Aug. 20, 2008 — With the 10th Annual Love City Triathlon set to run Aug. 31, it's time to start practicing.
"This is our St. John Olympics," said Jude Woodcock of the organizing committee. The Beijing Olympics are an inspiration for everyone to get off the couch, she said.
Woodcock expects participants from St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola and St. Maarten. Others may come from father afield, but they haven't registered yet.
Last year St. Maarten cleaned up, with Frits Bus taking first in the men's division with a time of one hour and 46 minutes. Another St. Maarten resident, Terry Dewitt, came in first in the women's division with a time of one hour, 56 minutes and 16 seconds.
The triathlon begins at 7 a.m. at Maho Bay Beach and ends at Annaberg Plantation.
Participants will swim a half mile at Maho Bay and bike 14 miles from Maho Bay around St. John. The triathlon finishes with a four-mile run near Annaberg.
People with a bit less endurance should consider the second annual duathlon. Run for the first time in 2007, it consists of a half-mile swim and a 3.4-mile run. The duathlon is a good choice for people coming from other islands who find it too difficult to bring their bicycles, Woodcock said.
The duathlon is run at the same time as the triathlon. The duathletes swim the same half-mile course at the same time as the triathletes, but as the triathletes bicycle towards Cruz Bay, the duathletes run in the opposite direction. They also finish at Annaberg.
Participants in the triathlon can do all three legs competing as an individual or form a relay team with one or two other participants who each compete in one or two legs.
Duathlon participants must compete as individuals. There is no relay category in the duathlon, a change from last year.
Registration runs $30 for individuals in the triathlon and duathlon. The fee for relay participants is $25 per person. Registered participants receive a T-shirt, goodie bag and post-race beach picnic at Francis Bay Beach.
There is no registration on the morning of the race. Pick up registration forms at The Tap Room on St. John, Caribbean Surf Co. on St. Thomas and Stamina Sports on St. Croix.
Race numbers and goodie bags can be picked up from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Maho Bay Camps. This is also the last opportunity to sign up for the race.
There will be a mandatory pre-race meeting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Maho Bay Camps.
Maho Bay Camps is offering registered participants a complimentary one-night stay Aug. 30 in the campground's tent cottages. Registered participants from the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands receive 50 percent off for additional nights in the tent cottages. To reserve, call Maho Bay Camps by Aug. 28 at 715-0500 or 800-392-9004 and mention that you are a triathlon participant.
In addition to individual awards for the top five men and women and top three relay teams, one island team will receive the inter-island award for the top three combined times. The team must have three individual triathletes, one a female. Last year St. John captured the inter-island award.
For more information on the triathlon, contact Race Director Louise Wearmouth at via emailor call Woodcock at 779-1416.
For more information on the duathlon, contact Jane Thill at 514-6611 or email her.
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