NORTHFIELD — The Great River Challenge off-road triathlon is coming back to town, offering a day of paddling, biking and running to raise money for the Northfield Recreation Commission in support of summer activities for Northfield children.
The triathlon returns on Saturday, Oct. 3. Organizers say to arrive at the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, 99 Millers Falls Road, at 7:30 a.m. to register before starting the paddling leg of the triathlon on the Connecticut River from the Northfield Mountain dock. Competitors must arrive to the water with their canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards between 9:25 and 10 a.m. in time for the race to start at 10 a.m.
“If you’re a spectator, it’s just thrilling,” longtime organizer Joan Stoia said. “You see 60 or 70 boats in the water. It’s amazing. You never stop feeling how wonderful it is to see all those boats take off at the same time. It’s colorful [and] it’s exciting.”
After the event kicks off on the Connecticut River, the triathlon will transition into the running portion and end with biking. Short and long courses are available to those who register. The paddling leg of the competition offers a 5.5-mile trek as part of the long course and a 4-mile route for the short course.
The running section for the long course is 4 miles while the short course is 2.5 miles. The long course for biking comes in at 7 miles while the short course is 3.75 miles. Individuals can participate in the race, however, there is also the option of participating with a team. Different competitors can partake in different legs of the challenge.
“The team … has been grooming the trail,” Stoia said. “There are actually photos on Facebook … where they’ve moved boulders out of the way on the trails. If you’re just a solo racer, you come down the mountain, jump on your mountain bike and go back and do it all again, or you tag your partner, who’s doing the mountain bike leg.”
All of the money raised from the Great River Challenge registration fees goes toward supporting the Northfield Recreation Commission and its activities for the summer of 2027. Stoia said that this past summer, 92 children received “some sort of financial benefit” from the 2025 race to offset the tuition costs of summer programming.
“It’s very, very important, particularly as the economy has drooped,” Stoia said. “It’s very important that parents know there’s high-quality care and programming for their kids in the summer. [Recreation Commission Director] Stacy Bond and her staff do a great job of getting the kids outdoors, doing crafts and doing athletic events, bringing in entertainers. They provide a very high-quality program for the summer.”
According to Stoia, it was Bond (who will be a first-time participant) who suggested that a shorter course be offered so that more people would feel comfortable participating. While the results will still be timed, Stoia emphasized that the shorter course offers a fun day of racing and fundraising.
Though the race is projected to wrap up at 2 p.m., Stoia said spectators can arrive earlier to the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center to check out the information booths, listen to music from the North Quabbin-based band The Can Collectors, and enjoy libations and food from The Brewery at Four Star Farms, among other activities. Included in the registration fee for racers is pizza provided by the brewery.
Stoia said there’s still time to register, with fees for the long course ranging from $80.50 to $234.20, while the fee for the shorter course ranges from $59.30 to $234.20. To register or for more information, visit greatriverchallenge.com.
