Melanie Ashmore

Swim. Bike. Run. Sit. Stay. All the things you get to do for the upcoming 2021 Ugly Dog Triathlon this summer! Join in on the fun and help support U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation while doing it!

Epic Races has partnered with Ugly Dog Distillery, LLC and LaFontaine Automotive Group to put on an Ugly Dog Triathlon this July 17, 2021 in support of U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation as the charity of choice.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but gravel, or allroad, is kind of a triathlon thing. Just look at the front page of the Slowtwitch Forum right now. Maybe three threads on it, right now, on gravel, the bikes, the races. Gravel is really where road and tri meet. Multisport gravitates to it because we like tech – a lot – and we like moving from one endurance paradigm to another.” – Dan Empfield, USAT Hall of Famer

For this reason, we are excited to present to you the Ugly Dog Triathlon.

This is a “Road Optional” event, so naturally, your road choice is optional.  You like gravel?  Choose the “Ugly Dog” gravel option.  Don’t like to get dirty?  Choose the “Pretty Dog” pavement option.

Swimming is not your thing? Do the du!  Prefer swim, bike, done?  Sign up for the aqua bike!

In the spirit of bike racing, drafting rules will not be enforced in the Ugly Dog events.  Click here to understand the differences between draft-legal and non-draft-legal triathlon. Drafting is not allowed on aerobars. (Please respect social distancing guidelines.)

Interested in gravel but unsure of what kind of bike to ride? You can use almost any kind of bike — whether it’s a mountain, hybrid, cyclocross, gravel, or even a road bike. If you choose to ride a road bike, we recommend using a tire designed for gravel roads.

We are incredibly honored to be recognized and supported through this event and cannot wait to attend and be a part of something so fun!

Thank you to the sponsors of this event: Probility Physical Therapy, LaFontaine Automotive Group, Ugly Dog Distillery, LLC, DNR Department of Natural Resources of Michigan, Hyperice, Absopure, Suburban Chevrolet of Ann Arbor, Fraser Bicycle, Michigan Fitness Foundation, USA Triathlon, Ann Arbor Sports Commission, Kapnick and LJF.