Parent Info Night set for annual Fitness Youth Triathlon

PINEHURST – In anticipation of its eighth annual Youth Triathlon, FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst will host a Parent Information Night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the fitness center at 170 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst. The session will give parents all of the needed information for their child’s successful participation in the Youth Triathlon.

To be held this year on Saturday, May 16, on the campus of FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst, the Youth Triathlon has become a favorite for children ages 4 to 12. The event will feature an indoor pool swim, closed-course bike ride and greenway trail run.

Starting times and activities are as follows:

•          12:15 p.m. – Ages 4-5 will swim 25 yards, bike .78 miles and run 210 yards.
•          1 p.m. – Ages 6-7 will swim 50 yards, bike 2.05 miles and run 404 yards.
•          2 p.m. – Ages 8-9 will do the same distances as the 6- and 7-year-olds.
•          3 p.m. – The 10-12 age group will swim 125 yards, bike 3.71 miles and run .47 miles. 

Registration is available at FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst. The cost is $30 per child through May 10 and $35 per child after May 10^.  All participants will receive a T-shirt, cinch bag and finisher medal.

Trophies will be awarded to the boys and girls finishing first, second and third in each age category during an award ceremony to be held at FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst at 6 p.m. Monday, May 18.

All triathlon participants must have a parent present for the entire triathlon event, and a participation waiver must be completed at packet pick-up one hour prior to start time on race day. Participants should furnish their own equipment: a swimsuit and towel, bike and helmet (required), running shoes and T-shirt. 

A pledge drive to benefit the Children’s CARE Fund of The Foundation of FirstHealth has been added to the 2015 event. Youth Triathlon participants will have the opportunity to collect donations from relatives and friends who can sponsor legs of their participation.

The suggested donation is $5 per leg (swim, bike & run). 

The triathlete collecting the most donations will receive a voucher for a free bicycle from Rainbow Cycles ($250 maximum value).

Sponsors for the 2015 FirstHealth of the Carolinas Youth Triathlon are Benjamin Franklin Plumbing; Brixx Wood Fired Pizza; NuView Home Theaters & More; Rick Saunders, DDS; Fabian Rodriguez, M.D.; Rainbow Cycles; Rugg Rats; and Rita’s Italian Ice.

For more information on the race and to download a registration form, go to www.firsthealth.org/youthtriathlon or contact Jodi Heimrich at (910) 715-1843 or jheimrich@firsthealth.org. Course maps are also available on the website.