The 5th annual triPATHlon at Chastain Park May 3 will draw a mix of first time triathletes and those more experienced who will use this in-town event as a warm up for a long season of races.
And it’s not only for adults. There is also kids races so entire families can participate.
For ADULTS: The triPATHlon, considered a sprint event, begins with a 400-yard swim in Chastain Park Pool, which is appealing to many first-time triathletes who may be intimidated by swimming in a lake or river. It is followed by a 15-mile bike course around west Buckhead. It ends with a 5K run on a paved PATH trail that loops around pretty, well-kept Chastain Park. The route along Lake Forest Drive is dotted with benches and has a stream with landscaped banks.
FOR KIDS: Splash and Dash event for children ages 6-14
12-14 year age group: 200 yard swim and a 2K run; 9-11 year age group: 100 yard swim and a 1K run; 6-8 year age group: 50 yard swim and a 500 yard run. $15 To register, to go: www.tripathlonatlanta.com
Like other races with a common cause, this event brings together a group of athletes of all levels — eager to put a spotlight on the PATH Foundation, a non-profit organization which has been building a system of scenic greenways in metro Atlanta for 22 years. The PATH’s goal is to create a system of linear parks that link the entire city, a way to travel, exercise and enjoy the outdoors — on foot, bikes, skates.
The larger goal of the event is to raise awareness about the PATH Foundation’s mission and the costs involved with building and maintaining the trails, said Bo Heiner, a foundation board member. The race is expected to raise about $15,000, which will be split three ways (among the PATH Foundation, the Chastain Park Conservancy and the Chastain Park Athletic Club).
The PATH Foundation has developed over 220 miles of trail throughout Georgia and has become a nationally recognized model for trail-building success. The trails include the quiet countryside of the Silver Comet, as well as The South Peachtree Creek Trail with a boardwalk connecting the ball fields of Medlock Park to the historic Decatur Waterworks and the Tennis Center at Mason Mill Park. The PATH Foundation is also one of the key partners of the Beltline, a popular loop of parks and trails in the middle of a bustling metropolis.
triPATHlon
7:30 a.m. May 3. Chastain Park Pool, 235 West Wieuca Road, NW, Atlanta. $80 for USAT members; $92 for non-USAT members. $130 for relays. Prices for all categories go up $20 after April 19. T-shirts cannot be guaranteed for registrations received after April 5. To register, to go: www.tripathlonatlanta.com
Splash and Dash event for children ages 6-14
12-14 year age group: 200 yard swim and a 2K run; 9-11 year age group: 100 yard swim and a 1K run; 6-8 year age group: 50 yard swim and a 500 yard run. $15 To register, to go: www.tripathlonatlanta.com
