Triathlon Losing Steam?

With one day of registration remaining, numbers are low for seventh annual event

So far, just 142 individuals have signed up.

By Julie Ann Grimm

Fewer people have registered for this weekend's seventh annual Santa Fe triathlon than did for last year's event, but city officials say they expect a last-minute rush of participants before the Saturday showdown.

The deadline to register is midnight Thursday, says an optimistic Liza Suzanne, manager for the city's Genoveva Chavez Community Center.

"We have noticed last-minute registrations for all our recreational events in Santa Fe," she tells SFR, adding later that officials from the USA Triathlon organization told her recently that participation numbers for similar events are down across the country, "but they don't know why there is a decline in the tri trend."

A number of local competitive athletic events recently might have also taken a bite out of numbers, she notes. (For example, on Sept. 13 more than 700 people ran the Santa Fe Thunder half-marathon from Fort Marcy to the Buffalo Thunder Casino, and Las Campanas held its triathlon on Labor Day.) 

Last year, 206 adults and 12 relay teams competed in the city event that includes a 5K run, a 12-mile bike ride and a 400-meter swim. This year, just 164 individuals and 10 teams have signed up. The footrace course traverses Rodeo Road and the Arroyo Chamiso Trail. After the run, competitors pedal bicycles down Rodeo Road to Richards Avenue, Rancho Viejo Boulevard and beyond. Finally, they jump into the center's Olympic-sized pool.

The event is scheduled to begin at 7 am on Sept. 20 at the Chavez Center. A kids triathlon is also scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21. Register for either event in person at the center or New Mexico Sports Online.

Santa Fe Reporter

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