St. Anthony’s Triathlon — Tampa Bay Race Weekend

St. Anthony’s Triathlon returns to downtown St. Petersburg this weekend, with races and related events scheduled from Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26. (thatssotampa.com) The 2026 edition is the 43rd St. Anthony’s Triathlon Weekend, according to BayCare, and it includes Olympic-distance and Sprint races on Sunday, April 26, plus the Meek & Mighty race on Saturday, April 25. (baycare.org) BayCare said the Sunday races are scheduled to start with a swim in Tampa Bay, followed by a bike course past downtown high-rises and neighborhoods, then a run through one of St. Petersburg’s oldest neighborhoods. (baycare.org) The weekend has grown beyond a single elite race into a three-event program that draws thousands of individual athletes and relay teams. BayCare said the event now hosts competitors from across the country, and in recent years from outside the United States as well. (baycare.org 1) (baycare.org 2) That scale helps explain why the race weekend matters in St. Petersburg each spring: it brings road activity, waterfront crowds, and a nationally recognized triathlon field into the city center over three days. That’s So Tampa described it as one of the area’s major weekend events, and BayCare said the Olympic-distance race is known for its professional field. (thatssotampa.com) (baycare.org) The event also serves first-timers and younger athletes. BayCare said the Meek & Mighty race uses a pool swim and is designed for novice adults and children, with the course finishing in downtown St. Petersburg. (baycare.org) For competitive adaptive athletes, St. Anthony’s also picked up a USA Triathlon paratriathlon qualifier designation in 2025, adding another pathway into national-level racing. BayCare said that series gives paratriathletes local race opportunities and a route toward USA Triathlon national championships. (baycare.org) The race has deep roots in the region. BayCare said the event began in 1984 as the Tampa Bay Triathlon with about 600 athletes, later moved downtown, and expanded into the Olympic, Sprint, and Meek & Mighty formats used today. (baycare.org) Organizers are also programming the weekend around the races. That’s So Tampa said the waterfront schedule includes a sunrise swim near the St. Pete Pier and a post-race party, while BayCare said the weekend also includes a Sports & Fitness Expo and awards ceremonies. (thatssotampa.com) (baycare.org) By Sunday morning, the headline event will look familiar: athletes in the bay at daybreak, bikes moving along the waterfront, and runners coming through St. Petersburg neighborhoods before the weekend closes with awards and a post-race celebration. (thatssotampa.com) (baycare.org)