The second annual Seal Beach Triathlon and 5K, presented by Tri the Beach Triathlon Series, will take place on Saturday, October 19, at 8 a.m.
The Seal Beach Triathlon is a sprint distance triathlon that consists of a 600 meter swim, a 10 kilometer bike course and a 2 mile beach run. There is also a 5K run for those non-swimmers out there!
Last year was the first time in over 25 years that a triathlon has taken place in Seal Beach. Roughly 350 people participated in 2012. This year, over 600 people have registered and are expected on race day for both events!
The race distances were designed to encourage the newest triathlete and individuals of all ages and skill levels to participate. The course however is unique and challenging enough so that even the most experienced triathlete will enjoy the event.
For the swim portion of the race, participants will complete a 600 meter swim course in the ocean that finishes near the north jetty. They will retrieve their bikes from the north parking lot (near River’s End Café) and complete a 10 kilometer bike ride along the San Gabriel River bike path. They will then finish the course by completing a two mile run by running on the sand from the north parking lot to the naval base and back.
Tri the Beach Triathlon Series was founded in Seal Beach by residents Joshua Risby and Kent Sommer. The series, which starts each year in Seal Beach, has stops in Huntington Beach, Port Aransas Texas, and the Pacific Northwest on the Oregon Coast.
The company partners with the Surfrider Foundation and donates a portion of the proceeds to Surfrider and assists with the preservation of our beaches and communities. In fact, each triathlon series race also includes a beach clean up where last year at Seal Beach, over 500 pounds of trash was removed from the beach on just race morning!
Tri the Beach appreciates the community support for the event and understands that the event could not take place without the help from various organizations. The Seal Beach lifeguards and other city agencies provide an invaluable assistance on race day.
Various local businesses are sponsoring and supporting the event and are taking part in the post race expo. And of course many local residents have either signed up to compete in the race or volunteered to help out on race day.
Organizers said “It is going to be a great event and we hope that the entire community will come out and cheer on all the participants and enjoy the expo and other race festivities.”
