When more than 3,000 endurance athletes take to the roads and river later this month for the first-ever Ironman race in the Tri-Cities, Kevin Riley will be among them.

He’s an accomplished triathlete with several previous Ironman events under his belt, including two world championships. But for him, the Tri-Cities race is special.

That’s because it’s happening in his adopted hometown.

The 32-year-old lives in West Richland with his wife, Christina, 33, who’s also a seasoned Ironman competitor. She’s sitting out the Tri-Cities race because she recently gave birth to the couple’s first child, Madelyn, 4 months. But Christina will be cheering on her husband – and the other racers – on Sept. 22.

For the young family, an Ironman in the Tri-Cities is exciting.

“It’s huge for us as a community,” Kevin said.

A total of 3,024 people had registered for this year’s race as of the end of August, representing 45 states and 19 countries. The number includes 100 relay teams.

“I hope the community comes out and supports it,” Christina said. “Ironman will be here for three years, and hopefully we’ll get the chance to show what the Tri-Cities has to offer.”

The Sept. 22 race is the first of three Ironman 70.3 events to be held in the Tri-Cities. Races also are planned in September 2025 and 2026.

The races are expected to have a significant economic impact on the area, injecting $6 million to $8 million in visitor spending each year.

“We know our athletes will enjoy racing in the area for the same reasons people love to visit the Tri-Cities each fall – 300 days of sunshine and an abundance of outdoor recreation,” said Tim Brosious, northwest regional director for The Ironman Group, in a statement when the races first were announced last year. “Athletes will fall in love with the rolling hills of wine country, as Tri-Cities will not only become a staple in their racing calendar, but also a favorite place to vacation year-round. We can’t wait for athletes to come see what makes fall in the Tri-Cities so special.”  

‘Kind of addicted’

The Rileys moved to the area in 2017 from Des Moines, Iowa.

Kevin is an underwriter for an insurance company and Christina is a pharmacist.

They met at Drake University in Iowa.

Kevin credits Christina with starting them down the path to competing in Ironmans, which are long distance triathlons that involve swimming, cycling and running.

“I originally liked riding bikes, just for fun,” Kevin said.

Meanwhile, Christina – who grew up as a competitive swimmer and began running while in pharmacy school – had started entering half marathons.

“She said, when we first moved here, ‘Would you do a half marathon with me?’” Kevin recalled. He decided to give it a shot and start training.

Eventually, he set his sights on an even more demanding goal: an Ironman.

Now several races in, “I’m kind of addicted,” he said with a laugh.

A full Ironman is 140.6 miles, with a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bike ride capped off with a run that’s the length of a full marathon at 26.2 miles.

The Tri-Cities event is 70.3 miles, with a 1.2-mile swim and a 56-mile bike ride topped off with a run that’s the length of a half marathon at 13.1 miles.

Kevin and Christina Riley each have done both Ironman distances multiple times, starting in 2021 with a 70.3-mile race in Des Moines.

Kevin remembers being nervous, especially about the swim.

But it was also exhilarating, he said – from feeling the encouragement of fellow athletes, spectators and volunteers, to the pride that comes with completing the grueling event.

Christina said it “gives you a sense of accomplishment ... committing through all the training and tough weeks and then coming across the finish line” is amazing. 

Kevin and Christina Riley and their daughter, Madelyn, pose for a photo at an Ironman event. Kevin and Christina are both avid Ironman competitors.

| Courtesy Christina Riley

‘Forward is progress’

Kevin Riley said he doesn’t have goals for the Tri-Cities race beyond finishing and having fun. He’s already had a successful season, qualifying for the 70.3 world championships in Spain next year during a race in August in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada.

It’ll be his third world championship.

He encourages racers who are new to Ironman events to approach the Tri-Cities race with a simple plan: “Put one foot in front of the other. Just try to finish. It doesn’t matter if you’re running, walking – just move forward,” he said. “Forward is progress.”

Kevin trains with triathlon coach Jennifer Comfort and takes part in the Masters Swimming program at CBRC Health & Fitness under the direction of Jennifer Tonkyn.

Training for and competing in Ironman events inspires discipline in his life, he said.

“You really have to cut out things that aren’t useful, especially now that we have a newborn,” he said. “You can’t mess around on your phone for three or four hours or sit on the couch. You really have to get structured.”

For Christina, who also worked with Comfort and Tonkyn pre-pregnancy, training and competing offer decompression and stress relief.

Plus, she and Kevin both said Ironman events are fun – the camaraderie, the energy and excitement, the satisfaction that comes from meeting a challenge.

It’s something they both love and something they share.

They hope one day to be able to share it with their daughter, too.

Ironman has events for kids – they’re called Ironkids and they typically happen the day before the adult race. Kevin said he wants to sign up Madelyn “as soon as she can run.”