The annual Wilmington Family YMCA Triathlon is set for this weekend at Wrightsville Beach. The race gets under way at 7 a.m. Saturday. The event is a part of Inside-Out Sports North Carolina Triathlon Series. The race is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event and consists of a 1,500-meter swim, a 12-mile bike and a 5Krun. Some 1,400 athletes are expected to participate. There may be some traffic congestion early tomorrow morning if your traveling in and around the Wrightsville Beach area.
Swim:
This race starts out with a 1,500 meter swim, which is unusual for a sprint distance triathlon. The reason the swim is longer than the normal sprint distance swim is because the swim is a point-to-point swim that always takes place with an incoming tide. This is another race that becomes a race day decision for wetsuits – as the water temperature at this time of the year can be a bit cooler along the southeastern North Carolina coast.
This race starts out with a 1,500 meter swim, which is unusual for a sprint distance triathlon. The reason the swim is longer than the normal sprint distance swim is because the swim is a point-to-point swim that always takes place with an incoming tide. This is another race that becomes a race day decision for wetsuits – as the water temperature at this time of the year can be a bit cooler along the southeastern North Carolina coast.
Bike:
The course is flat as the race is at the coast. The one loop course takes participants over the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge and onto the mainland. Participants need to be very careful crossing the metal grading on the drawbridge – don’t make any sudden turns or movements (ride carefully).
The course is flat as the race is at the coast. The one loop course takes participants over the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge and onto the mainland. Participants need to be very careful crossing the metal grading on the drawbridge – don’t make any sudden turns or movements (ride carefully).
Run:
The 5K run course is a one-loop design. The run takes place on the very popular “loop” at Wrightsville Beach with 90 percent of the run being on the sidewalk system – the other 10 percent is on a very quiet side street – used to get the necessary distance.
The 5K run course is a one-loop design. The run takes place on the very popular “loop” at Wrightsville Beach with 90 percent of the run being on the sidewalk system – the other 10 percent is on a very quiet side street – used to get the necessary distance.
Awards will be given to the top three finalists in each of the following categories: open male & female masters open male & female, age groups m & f, Clydesdales, Masters Clydesdales, Athena, Master Novice male & female, Novice male & female and relay teams mixed.
