Earlier this month, Washington was named the nation’s fittest city by the American College of Sport Medicine, and it’s capitalizing on this achievement by hosting the only North America leg of the International Triathlon Union’s World Cup. This triathlon offers a severe change of scenery for Ironman competitors used to competing in rural Hawaii. Here, triathletes will begin with a 1.5 kilometer swim through the murky Potomac River, then bike 40 kilometers across the Mall and through Rock Creek Park, and finally run 10 kilometers through Southwest to the finish line at 11th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Nonparticipants will have the opportunity to see world-class athletes jump over potholes and dive into water that few residents dare enter.

THE TRIATHLON BEGINS AT WEST POTOMAC PARK AND OHIO DRIVE SW AT 9:10 A.M. FOR MEN AND 11:45 A.M. FOR WOMEN. REVIEWING STANDS AT 11th AND PENNSYLVANIA. FREE FOR SPECTATORS.