By DAVID CUCCHIARA

Washington Daily News

 

WASHINGTON PARK — Athletes of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds will line the waterfront in a month to take on the area’s most demanding annual spectacle, the Washington Olympic Triathlon.

The Olympic race, set for Saturday, June 28 at 7 a.m., will feature a 1500-meter open water swim, a 26-mile bike ride and a 10-kilometer run. In total, the distance equates to roughly 33 miles.

Contestants will begin with the swim on the waterfront in Washington Park, travel via bike towards Bath and finish the running portion on Stewart Parkway back towards the Washington Park waterfront.

“Most people train throughout the year consistently,” said race director Jason Biggs. “They do a handful of sprint and Olympic-type races, while doing a combination of swim, bike, run throughout the week. They’ll train consistently that way for a couple months.”

For those unwilling, or physically unable, to tackle 33 miles of course, Biggs offers the sprint option, a 15.5-mile triathlon through a similar, but shortened route.

Last year’s race introduced a grueling 100-mile race with a 50-mile sprint, drawing approximately 250 people. With a shortened path, Biggs is expecting upwards of 350 participants to line the Pamlico. From a distance standpoint, this is a more traditional Olympic-sized triathlon.

While the mileage may be intimidating, Biggs says most people who start the race end up finishing. “We get a little bit of everything, but for the most part we can a range of people in terms of athleticism.”

The race is organized with the help of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and volunteers from Inner Banks Outfitters.

Sponsored strictly through registration fees, runners can sign-up by visiting fsseries.com. The cost is $75 per individual or $135 per relay team for the Olympic triathlon and $70 per individual or $120 per relay team for the sprint triathlon. All participants will receive a t-shirt and post-race meal included. The last day to register is June 24.

Parking will not be allowed in Washington Park, as all race traffic will be directed to Haven’s Garden on River Road near the boat ramp.

Commuters driving that morning should plan an alternate route to avoid race traffic.