Trideltathon Guide: 5 Proven Facts and Costly Mix-Ups
Trideltathon is a short pool-swim triathlon at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, run as a charity event with volunteers from the Delta Delta Delta sorority. The last edition I could find a listing for was scheduled for April 19, 2020, and it was canceled, so check carefully before you plan around it.
This guide covers the race format, the course, the charity, its history, a similar 5K that appears to have followed it and the details that conflict between pages.
A note on method: I read a 2015 Fleet Feet Knoxville recap, four race listings (RunSignUp, RacePlace and two Race Day Events pages for 2013 and 2014) and a TriDeltaRUN listing on Find The Run. I could not open an AmericanTowns listing, and I saw other search results only as titles. I did not attend the race or contact the organizers. Dates, fees and rules change, so confirm them with the organizer.
What Is Trideltathon? The Short Answer
Trideltathon is a sprint-style triathlon with a 400-meter pool swim, a 6-mile bike tour of campus and a 3-mile run. It was held at the University of Tennessee Student Aquatic Center, organized by Race Day Events, with Delta Delta Delta volunteers. The 2020 listing says proceeds go to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
I found no listing for an edition after the canceled 2020 race. A 5K called TriDeltaRUN, run by the same sorority and organizer, was listed for April 19, 2026.
Trideltathon Race Format and Course
The pages I read describe the same three legs. Details differ by year, so use the newest listing, and confirm it with the organizer.
Trideltathon Distances and Rules by Year
| Detail | 2013 listing | 2014 listing | 2020 listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | April 14, 2013, 8:00 AM | April 13, 2014 | April 19, 2020, 8:30 AM |
| Swim | 400 m | 400 m, “heated outdoor pool,” one swimmer every 5 seconds | 400 m indoor pool, about 7-second intervals |
| Bike | 6 miles | 6 miles, two campus laps plus Neyland Drive | 6-mile tour of campus and Neyland Drive |
| Run | 3 miles | 3 miles, hilly, past Neyland Stadium | 3-mile campus run |
| Other | Fees listed | Water stops at miles 1 and 2 | Not USAT sanctioned; relay open to ages 7 to 99 |
The 2020 page says swimmers are seeded by their estimated 400 m time, and that the individual race was open to ages 10 to 99. It expected about 350 participants, which was a forecast, not a result.
Trideltathon History and the “Oldest” Claim
A 2015 Fleet Feet Knoxville recap calls it the 31st year and “the oldest running triathlon in the US.” It also says the race was the first leg of the Fleet Feet Triathlon Grand Prix with Race Day Events. The 2014 listing makes a narrower claim: “the oldest running pool triathlon in the country.”
I could not verify either claim, and they are not the same. If the 31st year is accurate, the first race would date to the mid-1980s, but that is my arithmetic from one source, not a documented fact.
The Charity Behind the Trideltathon
The 2020 listings say Delta Delta Delta members provide volunteers and that proceeds go to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The 2013 and 2014 pages I read don’t mention a charity, so I can’t say how much of the history of that arrangement is documented.
Entry fees listed for 2013, which ranged from $40 to $65 for individuals, are old figures and should not be used today. The 2020 pages list no fees.
What Happened in 2020
The RunSignUp page says the 2020 race was canceled after the University of Tennessee moved classes online for the rest of the year. It gave entrants five choices, including keeping the fee as a donation, transferring to 2021 or another Race Day Events sprint triathlon, taking a credit or requesting a refund. The selection period closed on May 1.
The page lists no later edition, and I found no 2021 or later Trideltathon listing in my searches.
TriDeltaRUN: The 5K That Followed
A Find The Run listing shows TriDeltaRUN as a 5K on April 19, 2026, starting at 10 a.m. at UT Gardens in Knoxville, largely on the Third Creek greenway. It is run by Delta Delta Delta and Race Day Events and benefits East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and Camp Eagles Nest.
The listing doesn’t mention the triathlon by name. It says the 5K is in its fifth year and that proceeds go to the same charity the “mini triathlon” supported for years. That suggests a link, but the page doesn’t state it.
5 Costly Trideltathon Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Assuming it still runs. The newest triathlon listing I found is the canceled 2020 edition.
- Using old fees. The $40 to $65 figures are from 2013.
- Mixing up the pool. One page says outdoor and another says indoor, so check the venue.
- Assuming it is sanctioned. The 2020 listing says it was not USAT sanctioned.
- Confusing it with other Delta races. Search results also show a Delta triathlon in Canada and an Italian Po Delta race, which I saw only by title and which are unrelated.
What Is Verified and What Is Not
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| It is a 400 m swim, 6-mile bike and 3-mile run | Stated by several listings |
| It was held at the UT Student Aquatic Center | Stated by the listings |
| Race Day Events organized it | Stated by Fleet Feet and RunSignUp |
| Proceeds go to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital | Stated in the 2020 listings |
| The 2020 race was canceled | Stated on RunSignUp |
| It is the oldest running triathlon in the US | Claimed in 2015; unverified |
| Any edition after 2020 | Not found |
| TriDeltaRUN replaced it | Implied; not stated |
How to Check an Event Listing Before You Register
- Find the organizer’s page and confirm the date.
- Check the year on every listing. Old pages stay online.
- Look for a registration page on a known platform, such as RunSignUp.
- Compare course details between years before you plan training.
- Confirm where proceeds go on the organizer’s or charity’s own page.
- Use the same steps elsewhere. We apply them in our guides to coyyn.com, context match and active system console.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trideltathon? A pool-swim triathlon at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, with Delta Delta Delta volunteers and a children’s hospital charity.
How long is the Trideltathon? A 400 m swim, a 6-mile bike and a 3-mile run, per the listings.
Is Trideltathon still held? I found no edition after the canceled 2020 race. A 5K called TriDeltaRUN was listed for 2026.
Who organizes the Trideltathon? Race Day Events, with Delta Delta Delta volunteers.
Where does the money go? The 2020 listings say East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
Is the Trideltathon sanctioned? The 2020 listing says it was not USAT sanctioned.
Is it the oldest triathlon in the US? Fleet Feet said so in 2015, and a 2014 listing says “oldest pool triathlon.” I couldn’t verify either.
How much did it cost? The 2013 fees ranged from $40 to $65 for individuals. Later pages list no fees.
Bottom Line
Trideltathon is a University of Tennessee pool triathlon with a long charity history and a canceled 2020 edition as its newest listing. Its “oldest” claims are unverified, its course details vary by year and a 5K from the same organizers followed it. Check the organizer’s current page for dates, fees and venue before you plan to enter.
