The Homegrown Patriot Half Will Crown the 2026 Long Course National Champions

In a landscape dominated by global corporate racing series, it’s hard to find a triathlon that feels truly local. Yet nestled in the idyllic, rural town of Freetown, Massachusetts, a fiercely independent, homegrown 70.3 race trades massive infrastructure for New England charm – and the triathlon world is taking notice.

The locally owned race will get a national stage this weekend as the host of the 2026 USA Triathlon Long Course National Championship, where competitors will experience a uniquely local experience built on community, family, and the soul of the sport.

Keeping it personal

Long before the Patriot Half caught the attention of USA Triathlon, participants embraced it for its family element and community vibe. In 2007, production company Sun Multisport Events founded and produced the inaugural Patriot Half as an athlete-first race, drawing participants to the idyllic, rural town of Freetown, Massachusetts. In 2023, Sun sold the triathlon to Outsider Endurance, a multisport event production company founded by Jeff Smith, whose own triathlon journey began six years ago.

“I was watching my brother, Sean, lose his battle with cancer. At that point, I was almost entirely sedentary, weighed more than 250 pounds, smoked a pack a day, and took several prescription meds. I also worked a job that I wasn’t really passionate about,” Smith recalls. “I needed to get out of the house, so I started walking. After my brother passed away, my stepbrother convinced me to do a duathlon with him … and I discovered the amazing endurance community. People from all walks of life and backgrounds, suffering together, competing against each other, but supporting each other at the end of the day.”

This life-changing experience led Smith to start Outsider Endurance and buy all of Sun’s multisport events, including the Patriot Half.

“From my stepbrother encouraging me to compete to racing in honor of my brother, family is my ‘why.’ As the Patriot race director, I’ve put medals on the necks of disabled athletes, recovering addicts, cancer survivors, friends racing for someone they lost, and family members racing for someone who can’t. They all have their own ‘why’,” says Smith. “Every Patriot athlete is able to share their personal inspiration when they register. And on race morning, a sticker is placed on each athlete’s bike rack to remind them of their ‘why’.”

A hometown spirit that’s not for sale

“If you want a big race feel with the heart that goes into a hometown race, you do Patriot. Some people on our tri team are doing it as their first triathlon ever. The swim makes it very newbie-friendly. Not only is it in a relatively calm lake, but the start is self-seeded,” says Jackie Francisco, president of Bay State Triathlon Team and 10-time Patriot Half finisher, of the swim in Long Pond, the largest freshwater body of water in Massachusetts.

“Everyone I talked to loved Patriot, so I decided to race it as my first 70.3. It’s got a smaller field than some other races and feels low pressure, which was perfect for my first half,” adds Matt Nussbaum, a member of the Top Gunz Tri Team. “If you’re in transition and you realize you need a pump, don’t be surprised if three other athletes offer to lend you theirs.”

“That’s the Patriot spirit. You can’t buy it, and it’s not for sale. It’s locally grown. The people who organize this race live right here. The volunteers are from here,” says Smith, adding that this spirit is further fueled by the many local athletes who compete in the race. There are only 700 spots available for the 2026 Patriot Half, which is almost sold out, and 54% of the registered athletes are Massachusetts residents.

On June 13, athletes racing the Patriot Half will be treated to a scenic bike course, taking them past quintessential farms, cranberry bogs, and anglers fishing at the Pocksha Pond Causeway.

“The bike course even cuts through a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot. That’s about as New England as it gets!” Smith says.

The run course takes athletes down quiet, generally flat roads that wind past lakes, through the countryside, and over “the hill” at mile 12.5 on their way to the finish line, which is notably family-friendly and patriotic.

“Every year, I see people run down the finish chute with their family. I love that,” Nussbaum says.

“The finish chute is lined with American flags. Running past them is my favorite part,” Francisco says. “My parents moved to the U.S. from Portugal and made a life for themselves here. As I run past the flags, I feel really proud because America means so much to my family.”

Familiar faces and patriot pride

After the race, awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group, as well as to the top three Athenas, Clydesdales, and Paratriathletes.

“This race is different from some other events because of all the local tri clubs racing and volunteering,” says Nussbaum, who was the overall winner of the 2024 Patriot Half. “So many people return every year, which means we get to know who we’re racing. The post-race catered meal is the perfect chance to catch up with each other and enjoy Italian food from Riccardi’s Restaurant. Even if you didn’t win something, you stick around after you finish.”

This year, there will be National Champions to crown at the Patriot Half. Smith, however, plans to find a few moments to celebrate the race’s family element.

“We’re incredibly proud to be one of the few independently-owned, stand-alone half-distance races left in the country, and being selected for Nationals is a huge moment for our event and the local endurance community,” Smith says. “But what I’m beyond proud of is that my daughter, Addy, will be back as our DJ/announcer this year, and that my son, Hudson, will be working his first race. Watching my kids grow up around this community and sharing these moments together is something I’ll never take for granted. Patriot wouldn’t be what it is without that family aspect.”