The seventh annual PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon, produced by Set Up Events and benefiting the Wilmington Family YMCA, takes place this Saturday 25 October 2014. This year’s event will see nearly 2,200 athletes from 43 US states joining with international racers to compete in the half and full iron distance events.
Additional athletes will participate in the New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) 5K, a new event added to the PPD Beach2Battleship weekend.
The full iron distance race includes a 2.4-mile swim in Banks Channel along Wrightsville Beach, a 112-mile bike through New Hanover, Pender, Sampson and Bladen counties, and a full marathon of 26.2 miles that finishes on Water Street in downtown Wilmington. The half iron course is a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run that also ends in downtown Wilmington.
The athletes, who range up to 72 years of age, will compete for overall and age-group awards. Among the participants are professional triathletes, military personnel, physically challenged paratriathletes and the PPD Heroes who have overcome serious illness and race to raise public awareness about the importance of clinical trials for the development of critical medical treatments. The 2014 PPD Heroes include: Wendy Chioji, Tim Fortuna, Laura Hull, Mary Kreis, Meg Roberts, Chris Samia and Emily Schaller.
Triathlon legend Michellie Jones will serve as the weekend’s honorary host. The former ITU World Champion, Kona Ironman World Champion, and Olympic medallist will meet athletes and present awards on Sunday at the athlete celebration brunch in the Wilmington Convention Center.
The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon and NHRMC 5K benefit the Wilmington Family YMCA. Dick Jones, CEO of the Wilmington Family YMCA, said, “The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon is unique due to its very strong community focus. Its identity and energy are derived from the beautiful and welcoming communities of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. We come together to provide the best possible race experience to the athletes who entrust their hard-earned race day to us.”
An event expo, featuring sponsors and multisport-related vendors, will be held at the Wilmington Convention Center on Thursday 23 October from 10:00 local time to 17:00, and Friday 24 October from 10:00 to 18:00. Many exhibitors will also be set up at the Michelob Ultra Finish Line Celebration on Water Street from noon until midnight on Saturday 25 October. These venues are open to the public.
The race, and its beneficiary the Wilmington Family YMCA, receive tremendous support from the business community through sponsorships from the following: PPD, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, CLIF Shot, CLIF Bar, PhRMA, FINIS, Inc., Michelob Ultra and Natty Greene’s, Penske Truck Rental, AAA Carolinas, Cumulus Broadcasting, Medidata Solutions, TriBike Transport, Hilton Wilmington Riverside, LM Restaurants, Port City Java, BB&T, Inside Out Sports, Bryant Real Estate, WetSuitRental.com, Rent-A-John, Port City Marina, Without Limits Coaching, ORR Cycling, Rudy Project, Hammer Nutrition, WordwrightWeb, Mojotivation, Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Aquaman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Party Suppliers and Rental, Subway, Miller-Motte College, Green Coast Recycling, Blockade Runner, The Home Depot, TOPS Athletics and Synergy ONE Wellness & Performance Lab, Wilmington NC Airport (ILM), Papa John’s Pizza, EZ Box Storage, Wilmington Yoga Center, Toad Hollow Athletics, Sunbelt Rentals, Salming, Gold’s Gym, Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, CompresSport, L & L Tent and Party Rentals, Filmwerks, Patient Centered Care, Downtown Wilmington, Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, BASE Performance and ORIG3N.
The event will impact some area roads and motorists are encouraged to take alternative routes or to exercise care when traveling the race course. A link to the traffic hotspots is provided at beach2battleship.com. Law enforcement agencies across the region are working with event organizers to ensure the safety of the participants and to minimize traffic delays.
Race organizers and sponsors appreciate the cooperation, support and involvement of the community. All are invited to watch the PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon and cheer on participants along the course or at the finish line festival on Water Street.
The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon has been ranked among the top five iron distance triathlons in the world by Triathlete mag. Nearly 2,200 athletes, including international competitors and triathletes from 43 US states, will participate, helping generate more than US$4 million in local economic impact.
The NHRMC 5K is a companion race to the PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon, offering athletes a scenic, fast and flat 5K course. The NHRMC 5K will be held at 09:00 on Saturday 25 October, starting at Legion Stadium and ending at the PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon finish line on Water Street. The NHRMC 5K also benefits the Wilmington Family YMCA. Walkers and families are welcome.
Set Up Events, one of the US nation’s largest producers of triathlons, is a full-service production, registration and timing company for participatory sports, triathlon and running events. In 2014, Set Up Events will produce more than 150 triathlons in eight states, totalling more than 64,000 registrations.
www.beach2battleship.com
www.ppdi.com
www.wilmingtonfamilyymca.org
www.SetUpEvents.com
