(Photo Courtesy of DesertClassicDuathlon.com)
The 2009 Desert Classic Duathlon is coming to McDowell Mountain park Sunday February 22nd. The race, set for 8 am, consists of a 3.5 mile run, a 21 mile bike race on a road course and finishes with a 2.7 mile run.
Along with the full Duathlon the event will include a juniors duathlon for participants ages 15 through 19 and a children’s duathlon for ages 7 through 14.. The junior duathlon consists of a 1.5 mile run, an 11 mile bike race and a 1.5 run. The children’s duathlon includes a 1/2 mile run, 5 mile bike ride and concludes with a 1/2 mile run.
Co-Race director John Lierle describes the event as “A unique duathlon venue that combines smooth trail runs with a challenging road bike course through the majestic sonoran desert. The Trisports.com Desert Classic Duathlon is a favorite of many professional triathletes who use the race as an early season test of their fitness. The race also draws a very strong field of top age-group athletes from across the U.S. looking for a warm weather destination where they can race and vacation.”
The race will serve as one of the two regional qualifying races for the 2009 World Duathlon championships, the other being the Apple Duathlon in Minnesota. The top three athletes in each age group will qualify for the world championships. Qualifying sports will include the top 6 in each age group if their finishing time is within 20% of the age group winner.
Proceeds from the Desert Classic go towards youth education programs in the Maricopa county Parks system. The race is put on by the Phoenix Triathlon Club, whose members serve as volunteers, and is sponsored by TriSports.com
For more information visit www.DesertClassicDuathlon.com.
The Phoenix Triathlon Club, which has produced the duathlon for ten years, is a 501(c)4 not for profit organization and one of the largest multi-sport clubs in the United States with a membership that ranks in the top 4% of U.S. triathlon clubs. The club is a growing community of friendly and cohesive triathletes whose members are motivated through pride and team spirit striving to provide excellence in member experience.
