Sneak preview: triathletes ready for competition

Editor's Note: This article was compiled from information provided by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA).

How is your concentration? Are you in good physical condition? Can you survive the challenge of competition? Do you mind sore muscles and sunburn?

The hundreds of persons entered in the Third Annual Triathlon sponsored by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) will test their physical and mental dexterity during the Aug. 16 event at the Crystal Lake Park District.

A special team comprised of staff from the Illinois Association of Park (Districts (IAPD) and IPRA will be among the entries in the 28-33 coed Steam division. Team members includeTed Flickinger, IAPD executive director; Kay Forest, IPRA executive director, and Sue Richartz, IPRA staff.

The agenda

Events include a 3/4mile lake swim, a 25 mile bike race and a 6.2 mile road run. Activities will begin with registration from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. and a 7:45 a.m. mandatory pre-race briefing at Main Beach. The race begins on the beach at 8:00 a.m., continues through the western rural areas of the community and concludes at the beach area.

Individual or team triathletes atleast 14 years of age by Aug. 16 are eligible for competition. Teams may consist of three males, three females or be coed. The team age division will be determined by the average age of the three competitors.

Separate male and female awards for the top three winners will be given in each of these age divisions: 14-19, 20-27, 28-33, 34-39, 40-45, 46-50, and 51 and older. In addition, awards will be given for the overall male and female winners.

Awards will also be given to the top three male, female and coed teams in each age division, and to the overall male, female and coed team.

Registrations

The triathlon entry fee is $18 per individual and $40 per team. The

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 July/August 1986

maximum 800 participants have already been registered for the event.

The fee includes post-race refreshments and a t-shirt. Participants should provide their own water bottle and a helmet for the bicycling course. All stages of the event will be monitored for participants' safety.

"There are two primary objectives behind this event," explained IPRA Exec. Dir. Kay Forest.

"One is to promote fitness statewide," she explained. "The other is to increase public awareness about the role that park and recreation agencies play in providing leisure opportunities.

"We thank Bud Light and CocaCola for their sponsorship and support, and urge everyone's participation as either a competitor or spectator."

Corporate sponsorship

Mike Rinella, sales manager for Binella Beverage Co. in Mundelein, has donated $3,000 toward the triathlon. This money will be used to purchase banners, hats for volunteers, participant t-shirts, complimentary beverages and other amenities contributing to the race. Rinella's sponsorship is also enabling IPRA to use the Bud Light logo for the event.

A competitor in last year's triathlon moves on to the next phase of competition. (Photo courtesy of IPRA.)

The Coca-Cola Company is donating t-shirts for the triathlon volunteers. This is the second year the event has received the company's support.

National sanctioning

This year's triathlon has received official sanctioning from the Triathlon Federation USA. Because the event qualifies for the International Distance category, the top ten men and women and the first place finishers in each age division will qualify for the Bud Light U.S. Triathlon Series National Championship - Tri-Fed/USA National Championship on Saturday, Sept. 27, in Hilton Head, SC. (This does not include teams.)

Athletes in the national championship will race for $30,000 in cash with another $25,000 going to the top athletes on the national AT&T point rankings. In addition to the Tri-Fed USA national championship awards, special honors will be given to the top five triathletes in each age division.

Additional information is available from the IPRA office, 262 E. Palatine Bd., Palatine, IL 60067. Phone (312) 991-2820.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 9 July/August 1986