Anyone who doubts triathlon is one of the country’s fastest growing sports should ask Greg Pennington, race director for the Clear Lake International Triathlon.
“We jumped from 400 participants last year to 700 this year,” he said.
This year’s event, scheduled for Aug. 22, will feature both a sprint race comprised of a .75-kilometer swim in Clear Lake, a 30K bike loop and a 5K run and a longer, Olympic-distance event that has attracted more than 400 entrants.
The Olympic-distance includes a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.
“The hope has always been to have an Olympic-distance triathlon here, but last year we couldn’t get the bike course approved in time,” Pennington said.
Arranging the cycling course is an endurance event itself, since it required permits in Dickinson, Seabrook, Pasadena, Kemah, League City, Webster and Nassau Bay.
Both the sprint and Olympic cycling courses cross the Kemah Bridge but are otherwise flat and fast, setting up the field for a hotly contested finish.
“All the local clubs will be well represented, and we have a new team in the sprint race from the Clear Creek High School ROTC,” Pennington said.
“We have an elite division with some outstanding triathletes registered,” he said.
“The top competitors from the local triathlon clubs like Bay Area Multisport and competitive teams like Tri on the Run will be there, so it should be exciting for spectators.
“The best spectating points will be near the transition area in Clear Lake Park, and for the run, down NASA Parkway near the Hilton.”
The start and finish are both on the south side of Clear Lake Park, with spectator parking available on the north side of NASA Parkway.
While both races in the Clear Lake International Triathlon are sold out, a few spots likely are to open up after packet pick-up concludes Aug. 21.
Unclaimed packets will be resold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 6:30 p.m. at On the Run Clear Lake.
For registration information, visit the race Web site at out-loud.org.
