The Tri 4 the Cure Sprint Triathlon is one of 4 ladies only events held at the same location. There is also a 5k, Duathlon (run, bike, run) and a relay option for the triathlon. This review is for the sprint triathlon (400 m swim, 8 mi bike and 2.4 mi run). The pre-race expo was held at the Village at Gainey Ranch. It was a small expo with only one major vendor (sponsor: Destination Kona). Participants had the option of selecting their style of race swag: tank top or T-shirt. The tank top was a welcomed change from the standard tech t-shirt. On race day the parking at Phoenix Country Day School was a little limited. We arrived early and didn't have much of a problem. Others arriving later had to park across the street in a office parking lot. There was plenty of room to set up in transition; the racks were not labelled, but that didn't cause any issues.

The swim takes place in the 50 m pool at the Phoenix Country Day School. The pool swim is staggered with swimmers starting at every 10 sec. A fun part of this race is that Olympian Misty Hyman starts off the swim. Swimmers are arranged by elite status, then by age group status. The serpentine swim zig zags through the lanes of the pool, starting on one end and exiting out of the farther lanes.

There was a short run from the pool to the transition area, all concrete and asphalt.

The bike course was a two loop course. The hills of 32nd St and Lincoln were pretty steep for those of us who trained on flat streets in the valley. For this location, it was recommended that bikes have multiple gears to tackle these hills. There were a number of people who needed to walk their bikes up the hills. Cyclists were rewarded with a fast downhill on 36th St. The course was well marked, although the streets were riddled with potholes and uneven pavement on 32nd St.

The run took place along the Arizona Canal. It was a nice flat run from the canal back to the school's soccer fields. There was one water station along the 2.4 mi course.

The finish line was fun and festive! The best part of this race is the camaraderie and support of other participants during the race. Everyone was really supportive, from the seasoned triathletes to the new racers. Breast cancer survivors were also acknowledged and celebrated during the race (special transition area and extra goodies.)