B.C.’s oldest continuously run triathlon will celebrate its 35th anniversary by putting on three championship races July 16.
The Peach Classic Triathlon has partnered with Triathlon B.C. to have the Sprint Distance and Standard distance races as championships, as well as the Club Pennant Championship. The Peach Classic Triathlon is the first to host a Club Pennant Championship.
Related: Club championship joins Peach Classic Triathlon
Race director Steve Brown said that is exciting.
“For the athletes it gives them something else to shoot for and when they are racing they can not only race for themselves, but race for their club, its good,” said Brown.
Athletes have a choice between the Standard Distance (1.5 kilometre swim/40-km bike/10-km run) or the Sprint Distance (750 m swim/20 km bike/five-km run). The swim consists of one loop and the bike is an out and back to Naramata while the run is an out and back along the KVR. Athletes must be a minimum of 18 to enter the Standard Distance, while minim age is 16 for the Sprint Distance.
In 2016, the event attracted 269 (130 in the sprint distance, 139 in the standard). As of July 4, 263 athletes had signed up, 133 in the Sprint Distance. Brown said near the end of June they were ahead of last year’s numbers. Organizers had put a big push on registration with a month remaining as the registration fee increased on June 16. Brown said what was interesting about athletes signing up is more had entered for the sprint, which is the opposite of the norm.
“It has also been consistent with what has been happening with a few other races where sprint numbers seem to be up over standard,” he said.
There will be no change to the course, but because of high lake levels, the water quality will be looked at. If the water quality doesn’t meet the standards, especially for cleanliness, then the race will be switched to a duathlon, meaning the athletes will run twice.
“If there is a bunch of dead heads and debris, stuff floating around in the water, you can’t conduct a swim through that,” said Brown.
A decision on that is made a day or two before the race, but Brown said they are prepared if they need to make that change.
Athletes are able to register up to July 15, but he recommends they don’t do that. If they wait until the final day, there is no guarantee that there will be enough “goodies” to give them.
To register for the Peach Classic Triathlon, visit, www.peachclassic.ca then click on the registration tab.
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