5th Annual Watauga Lake Triathlon September 19

Story by Bernadette Cahill

Registration is now open for individuals and teams planning to take part in the 5th annual Watauga Lake Triathlon, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at 9:00 a.m. Organizers are looking for volunteers to help during the race and accompanying festivities. Sugar Grove Baptist Church and a nearby family farm about 20 miles from Boone and located across the lake from Pioneer Landing is where everything takes place.

Organizer Dr. Scott Vandiver, a Boone physician, said the event is comprised of a 1,000-meter swim, a 35-kilometer bike ride and 8-kilometer run and requires “a pretty high level of fitness,” but also said that “kids as young as 11 years old” and adults “up to 80” have taken part.

“It is not an easy course. We do expect people to be in a fairly decent shape especially as an individual doing all three events.”

He said that individuals who would like to take part, but not in all three parts of the triathlon, can combine and register as a relay team.
 
Vandiver, a triathlon participant himself, who started the event five years ago, chose the location and course of the triathlon because of the setting.

“[The bike route] is one of the best rides I have ever been on,” he said. Because of the setting, “it’s one of the most spectacular triathlon bike routes that there is.” He said it is also ideal because of low automobile traffic.

The triathlon has been listed in Runners’ World magazine and is a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, with chip timing to ensure accuracy. There are cash prizes and awards. Post-race festivities include a barbecue and desserts. The event donates proceeds to the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, the Sugar Grove Baptist Church and other organizations.

The event has much color and action, particularly at the transition areas where swimmers take to their bikes and then bikers take to their feet, it is also a good spectator event, Vandiver said, but added, “we are always looking for volunteers.”

Volunteers can help with tasks such as parking and body-marking of the participants.

Individual entry fees are $65 per person, $50 for students and $115 for relay team. On-line registration ends Thursday, September 17, at 11:59 p.m. and registration after that will be available at Footsloggers between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18. On-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 8:30 a.m. on race day.

Pioneer landing is located off Highway 321 via Gregg’s Branch Road.

For more information or to register, click to www.wataugalaketriathlon.com.

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