The Silicon Valley Mini Kids Triathlon is specifically for kids aged 4 through 6, and parents can help their kids during the race. 

The race will be in the beautiful and recently opened Kathleen MacDonald High School. The swim will be in the pool, and the run on the sidewalk closed to the public.  The bike course will be on a closed road. There should be plenty of parking, the bike course has easy spectator viewing, and the whole event will be more compact.

Triathlon

For kids 4 - 6 years old (parents can help during the race from swim to finish line, if the parents decide to help the kid, it will be part of the race the whole time.

The bike course is completely closed to traffic. It is a half-mile loop.

The athlete will leave Transition and cross the Mount Line before getting on the bike. They will then bike around in a circle. If they are done, they will stay to the right, dismount just before the dismount line, and enter the transition area on foot.

Bikes need to be returned to the same spot where they were originally set up. Throwing the bike down in a random place will result in a 2-minute time penalty.

The Run Course will be around the soccer field on the sidewalk. 

The pool entrance is off the blacktop after you set up your transition. Volunteers will direct athletes and spectators to the correct areas. Do not try to enter the pool directly from transition. If you are trying to cross a timing mat to get to the pool, you are going the wrong way. Ask a volunteer to redirect you.

Drop your athlete at the pool area approximately 20 min before their wave starts. 

Once your athlete is in the swim area, go around to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL to watch them race. There are bleachers there.

Athletes start the race in the pool, holding onto the wall. There are no warm-ups.

The Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon is hosted by the Bay Area Multisport Initiative, a 501c3 charity.

This event promotes a fun and healthy way for kids to have a feeling of accomplishment and encourage self-esteem while introducing them to the sport of triathlon.

With the support of the community, the Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon has improved thousands of lives. The Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon also provides the event’s sponsors with the opportunity to be recognized as organizations that are committed to the youth of our community by encouraging sports and a healthy lifestyle.

Our History

In 2000, the first Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon was held with 215 boys and girls participating, ranging in age from 3 to 15. Each year, we’ve continued to grow with over 1,200 kids participating in 2025. We are now one of the largest youth triathlons in the country. Thousands of youth have participated in this nationally recognized community outreach event. Some of our early participants are now adults and have children who participate in the event.

Our Mission

The guiding principle of the Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon is two-fold.

First, to introduce the sport of triathlon to young people in our community in a safe environment. Distances are short and intended to expose our youngest athletes to the basic elements of triathlon.  The sport also encourages young boys and girls (ages 6 to 17) to lead a healthy lifestyle and enjoy the benefits of outdoor activities.

Second, with charitable contributions of over $220,000 to local charities that serve youth, we have a unique opportunity to raise awareness and encourage young people to give back to their community.

Click here to Download the 2026 Athlete Guide.

Everyone should get their bike AND HELMET checked. Helmets, in particular, fail the most. They are too big or too small, not certified, or have unnoticed cracks or holes. Also, kids this age are growing, crashing their bikes, riding a loaner or hand-me-down bike, etc.

Bike Check Dates for 2026

September 1st to September 26th

Bike Check Locations

All Sports Basement stores

Enjoy 20% off shopping on the day of your bike check!

Click for store locations and hours

Live in Peace - Partner Charity

2524 Pulgas Ave, East Palo Alto, near the Bay Trail. Parking is easier up front, but the shop is facing the back.

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 5:00 pm, and 10 am to 4:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays

Pre-Race Bike and Helmet Check Guidelines

Your child’s bike and helmet should be checked before they race. 

Who should get a check?

• If your child has had a recent bike crash
• If your child has had a recent growth spurt
• If the bike has been in storage for a while
• If they are borrowing a bike or have a hand-me-down bike
• It's your first time doing our event

Please bring your child with their bike and helmet to one of the participating locations listed above for a bike and helmet check.

At the Pre-Race Bike Check, your child’s bike and helmet will be inspected for:

• General condition with an emphasis on tires and free movement of the chain ring system
• The ends of the handlebars have plastic plugs (called bar-end plugs)
• Bike helmets are approved by CPSC or SNELL (label inside)
• Helmets must fit properly, and the straps must be adjusted so that no more than two fingers can fit inside
• There are no overly sharp edges on the pedals that could cut a leg in a fall
• The brakes work
• No aero-bars or pursuit bars

If the bike is much too small or much too large for your child, it is up to the bike check technician to determine whether it poses a safety hazard. A small child on a bike who can’t touch the ground easily is unsafe. A helmet that is too big and wobbles around is unsafe. A helmet that is too small to cover the head is unsafe.  Helmets that are too big or too small or not certified by SNELL or CPSC are the number one reason bike checks fail.

USA Triathlon rules specify that all bikes must have two wheels and each wheel must have a brake unless it's a youth bike with a coaster brake AND a single hand brake. Bikes with only coaster brakes (fixies) are not safe enough for a race. Also, motors are not allowed. Disc brakes are fine as are electronic shifters. This means:

NO FIXIES • NO UNICYCLES • NO RECUMBENTS • NO E-BIKES • NO SCOOTERS

We strongly recommend taking the bike to the pre-race inspection BEFORE the race (see the information above). Bike techs will be available on-site on race day if your child's bike develops issues.

NOTE: Please make sure your child’s footwear is suitable for running and riding. No flip-flops, sandals, or other open-toed shoes. We recommend shoes without laces, or purchase lace locks, as most falls during the race are caused by loose shoelaces.

Race Day Registration

Registration on race day is ONLY between 7:00 am and 9:00 am, and the race day registration fee is $100.00 + USAT license (if not already a USAT member) – so save money and sign up early!

Check-In

To speed up Packet Pickup, have your registration QR code ready. It is in your confirmation email. If you can’t find your confirmation email, go to:

RunSignUp > Profile > (Select the child’s profile) > Upcoming Races and click to resend it

Packet Contents

Inside the packet is

• A bib with your number and distances to complete. You must wear it on the bike and the run

Wristband system

Challenged athletes may get a wristband depending on the nature of their challenge. Some athletes may also get one from their parents. Please arrange accommodations ahead of time!

T-shirt

You will get the size you ordered. If it does not fit, come back after 11:00 am to see if you can swap it.

Body Marking

Once you get your race packet and goodies, proceed to body marking. The volunteers will mark the athlete’s body so that we know who they are, what wave they are in, and the athlete will have a reminder of how many Bike and Run laps they need to do.

Interactive Map of the Venue

https://caltopo.com/m/NL7SP70

Directions & Parking: Kathleen MacDonald High School 
Address: 3588 Zanker Rd, San Jose, CA 95134

Driving Directions
From I-880:

Take the exit for Tasman Dr and head west.
Turn right onto Zanker Rd.
The school will be on your right.

From CA-237:

Take the exit for Zanker Rd and head south.
The school campus will be on your left, just past Component Dr.
Locating the Front Lot:

Pull into the main campus entrance off Zanker Road. The Front Parking Lot is directly in front of the main school building and administration offices.
Parking Guidelines
Visitor Parking: Designated visitor spaces are available in the rows closest to the main administrative entrance. Please look for the marked visitor signage.
Staff & Student Parking: The remaining spaces within the front lot are reserved for permitted staff and students during standard school hours.
Handicap Accessibility: Accessible parking stalls are located directly adjacent to the main entrance walkways for easy campus access.
Important Safety Note: The front loop area is a strict fire lane and active drop-off/pick-up zone. Please do not park, idle, or leave your vehicle unattended in this loop at any time.

Photos from Past Events

2025 - PIN to download your free Finish Line photo was emailed to you

2025 - Photo Booth fun - free downloads!

2024 - PIN to download your free Finish Line photo will be emailed to you on 7/23

2024 - Award photos - free downloads!

2024 - Photo Booth fun - free downloads!

2023 - PIN to download your free Finish Line photo was emailed to you

2023 - Award photos - free downloads!

2022 - PIN to download your free Finish Line photo was emailed to you

2022 - Award photos - free downloads!

2019

2016 - Part 1

2016 - Part 2

2015

2012

2010

2009  

You will have 2 numbered articles in your Race Packet: a large race bib and one smaller black and white adhesive tag. The  bib is to be attached to a race belt or pinned on the front of a t-shirt or running shorts (safety pins are available at check-in). 

The small black and white tags are for the bike. Check to be sure that the two numbers match the number on the race bib.  Put the sticker on the crossbar of the bike.

The bib must be worn on the bike and run course.  The bib should not be worn in the pool as it is not made to get wet.

The bike tag is used to identify your child’s bike when they remove it from the Transition Area after the race is over. A volunteer will match the bike tag to your child’s bib number.

(Note to past race participants: Please remove any old helmet stickers and/or race number tags from past or previous races. There will be volunteers in the Transition Area to assist with proper Race Number placement.)

What to Expect on Race Day

* Reading and following these instructions will help ensure that race day will be safe and enjoyable for kids and adults alike.

* Download the Athlete Guide for more details (located here)

* Please be sure to review our RACE RULES before the day of the race.

When to arrive:

Note that while Bike Checks are mandatory for this event. We have found that many children's helmets are the wrong size, have damage or are not adjusted correctly.

Race Day Timeline

Arriving at the Venue

Use the parking lots in front of the school. The parking lots behind the school are part of the course and will not be accessible.

Follow the signs to the one walkway that leads to the Check-in. It is by the athletic fields.  All other walkways will take you to locked gates, fences, and dead ends. 

The check-in tents are on a corner before you get to the Pool and Expo/Transition areas.

Packet Pickup

Refer to the Check-in page for information on how to check in.

Medical

The Medical Tent is staffed by Licensed EMTs. It will be located by the entrance/exit to Transition with easy access to the Pool and the Track. There will also be EMTs on the bike course.

If an athlete is not feeling well on race morning, we strongly advise them not to start the event.

If the athlete starts to feel unwell at any point on race day, we urge them to seek help from a volunteer rather than continue.

Set up Transition

Every athlete has a spot in the Transition Area where their bike, helmet, shoes/socks, shirt, shorts, towel, and other essentials are located.

This area is set up BEFORE the race starts. 

For more information, check out "What is the Transition Area?"

Finish Line

The athlete will also receive a medal and a bottle of water and exit into the Athlete Food and Expo area.

Athlete Food & Expo

The Expo is out in the open; wear sunscreen and hydrate appropriately.

FOOD

We may have food products at the Expo that contain nuts. If your child has any food allergies, please monitor what they eat. 

There will be some food that is for athletes only. 

There will be water available so everyone stays hydrated. Coffee and hot drinks will be available in the morning while supplies last.

EXPO

The Expo will have

• Inspiration Station with
  • Crafts
  • Coloring pages and Paper for Signs
• Games
• Selfie-station
• Vendor tents with games and giveaways

The Expo is for everyone to enjoy during any downtime you may experience and after your racer(s) are done.

Leaving - Packing Up

Athletes will not be allowed to remove a bike from the Transition Area without showing the volunteers that the race number on the bike matches the race number on the athlete or their bib. 

This is to prevent the inadvertent removal of the wrong bike.

When in the Transition Area, watch out for those who may still be racing. Please be considerate of the racers.

Abandoning Equipment

Throwing down the bike or helmet in a random location in transition, littering on the course, or otherwise leaving your equipment somewhere it doesn’t belong will result in a 2-minute penalty for each occurrence.

DISQUALIFICATION

Breaking the following rules will result in disqualification

Interfering with another athlete.

This includes, but is not limited to, deliberately getting in their way, sabotaging their equipment, or touching their stuff in the transition area.

Outside assistance. 

Triathlon is an individual sport. Therefore, only volunteers, the racer's parents, or other racers may assist your racer during the race. In particular, sneaking into the transition area to assist your child with their transitions is absolutely forbidden. It’s cheating.

Disobeying the volunteers or being rude to them. 

No yelling or cursing at volunteers. No ignoring their directions. Even if you think a volunteer is wrong, you must do what they say.

SPECTATORS MUST STAY OFF THE COURSE

We understand your enthusiasm for your child’s participation, but we ask that you be courteous to other parents and participants.

Please be aware of the race course flow during the race. 

Any adult who goes out onto the bike course while a race is underway will be thrown out and added to our banned list. This is very, very serious as adults on the bike course have caused crashes that have resulted in broken bones in the past.

Any adult who interferes with another racer will cause that racer to be disqualified.

MACDONALD HIGH SCHOOL RULES

DOGS MUST BE ON A LEASH.

NO FOOD and ONLY WATER in the Track and Pool area. Please do your eating and drinking in the Expo.

Past Results

2025

2024

2023

2022

2019

2018

2017

2026 Schedule

Schedule is tentative until closer to the event and registration closes

Sunday, September 27th

ONLY RACERS WITH ONE PARENT ARE ALLOWED IN THE TRANSITION AREA!

The Transition Area is the place where all athletes’ equipment is stored. The athlete passes through the Transition Area twice during the event: T1 is Swim-to-Bike, and T2 is Bike-to-Run. 

To get into transition, you must have:

• Bike stickers applied to your bike 
• Body marking
• Your bib

Setting up Transition

Every athlete has a spot in the Transition Area where their bike, helmet, shoes/socks, shirt, shorts, towel, and other essentials are located. This area is set up BEFORE the race starts. Ask a volunteer if you aren’t sure where to put your bike and gear.

Bikes with kickstands will have a taped box for their bike and race gear.

Hints for Preparing Your Transition Spot

Bring two small towels, one of which should be old. Put the old towel on the ground beside the bike and place your race equipment on it. The other towel is for drying off after the swim. A colorful, easy-to-recognize towel is recommended.

We will have limited time for everyone to set up the transition. 

Once your transition is set up, proceed to the Pool. 

T1 - Transition from Swim to Bike

Following the swim, the athlete moves to the Transition Area, where they remove any swim equipment, such as goggles, quickly dry off, put on their helmet and shirt, put on shoes, and walk or jog the bike to the Transition Area exit, following the sign that says, “Bike Out”.

BATHING SUIT REMOVAL IS NOT ALLOWED. There is no changing area, and nudity is not allowed.

Athletes put on shorts and a shirt over their bathing suit with their race number pinned on in advance. Some athletes prefer to just put on a shirt (with the bib) and ride with bathing suits instead of shorts-over-suits. A race belt may also be used. 

Please note that USA Triathlon has a rule: torsos must be covered. So the boys will have to wear a shirt over their swimsuits.

ALL ATHLETES MUST WEAR THEIR HELMETS THE ENTIRE TIME they are on or moving with the bike. This includes the transition area. Please also make sure shoelaces are not undone or loose. 

NO BIKE RIDING IN TRANSITION

The athlete should walk or jog with their bike to the Mount Line just outside the transition. Cross the Mount Line and then get on the bike.

T2 - Transition from Bike to Run

After the bike ride, the athlete stops and gets off the bike before the Dismount Line. Then they walk or jog the bike back to where their equipment is located.

PUT THE BIKE BACK IN ITS PLACE BEFORE GOING OUT ON THE RUN

The bike must be returned to the same location where the athlete started and where all their other equipment is stored. Throwing a bike down in a random location is against the rules and will result in a 2-minute time penalty.

If the athlete can’t find their spot, they should ask a volunteer for help. It also helps if their towel is colorful and unique.

The bike is placed on the rack or box, the helmet and other riding equipment are removed, and the athlete prepares to run. Generally, young athletes ride their bikes in their running shoes, so after removing their bike gear, they are ready to run. Runners may jog to the “Run Out” sign in the Transition Area, watching for bikes and other runners. 

Packing up for the day

The Transition Area is guarded by volunteers. To remove a bike from the Transition Area, you must show a race number and match it to the race number on the bike. Your race packet will include a numbered race bib to be worn on your shirt or shorts, and one small stick-on race number for the bike. In addition, each athlete will have their race number marked on their body by volunteers using a Sharpie. All of these numbers must match.

Please be mindful of other racers when tearing down your transition spot.

Event distances are based on the age of the athlete as of Dec 31, 2026: 

The Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon is an inclusive race. All USAT-sanctioned events allow athletes to compete in the gender category they identify with. If that choice is different from their assigned sex at birth, pre-registration of their gender category is required. If you are unsure of how to do this, do not hesitate to contact us at racedirector@svkidstri.org and we will walk you through the process.

If an athlete has other special needs, contact us at least one (1) month before the race and we will work together to come up with a race plan that takes their needs into account.

A USAT membership is required for this race.  USAT is the governing body for Triathlons in the United States.  They establish the rules we follow and provide the insurance for our event.

What is "Triathlon Age"?

In order to keep participant ages consistent at multiple races throughout the year, USAT considers your age to be your age on December 31st of the current year. For example, a person who will be turning 8 years old anytime during the year is considered 8 years old for the entire year (even if their birthday has not passed yet).

The Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon has a limited number of scholarships available. They are available to youth whose household income is 80% below the Adjusted Mean Income for your household size and county. To request a scholarship, please fill out the form at this URL:

Our next set of scholarships will be awarded at the end of the month. Final deadline is May 3rd.

NOTE: all scholarships for this year. have been awarded.

https://runsignup.com/w/BayAreaMultisportInitiative/Page/Scholarships