The 37th annual Wilmington Sprint Triathlon will be this Saturday, Sept. 19 in Wrightsville Beach. It is sponsored by the Wilmington Family YMCA and features a 1500 meter swim, 12-mile bicycle ride and 5K run.
The transition area for the race is centered at Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex. However, the starting point for the first event, the swim, is actually at the Blockade Runner resort. Participants will be bussed to the resort before the start. The 1500-meter distance is unusual for a sprint distance triathlon, and that is due to the fact that this particular swim is a point-to-point route. Triathletes will be swimming in the channel between the island and the mainland, and the swim will end back at the transition area near the town hall.
Following the swim is the 12-mile bike race, which is on a flat course that follows a loop that will take riders over the bridge and onto the mainland then back to the transition area. The final event is the 5K run. This course is also a loop that will take runners through town and will mostly be on sidewalks.
Packet pickup and registration will be held at Two Wheeler Dealer at 4408 Wrightsville Ave. from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 and from 5 – 6 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Wrightsville Beach Town Hall, 321 Causeway Dr.
The event is also co-sponsored by Maus, Warwick and Matthews and by Two Wheeler Dealer. All proceeds benefit the Wilmington Family YMCA. For more information, visit the event page or go to www.wilmingtonfamilyymca.org.
