Are you looking to compete in your first triathlon, or perhaps do so in a new and unique location? For those that love to swim, bike and run, the XTERRA Epic Rustman Long Course Trithlon and the XTERRA Gator Terra Triathlon in Ruston, Louisiana are coming up this May. The Epic Rustman will be held on Saturday May 3, 2014 with the Gator Terra following on Sunday.

Cost to enter the Epic Rustman is currently $140 for individuals and $195 for relay teams and will increase to $150 and $215, respectively, on April 28. You can register on site for an additional $10. The Gator Terra is currently $64 for individuals and $106 for a relay team, and will increase to $69 and $115, respectively, on the same dates. Only 250 individuals and 20 teams will be allowed to sign up, and there are no refunds as the event will go on rain or shine.

The XTERRA Epic Rustman will feature a one-mile swim in a small lake with a beach start and finish, while the Gator Terra will be a half-mile course, and both will be subject to USAT wetsuit rules. Next, the races will move to a well-marked ten-mile course for a 31-mile, or three lap, bike ride in the Epic Rustman and ten miles in the Terra Gator. Finally, the races will end with a run that features both forest road and single track, with a handful of obstacles mixed in. The run will consist of ten miles in the Epic Rustman and one lap on the 3.33-mile course in the Gator Terra.

You must have a USA Triathlon Membership, because it is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event, but one-day memberships are available if you do not have an annual membership.