After the St. Anthony's Triathlon transition-area bike racks were packed up and moved out of Vinoy Park, area triathletes began making plans for the Madeira Beach Triathlon.
Local amateurs know that when members of the St. Pete Mad Dogs drove the USA Triathlon national champions to the airport in Tampa, they will have the festivities at the Madeira Beach Triathlon all to themselves.
"A block party with a race in it," race expo organizer Bill "Boston Bill" Hansbury said. "Neighbors, volunteers and all the people who live on Gulf Boulevard are in race mode. They will be out there cheering all weekend."
The St. Pete Mad Dog Triathlon Club hosts the popular race expo, which includes refreshments, food, shopping for goodies from local vendors, live music and entertainment, prizes and a post-race awards party under the tents.
At the 19th Annual Madeira Beach Triathlon, children will compete in a well-supported "mini-triathlon" on Saturday and more than 900 adults are signed up for Sunday's main event at Archibald Park, near 150th and Gulf Boulevard. The first wave dives into the gulf at 7:30 a.m. Race distances for Sunday's adult race are a .5-mile swim, 15-mile bike and 3.1-mile run. The host hotel is the Madeira Beach Holiday Inn. Call (727) 392-2275 for race rates.
"The layout of the Madeira Beach Triathlon course has changed a bit and will be more comfortable for spectators," race director Alan Tudor said. "Our course can hold 1,200 triathletes. I'm anticipating several hundred more showing up on race day."
Triathletes know that in past years, the 3.1-mile run has been, at least partially, on the sand at Madeira Beach. Some participants leave their running shoes at the turnaround; others opt for lighter, racing flats that do well in the tough, wet conditions.
"Our new course will go out on Gulf Boulevard, then turn onto the beach for the return trip," Tudor said. "It's tough, but it's a great course and the finish line will not be on the beach. Runners will be directed back up to the parking lot area, near the Holiday Inn, over the beach foot bridges, around to the finish line on the pavement. Water and shade will be plentiful for spectators."
For information on registering or volunteering, call Alan and Donna Tudor at 813 818-8255 or visit www.madbeachtriathlon.com
NAME THAT RACE: Lane Riddile, City of Largo recreation program supervisor, is offering prizes for anyone who can name Largo's upcoming cyclocross series. Cyclocross events, which resemble cross country running but on bicycles, often combine offroad running, obstacles, dismounts and offroad biking. For details, call Riddile at 727 518-3021 or e-mail lriddile@largo.com
GULF COAST TRIATHLON: Top locals won their age divisions at the USA Triathlon Southeastern U.S. Championship Gulf Coast Triathlon in Panama City Beach, on Saturday. Jennifer Hutchison, a 36-year-old registered dietitian, coach and professional model from St. Petersburg, won female 35-39 in 5 hours, 4 minutes. Mary Pulaski, 52, a retired senior business analyst from Largo, won (female 50-54) in 5:53:11. The distances were 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. For more results, visit www.gulfcoasttri.com
FLORIDA HALF: More than 2,400 triathletes will compete at the Florida Half Ironman Triathlon, which will be held May23 at the Walt Disney World Resort. Thirty qualifying slots for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship are up for grabs. For more information, visit www.floridahalfironman.com
TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP: USA Cycling's Florida State Time Trial Championships will be held June6 at St. Augustine Outlet Mall in the city of St. Augustine. The first rider is off at 7:30 a.m., all others at one-minute intervals. Call Guy Preston at 904 591-0800 or visit www.redhillsracing.com
FORT DESOTO TIME TRIALS: Florida Bicycle Sports presents the Thursday Night Summer Time Trial Series at Tierra Verde, near Fort DeSoto Park. The remaining race dates are June3 and July1. The race distance is 9.5 miles. Call 727 823-7774 or visit www.floridabicyclesports.com
