International triathlon this Sunday

The Tri Without Borders bi-national marathon is scheduled for Sunday, August 13.

Race organizers say they expect more than 500 athletes to participate in the three events of the weekend. Those include the international distance triathlon, a 3,000-meter open water swim, and a sprint triathlon, held only in the U.S.

The international swim will begin on the beach of Peace Arch Park. All athletes will be required to pass through U.S. customs in order to check in on the U.S. side and then walk through the park to compete.

The international triathlon swim (1,680 meters) will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the open water swim will begin at Semiahmoo Spit at 8:45 a.m. The sprint triathlon swim (500 meters) will start at Semiahmoo Spit at 8:45 a.m.

All swimming races will finish next to Semiahmoo Resort on Trillium/Syre property. The exceptional bike course will take athletes around Birch Point and back to Semiahmoo as part of either a 13- or 20-mile course.

Triathletes will receive free entries for travel to Cancun, Mexico to race as part of the ITU World Cup in November. The swimmers are competing to win an entry into the world famous Waikiki Rough Water Swim, which is held in September in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.
The international distance Triathlon is part of the “Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Championship.” The top two athletes from Washington will be crowned “Best of the U.S. – Washington.” They will then go on to compete against the top two triathletes from each of the other 49 states at the 2006 “Best of the U.S.” event in September.
For more information about registering or to volunteer, go the web-site www.triwithoutborders.com, or contact Total Health Events, LLC at 360/325-0715.

Open water swimmers should check in at the Blaine Peace Arch state park by 8 a.m.