From the river to the sea, nearly 2,000 athletes will take part in Saturday’s fifth annual PPD Beach2Battleship Iron-distance Triathlon. The full race includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile-run.
The full triathlon will begin at 7 a.m., and the half-triathlon begins at 8:30 a.m. Both events begin with a swim in the channel at the southern tip of Wrightsville Beach. The 112-mile (full) and 56-mile (half) bike courses take competitors from Wrightsville Beach, through the northern section of Wilmington and then up towards White Lake. The two-loop (full) and one-loop (half) run course will start at the Wilmington Convention Center and finish in downtown Wilmington, just across the river from the historic USS North Carolina Battleship.
Due to the race’s popularity over the last four years, organizers decided to move the finish line from Battleship Park to downtown Wilmington. This year’s run route eliminates two bridge crossings by starting at the convention center.
A finish line celebration will take place in downtown Wilmington on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon is an internationally recognized iron distance and half iron distance event. In 2010, Triathlete magazine ranked it as No. 5 among its list of “Best 140.6-Miles Races” in the world. This year’s athletes are from 45 states and 10 countries. Approximately 94 percent of the participants travel to the event from outside the area, which provides a boost to the local economy.
According to Kim Hufham, president and CEO if the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority, based on out-of-town registrant information provided by event organizers, direct spending from this event will total an estimated $1.3 million.
“During their visit, competitors and their guests will stay in hotels, dine in restaurants, and shop at retailers as they experience Wilmington’s historic river district and the island beaches,” said Hufham.
Net proceeds from the event will be contributed to the Wilmington Family YMCA.
The race route may cause some traffic tie-ups Saturday on the area roadways. Click here for a complete race map that includes traffic hot-spot.
