Duathlon National Championships – Race Preview
The city of St. Paul will host the 2014 Duathlon National Championships on Saturday July 19th. This is a big day in multisport, bound to draw the country’s top duathletes (many of them local superstars) to the city. This national event is the only qualifier for the 2015 Duathlon World Championships in Australia, so expect some serious run/bike/run throwdown to take place. According to the race website, all 50 states are expected to be represented, giving the race the potential to be the largest duathlon ever!
If you’re around town next Saturday, make the trip over to St. Paul to spectate this premier event! Here’s what you’ll need to know about the race.
Race Info
The race will be staged at Harriet Island in St. Paul and consist of two distances; the standard distance: a 5k run, 30k bike, 5k run and the sprint distance: a 3.25k run, 20k bike, 3.25k run. The race will begin with the standard distance starting waves according to age and gender around 7:30am. The sprint distance will also start in waves beginning later in the day around 11:45am.
Race Course
Run: After leaving the transition area, the run will head down Water Street to Robert Street, where sprint racers turn around and standard distance racers cross the Mississippi taking a left onto Kellogg Blvd to the turnaround point on Wabasha Street.
Bike: Racers will head back to the transition area where they’ll grab their bikes and head out on make their way onto Plato Blvd. They’ll use Wabasha St across the Mississippi, then take a right onto Kellogg Blvd, snaking their way to Shepard Road where they’ll continue to the turnaround point at Randolph Ave. The standard distance completes 3 laps and the sprint distance 2 laps, making this bike course super spectator friendly.
Once off the bike, racers will head back out on the run course following the same path as the first run. They’ll cross the finish line at Harriet Island (assuming, of course, it’s no longer under water!). For more information on specific course details, check out the course and venue maps!
Race Participants
Among the racers registered (as of Monday afternoon), more than 100 athletes are representing Minnesota at the National Championships – so, get out there and cheer them on!
Look for Matthew Payne and Kevin O’Connor to represent the state well in the men’s race. As for the women, local athletes Diane Hankee and Jennifer Scudiero (last year’s National Champ) should have awesome showings.
Race Spectating
St. Paul is lucky enough to host this national event in 2014 as well as 2015! Community support and cheering brings so much life to these events; let’s show everyone the spirit Minneapolis and St. Paul has by supporting these multisport athletes! If you want to take it a step further – get involved by volunteering at the race!
Who knows, you might just be inspired enough to take on a new challenge in 2015 competing in the event yourself, next July!
