and keep in mind depending on depth of river, there may be spots you need to get out and walk
● Flotation device-every watercraft MUST have a flotation device on board to complete the paddle portion
2…Packet/Bib Pick Up
● Packet pick up will be August 10th-13th (Monday through Thursday) 8:30-4:00 at the Chamber office (218 North Front St. Suit B)
● Thursday, July 25th from 6-7pm at the Chamber of Commerce Office (218 N. Front St., Suite B)
● If you are unable to pick up your packet during the above times, we will have pick up available the morning of the race from 7-9 at the Showboat park pavilion.
Please keep in mind you will need to pick up your packet, apply your number stickers to your equipment, drop off your kayak, and come back to Showboat park for the start of the race. We HIGHLY recommend picking up your packet before the morning of the race, if possible, to reduce traffic.
● WAIVER: Please fill out waiver for each racer before race day! EVERYONE participating MUST sign a waiver to be able to race!
3…Morning of race:
● Watercraft drop off will be from 7-9am on race day. To ensure this part goes smoothly please read the following carefully: please make sure all your kayak stickers are in place BEFORE dropping off. You will head to Parshallburg Bridge from the north (from Sharon Rd.). If you are entering from the east (Ditch Rd) you will have to go past the bridge and turn around to get in line. There will be NO PARKING for spectators or athletes at Parshallburg for the duration of the race.
You will pull up, volunteers will help you unload your kayak and put it in the correct area, then you can turn around to head back to showboat park for the start of the race! Please leave any items you want for the kayaking portion of the race INSIDE kayak. (Suggested: water, towel, water shoes). You will have to run walk or crawl from end of kayak portion to finish line (about 200 meters) so be sure to plan shoe choices accordingly. *Any kayaks with no race numbers on them will not be able to drop off their kayaks until numbers are on, as this is how
we keep them organized! Numbers are in everyone’s race packets!*
● Once you have placed your watercraft and stickers, you will head to Showboat park where you will sticker your bike, pin your bib to your shirt, and get ready to race!
● If you would like any supplies (water, change of shoes or clothes) you may place items in the bike holding area.
4…Race Start
● Race will begin with a bike ride through our beautiful town (bike route can be found on website) there will be signs with arrows marking which direction to go, as well as volunteers along the way, but please review the map prior to the race so you know where to go! Please ride with traffic and obey all traffic signs. There will be an officer assisting the cross at M-57.
● Racers will be released in one group, however your chip time does not start until you cross the start line, so if you want hang back and let the crowd go, there is no penalty for doing so.
● Once finished with the bike ride, you will place your bike in your designated spot in the bike holding area (volunteers will be the to help). If you do not want your bike in the bike holding area, please have someone there to grab your bike as you dismount. Change into any clothes or shoes you need for the running portion and begin running whenever ready for the Parshallburg launch.
● You MUST dismount bike in bike dismount area (bottom of hill at park). Please slow down as you approach, and do NOT use grass to slow or stop yourself. This is for safety as well as to ensure your chip timer reads correctly.
● PLEASE NOTE: all bikers must exit AND enter the RIGHT side of entrance to park. All runners must exit park on LEFT side of entrance to park.
● Once you arrive at the launch area, locate your watercraft, and take it to the river. Please note that although volunteers may be available to help you load/unload, we cannot guarantee help with dragging or entering/exiting your watercraft.
Please make sure that you are able to transport, enter, and exit your watercraft solo.
● Racers will then begin paddling with the current to showboat park. Once you reach the park, please pull watercraft ALL THE WAY out of water and into the watercraft holding area, out of the way of other racers. There will be volunteers to put it in the kayak organizing area for pick up after race
● Please note that your bib contains your chip for finishing so be sure to pin it somewhere that it will NOT get wet!
● There may be a small run to get to the finish line so please make sure you have shoes with/on you.
● YOU DID IT! Congrats on finishing, now relax, grab some food, and enjoy the weekend!
● Please have bikes and kayaks picked up within 1 hour of the last racer coming in, otherwise they may be left unattended.
5…Weather
● This is a rain or shine event! Our goal is to have the event on Saturday no matter what. We may delay the event if it looks like inclement weather may clear up shortly. If in unfortunate circumstances weather is deemed too dangerous to race in, we will postpone the race to Sunday, August 16th. All timelines will stay the same!
FAQs:
● Will there be age divisions this year? Yes! There will be male/female: 18 and under; 19-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69 and 70+.
● Where can I preview routes? Run and bike route maps will be posted on our website www.chesaningchamber.org.
● Award ceremony time? The awards will be handed out at the start/finish line, once all winners of each division are finished. Please stick around top of park if you would like to participate.
● What type of bike do I need? Any pedal bike will work! While a road or gravel bike is ideal if you want to place, the 7ish miles is doable with almost any type of bike. All the roads are paved, please note some of the country roads are slightly bumpy.
● How should I train? This race takes approximately 2 hours to finish, so definitely need that cardio training! Other than that, we suggest training going from a bike ride to a run (your legs feel surprisingly heavy after bike ride), and practice paddling and controlling your kayak. The kayaking is approximately an hour long depending on how high the river is, but the nice thing is, even if you’re taking a break and just floating, you’re still making progress!
● What if I have other questions? We love to help you with whatever you need, you can call Lisa at the chamber office during business hours at 989-845-3055 or email her at info@chesaningchamber.org or text Emily at 810-931-2972.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Dry-Tri Racer Letter 2026
Hello Racer-Thank you for your interest in Chesaning’s 4th Annual Dry-Tri, where you will bike the back country roads, run along the river, and float/paddle back to the finish line to celebrate your accomplishment and our beautiful parks!
PLEASE READ THIS THOUROUGHLY! There is a lot of information you will want to know before race day.
WHEN: Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 9:00 am. (planning on arriving early so you are ready to go at 9:00 am!)
WHERE: Athletes start and end in Showboat Park. Please note you will need to drop your kayak off pre-race at PARSHALLBURG PARK.
WHO: ANYONE is welcome to race, no matter your skill level as an athlete. Bring your family or a friend to compete together or go for the gold! This is a “for fun” event that we encourage everyone to come out and challenge themselves.
PRE-RACE
1. Equipment needed:
· Bike. We will have helpers place bikes on our bike racks. If you want to rack your own bike or want to use your own racking, please let us know on race day. It will be put in a separate space.
· Helmet. A helmet MUST be worn to complete the bike section of the race.
· Kayak/Canoe/Paddle Board and Paddles. Please make sure your watercraft floats and keep in mind, depending on the depth of the river, there may be spots you need to get out and walk the river.
· Flotation Device. Every watercraft MUST have a flotation device on board to complete the river portion.
2. Packet Pickup:
· Packet pickup will be August 10-13th, (Monday-Thursday) 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Chamber Office (218N. Front St., Suite B).
·Thursday, August 13th 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Chamber Office.
· If you are unable to pick up your packet during the above times, you can check in the morning of the race from 7:00 to 8:45 am at either Showboat or Parshallburg. Bibs with stickers will be at Parshallburg Park. Keep in mind you will need to pick up your bib and stickers, apply your number stickers to your equipment, drop off your kayak and come back to Showboat Park for the start of the race. We Highly recommend picking up your packet before the morning of the race, if possible, to reduce traffic.
3. Morning of Race:
· Watercraft drop off will start at 7:00 am on race day. To ensure smooth drop-off: PLEASE READ: make sure all your watercraft stickers are in place BEFORE drop-off. You will head to Parshallburg Bridge from the North (on Sharon Road). If you are entering from the East (Ditch Road) you will have to go past the bridge and turn around to get in line. There will be NO PARKING for spectators or athletes at Parshallburg for the duration of the race. When you arrive volunteers will help you unload your watercraft and put them in the correct area, then you are heading to Showboat Park for the start of the race. Please leave any items you want for the paddle portion of the race INSIDE your watercraft. (Suggest: water, towel, water shoes). You will have to run, walk or crawl from the e4nd of the paddle portion to the finish line, so plan shoe choices accordingly. *Any kayaks without a race number will not be allowed to drop off. The number stickers will be with your bibs.
· If you would like any supplies (water, change of shoes or clothes), you may leave these items in the bike holding area. Please label valuable items with your number stickers or your name and phone number so they can be returned to you if left. We are not responsible for the leftover items
4. Race Start
· Our race will begin with a bike ride through Chesaning. Please see route maps. They are also available through MapMyRun. We will have signs and volunteers (in bright green) to help, but you are ultimately responsible for knowing the route. Please OBEY ALL TRAFFIC SIGNS and listen to volunteers and police officers assisting us on race day.
· Chip timing means we will have one heat of racers. Your time is based on when you cross the timing sensors.
· After the bike portion, please place your bike in the designated spot of the bike holding area. We will have volunteers to assist. If you want your bike to be unassisted or in your own rack, please let the volunteers know. Change into any clothes or shoes you need for the running portion and run to Parshallburg Park.
· At Parshallburg Park, watercraft will be organized by number stickers. Volunteers will be available to help you load/unload, we cannot guarantee help with entering/exiting your watercraft. Please make sure you can transport, enter an exit your watercraft solo.
· Racers will then paddle to Showboat Park. Once you reach the park, please pull the watercraft ALL THE WAY out of the water and into the holding area, out of the way of other racers. We will have volunteers to place your watercraft in the organized area for post-race pickups.
· Please note that your bib contains your chip for finishing, be sure to pit it somewhere that it will not get wet.
· The finish line is just up the hill by the pavilion.
· YOU DID IT! Congratulations on finishing, now relax, grab some food and enjoy the weekend. AWARDS WILL START AT 11:00 am at the winner’s podium.
· Please have equipment picked up within 1 hour of the last racer finishing, otherwise they may be left unattended.
5. Weather:
This is a rain or shine event! Our goal is to have the event on Saturday. We will delay for safety. If unfortunate circumstances weather is deemed too dangerous to race, we will postpone it to Sunday, August 16th. All timelines will stay the same.
· Age divisions: Men and Women
18 and under
19-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 and above
AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE TOP 3 OVER ALL MEN AND WOMEN.
If you fail to follow these rules (not have all equipment, not follow signs, etc.) athletes will forfeit any prizes.
Where can I preview routes? They are on our Facebook Page, Website, RunSignUp and MapMyRun.