Organiser Paul Humphreys sums is up like this: “It’s beautiful scenery, the most classic country triathlon you’ll ever find.”
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He’s talking about the Maitland Triathlon, on again in the streets, river and surrounding countryside of Morpeth this Sunday.
If all this suggests it’s a fun day, you’re right – to a degree.
But consider this: Rod Marsdale who has undergone a double lung transplant, will compete on Sunday.
As will Commonwealth Games bronze medallist paratriathlete Lauren Parker.
And you know the triathlons they run in the Olympics? Well, the longest race on Sunday will be be bigger than the Olympic event – a touch under half ironman distance.
And while the competitors are slugging it out, the people of Morpeth can sit back and have a coffee along Swan Street and check out the action. Very civilised indeed.
Mr Humphreys said 210 athletes registered to compete in the triathlon, and a further 100 runners for the fun run – a 10km run that can be done individually, or divided up among two or four runners relay-style.
‘We have three race distances to choose from,” Mr Humphreys said. “The long race is a 2000m swim, 60km ride and 15km run.
“The Olympic Distance is a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run. And the Sprint Distance with 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.”
Clearly his version of a sprint is very different to mine.
The swim will be in the river, starting at the boat ramp and heading east, up one side of the river and down the other.
The ride will be a looped course, down Swan Street, into Edwards Street, past the common and the cricket field, and out into Duckenfield.
“With luck the magpies will have disappeared,” he says.
This year’s event will kick off at 6.45am with the start of the long distance race, with staggered starts. The final event is the fun run relay which starts at 8am.
“It’s a great day out but there’s some very serious racing too,” Mr Humphreys said.
“In the long race the winning time will be somewhere around three-and-a-half hours. The slower competitors will be around five hours, maybe a bit more.”
With reigning champ Lorcan Redman and runner up Will Dawes injured, the field is wide open.
Local Holly Khan and visitor Ali Fitch are expected to fight it out in the Olympic distance race.
“We have really strong representation from Sydney as well as our strong local clubs … Maitland, Tomaree, Newcastle and Singleton.”
The new race compound will allow extra space for a festival atmosphere with entertainment.
