Tri On The Plains Sprint Triathalon

***Press Release***

The Sterling Lions Club will again be hosting a sprint triathlon with a competitive heat and a family heat. The event includes a Sprint competition and an Open/Family heat. The Sprint includes a 750-meter swim in North Sterling Reservoir, a 15-mile bike ride along county roads and back, and a 5K run across the dam. The Open/Family class is shorter with a 75-meter swim, 2-mile bike ride and half-mile run. The Sprint swim begins at 7 a.m. and the Open/Family swim starts at about 9:30 a.m. Cost of registration is $70 before June 1 and $80 up to race time for individual participants. Teams can register for $90 before June 1 and $120 up to race time. A team consists of three athletes: one for the swim, one for cycling and one for the run. All three must be together at registration. The Sterling Lions are also seeking volunteers to help with the event. To volunteer for the Tri On The Plains, contact Rory Hough at 521-0764. Volunteer positions include watching the track, keeping scores, helping competitors change between stages and manning kayaks and jet skis during the swim stage of the event. Pre-event training is available by contacting Deron Feather at 466-0241.

Sterling Lions Club Triathlon June 22 at North Sterling State Park

The Sterling Lions Club will host its second sprint triathlon this year. The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, at North Sterling State Park. The event includes a Sprint competition and an Open/Family heat. The Sprint includes a 750 meter swim in North Sterling Reservoir, a 15 mile bike ride along county roads and back, and a 5K run across the dam. The Open/Family class is shorter with a 75 meter swim, 2 mile bike ride and half-mile run. The Sprint swim begins at 7 a.m. and the Open/Family swim starts at about 9:30 a.m. Cost of registration is $70 before June 1 and $80 up to race time for individual participants. Teams can register for $90 before June 1 and $120 up to race time. A team consists of three athletes: one for the swim, one for cycling and one for the run. All three must be together at registration. Proceeds from the event the Sterling Lion's Club sight projects. To register, go to triontheplains.org, and click on the registration link.

Sterling Lions Club Hosts “Tri on the Plains” Sprint/Triathlon June 23

***Press Release***

Sterling, CO – The Sterling Lions Club took a cue from last years’ sporting events to host a sprint/triathlon called “Tri on the Plains”; a 700 meter swim / 15 mile bike / 5K run event for athletes on Sunday, June 23, 2013.  In addition, the Lions Club will host an “Open” or mini-triathlon for beginners, families and children.

“Tri on the Plains” is a fundraiser where proceeds will be used to benefit Lions Club sight projects. The Sterling Lions Club, the largest of the Lions organizations on the eastern plains, hosts a variety of events throughout the year to generate funds for sight projects, such as the Pancake Night for Sight and Tri on the Plains.  In addition, the Sterling Lions Club participates in the community through the KidSight Program and support of the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank & Eye Institute Foundation.

In addition to participating in the event on June 23^rd, the Sterling Lions Club “Tri” committee is also looking for local sponsors, ranging from $100 Fan sponsors to $1,000 Gold sponsors.  Sponsorships include a variety of marketing & advertising options as well as complimentary event registrations.

Pricing for “Tri on the Plains” starts at $25 for the “Open” or mini-tri, $70 for Individuals (full Sprint triathlon), and $90 for Relay Teams.  Prices increase $5 starting June 1 and the host hotel is the Comfort Inn in Sterling.  More information and registration can be located on the event website www.triontheplains.org.

North Sterling State Park Hosts Triathlon

***Colorado State Parks Press Release***

STERLING, Colo. - North Sterling State Park will host the HITS Triathlon Series on July 28 and July 29.  Water levels in the reservoir remain good for swimming, fishing and boating. The HITS Open, a nationwide series of swimming, biking and running races held at sites across the country, is designed for everyone from individuals attempting their first triathlon to aspiring professional athletes.

                     There will be several heats held over the two-day period. Each heat will begin with the swim and then transition into the bicycling followed by the running.  David Piper, North Sterling State Park’s Manager, said all three stages for each of the events will be held in the park and centered at the swim beach pavilion. The swim beach area will be busy both days, with athletes, vendors, and food service staff. The public is welcome to watch or enjoy the swim beach area when the triathlon athletes aren’t swimming. During the swim portion of each heat, the area will be closed to swimming to allow athletes to compete without interference.

                     North Sterling State Park offers fast, rolling courses for the biking and running. The Open, Sprint and Olympic run courses will take place on hard packed trails, while the Half and Full athletes will continue onto safe, rural country roads dotted with farms. The swim will take place in the waters of North Sterling Reservoir and feature gorgeous views and plenty of room for mass starts.

                     Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more about Colorado’s state parks, please see: http://www.parks.state.co.us.  To learn more about Colorado’s wildlife programs, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us

HITS Triathlon Series seeks event volunteers in Sterling, Colorado

HITS Triathlon Series will continue its national tour July 28-29, 2012 with a weekend of racing in Sterling, Colorado and is eager to welcome volunteers to get in on the action. HITS Triathlon Series will welcome 500 athletes to the Sterling region, offering five race distances throughout the weekend, including the HITS Open and a Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full distance race.

 “Volunteers are the reason that these races are possible,” said Mark H. Wilson, Race Director for HITS Triathlon Series. “They not only help the event to run smoothly, but they are a source of emotional and mental support for the athletes who are out there pushing the limits of their bodies.”

The new kid on the triathlon block, HITS Triathlon Series hopes to engage local volunteers and build a lasting relationship with each community that they visit. In addition, any organization that brings a group to volunteer on race day will have the opportunity to use their hours served as a fundraiser.  

“Our number one priority is to grow this sport,” added Wilson. “Encouraging volunteers is one way to do that. We’ve seen people volunteer at events who never believed triathlon was an option for them and, a few races down the road, we see their name on our HITS Open or Sprint participant lists.”

Whether it’s checking athletes in at packet pick-up, handing out water at an aid station or placing a medal around an athlete’s neck at the finish line, HITS Triathlon Series will give its volunteers a front row seat at one of world’s most inspiring sporting events.

Volunteer registration is available online at HitsTriathlonSeries.com. Interested volunteers can also contact HITS Triathlon Series by calling 845.246.8833 or by e-mailing info@HitsTriathlonSeries.com.

About HITS, Inc.          
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing endurance sports events and hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS is dedicated to creating high-quality events in desirable destinations with unmatched, professional operations. For more information about the HITS Triathlon Series, please visit HitsTriathlonSeries.com.

HITS Triathlon Series announces move to Sterling, Colorado for upcoming July event

***Press Release***

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 13, 2012) – HITS Triathlon Series announced today that the July 28-29 event originally planned for Fort Collins will now be held 94 miles east in Sterling, Colorado. The decision came as result of a combination of factors, including the recent devastation from wildfires burning in the area, which covers large portions of the bike route planned for the Half and Full distance races.

“We’ve been working with community officials and leaders for some time trying to finalize the routes for the bike and run, which is typically a process that takes some finessing no matter where the event is held,” said Mark Wilson, Race Director for HITS Triathlon Series. “Throughout the process we’ve had great cooperation from officials and local supporters in the community; however, it recently became clear that an alternate location would be best.”

The event will now be held at North Sterling State Park in Sterling, which is 110 miles northeast of Denver and a relatively similar driving distance for athletes coming from the Denver airport. The park features a large, spacious reservoir on the high plains with ample camping offered year-round. For the Sprint and Olympic races on Saturday, the bike route leaves the park on County Road 33 with the Sprint athletes turning around 6.2 miles out on County Road 39, while Olympic athletes will turn around on County Road 30, 12.4 miles out and return to the park. On Sunday, Half and Full distance athletes will travel to State Route 14 where they will enjoy 28 miles of rolling hills before returning back to the park for the finish or a second loop.

“This is going to be a fast course with rolling hills, where athletes will be able to gain momentum from hill to hill and will be able to see for miles on both the bike and the run,” added Wilson. “The run will take place completely inside the park on Saturday, while on Sunday athletes in the Half and Full will continue out to County Road 27.”

Updated course maps are being finalized now and will be available on the HITS Triathlon Series website as soon as possible.

“Right now our thoughts are first and foremost with the community of Fort Collins and the surrounding areas who are battling these devastating fires,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “It’s clear the community will be dealing with the affects of this current situation for some time. I’m pleased that we were able to go down the road a bit to find the closest location that could work for our needs and create the least amount of impact for registered athletes. We believe this course is a great alternative for both registered athletes and to help attract new registrants. We are excited to come to Colorado with our series and are looking forward to having our best Sunday races yet.”

HITS is working with local hotels to arrange for lodging partners and will have more information on community resources available in Sterling as soon as possible. For more information, please visit HitsTriathlonSeries.com or email info@hitstriathlonseries.com.

About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing endurance sports events and hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS is dedicated to creating high-quality events in desirable destinations with unmatched, professional operations. For more information about the HITS Triathlon Series, please visit www.HitsTriathlonSeries.com.