The 11th annual Billy Loutit Despatch Triathlon is set for July 20-21.
The Kids of Steel event will be held on Saturday (July 20) while the Loutit Triathlon, as well as the new duathlon, will be held on the Sunday.
Registrations for the events are now being accepted, and volunteers and sponsors are still sought, according to race director Mark Francis.
“It’s a hugely popular event,” said Francis. “The number of athletes we get out is excellent for a town our size. We’re hoping we fill every lane and max out our numbers.”
For over a decade, local athletes have joined with visitors from around the province for the annual event, which honours famed mail runner Billy Loutit. In 1904, Loutit famously ran from Athabasca to Edmonton in a remarkable 16 hours to bring news of a flood.
“It’s such a great story from our history, about our area,” said Francis. “Carrying on that name and history is an important part of this.”
The Kids of Steel event is open for kids from seven and under to 18.
The youngest kids swim 50m, bike 1.5km and run 0.5km, while the oldest kids swim 500m, bike 20km and run 5km.
Sunday’s triathlon comes in two forms; standard and sprint.
In the standard event, athletes swim 1500m in the Athabasca Landing Pool before biking 40km and running 10km. The sprint event sees athletes swimming 500m, biking 20km and running 5km. The triathlon is for both individuals and teams.
New this year, the duathlon (for individuals only) starts with a 10km run, goes to a 40km bike and finishes with a 5km run.
Organizers decided to add the duathlon after hearing a lot of athletes say they were confident in all areas but the swim.
Over a hundred athletes take part in the event each year, which fills the pool and the surrounding streets to capacity with the competitors.
A lot of volunteers are needed for all kinds of jobs, from handing out water bottles to keeping the athletes on track at the various street corners. Anyone interested in helping out can contact Glenda Gray at 780-689-6843.
Athletes can register online (www.billyloutit.ca) or by picking up forms at the pool, Athabasca Regional Multiplex, the Aspen View School Division office or any of the schools in town.
“It is a competitive event and we have some very competitive athletes. (But) we also have people come and it’s the first and only triathlon they ever do,” said Francis, noting it’s the perfect event for families and bucket-listers.
“It’s about getting out, being healthy and supporting the community, and challenging yourself.”
