LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS
2/25/08 - 2008 Race Results
Paul Tichellar won the elite mens race with a time of 1:24:33 followed by Jorday Rapp in second place and David Thompson in third. On the women's side, Joanna Zeiger took first place in the elite female race with a winning time of 1:38:29 followed by Anne Curi-Preisig in second and Jennifer Tobin in third. Complete Results
A special thanks to all of our great sponsors and especially the volunteers that made this race happen. Sunday's race was a milestone for the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon presnted by RoadRunner Sports. This year's race broke the all time registration record wtih 409 entrants and sold out the adult race for the first time ever. In addition the 2008 race was debut of the Juniors Duathlon Challenge and the Arizona Collegiate Team Championship where the Tri-Cats from the University of Arizona took first place and triathlon team from Northern Arizona University took second.
Race Udate - Friday 2/22/2008
Only TWO DAYS till race day!
The adult race will sell out this year. As of Friday evening there are about 20 spots available, so it you have not pre-registered and you want to race in the adult duathlon, you should be at packet pickup when it opens at 10am on Saturday to have a chance to secure a spot in Sundays race. We have a finite amout of space in the adult transition area at this venue, so once we reach capacity on Saturday we will have to close registration.
The good news is that we still have plenty of space in both the Kids and the Juniors races and can accept registrations for both on Saturday at packet pickup all day.
See you on Sunday!
Race Update - Thursday 2/21/2008
THREE DAYS till race Day
If you want to race in the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon presented by RoadRunner Sports register now. The adult race will sell out this year and on-line registration at Active.com closes today (Thursday). There will be very few, if any adult slots left at packet pick-up registration on Saturday. The good news is, if you are between the age of 7-19 and want to race in the kids race or juniors race we still have a number of spots available for those two races.
Race Update - Wednesday 2/20/2008
Only four days till race day:
The race is selling at a record pace and we anticipate it will sell out this year so if you have not registered, don't put it off and assume you will be able to register at packet pick-up. On-line registration at Active.com closes on Thursday February 21.
The post race raffle keeps getting better. Our newest sponsor, Oakley, will be on hand with boat load of Oakley glasses to throw into the raffle mix so if you didn't look cool during the race, now you have chance to go styling after the race is over.
The forecast looks GREAT for Sunday. We are supposed to get some rain on Wednesday and Thursday, then clear off through the end of the week. Race day forecast is partly cloudy with a low of 46 and a high of 70.
Don't ruin your day with a speeding ticket. The speed limit inside McDowell Mountain Regional Park is 25 MPH and it is enforced by the Maricopa County Sheriff's office (and no, they are not impressed by lean bodies in spandex). Arrive at the park early, because once you enter the park you have a 6 mile drive (at 25 MPH) to the parking area and then a 1-1.5 mile walk to the transition area.
See the February 16th update below for more pre-race information.
Registered Athletes as of 2/15/08
Saturday February 16, 2998 – Race Update
Only eight days to go before the 2008 TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon presented by Road Runner Sports.
Here are a couple of things to consider as you prepare for next weekend’s race:
1. Get to the race venue early. Once you get to the entrance of McDowell Mountain Regional Park you will still have a 6 mile drive from the park entrance to the parking area AND a 1-1/2 mile walk from the parking area to the transition area.
2. The Sonoran Desert is COLD in the morning – The air temperature is usually around 45 degrees when you arrive at McDowell Mountain Park on race morning and near 70 degrees for the awards ceremony. It warms up fast once the sun comes up so dress in layers so you can keep warm before the race begins. Some athletes will race with leg and/or arm warmers (or even a Jacket) for the first run.
3. Don’t be late to the start line. – Every year athletes miss their wave start because they underestimate the time it takes to get from the transition area to the start line. The start line is ½ mile walk from the transition area. There will be a hard close of the transition area at 7:45 am and a mandatory pre-race meeting at 7:50 at the starting line.
4. Out of town athletes – If you are flying to Phoenix for the race, you can purchase CO2 canisters at either packet pick-up at Bicycle Showcase on Saturday OR from TriSports.com on race morning at the park.
5. Course preview meeting – There will be an informal / non-mandatory course preview meeting at the race venue at McDowell Mountain Park on Saturday February 23 at 1pm at the transition area. The race director will be on hand to go over course details and answer questions.
6. Park Entry Fee - There is a $6 per day (per vehicle) park entry fee that is NOT included in your registration fee. Park entry fees are collected at the entrance to McDowell Mountain Park.
7. Packet Pick up – Saturday February 23 from 10am –4pm at Bicycle Showcase located at 7229 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-998-2776 (SE corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Shea Blvd.)
8. USAT Membership - You MUST bring your USAT membership card or membership status letter with you to packet pick-up. If you cannot produce a USAT membership card or membership status letter you will be required to purchase either and annual USAT membership or a one-day USAT membership for $10.00. NO EXCEPTIONS. Both annual USAT memberships and one-day USAT licenses will be sold at packet pick-up.
9. Photo I.D. EVERYONE must present a VALID PHOTO ID to pick up your packet...NO EXCEPTIONS. NO PHOTO ID...YOU DON'T RACE. ONLY THE RACE PARTICIPANT MAY PICK UP THEIR RACE PACKET!
10. Timing Chip Pick-up – You will pick up your timing chip on race morning at the park. You MUST have your race bib OR race wristband (you will get both at packet pick-up on Saturday) with you to receive your timing chip.
Registered Athletes as of 2/14/08
2/9/08 Juniors Course Changes
We have made a couple of changes to the Junior's Duathlon Challenge to resolve some safety issues that existed with the previous course. The changes include:
1) The Juniors transition area has been moved to the start line area. Note: This is a different transition area location than the adult transition area.
2) Juniors start line is now at the same location as the adult start line.
3) The 1.5 mile Juniors Run 1 has been modified to account for the new Juniors transition area
4) The 11 Juniors bike course has been modified to account for the new Juniors transition area.
5) The 1.5 mile Juniors Run 2 has been modified to account for the new Juniors transition area.
View the Juniors course: Interactive Map OR PDF File
2/1/08 Registered Athletes as of 1/26/08
List of registered athletes will be updated once a week until race week.
1/23/08 World Duathlon Short Course Qualifier Information
Here is the latest news from USAT regarding the qualification process for the 2008 Short Course Duathlon World Championships in Rimini, Italy.
Please note that USAT will only recognize athletes racing in their age group as qualifiers for Team USA. If an athlete wishes to qualify for Team USA, they must race in their age group wave, not the elite, collegiate, clydesdale, athena, etc. waves.
For complete information about the qualification process click on TEAM USA FAQ'S.
1/20/08 Duathlon Course Preview Ride & Run & Pre-Race Clean Up Crew Event
Saturday February 2, 2008 8:00am
Join us on Saturday February 2, 2008 at McDowell Mountain Regional Park for a preview of the 2008 TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon run and bike courses followed by a trail clean up project sponsored by the 53x11 Coffee Company.
The morning will begin at the race transition area, located at the trailhead to the North Trail. Duathlon race directors John Lierle & Scott Perrine will be on hand to answer questions and give an overview of the course and transitiion area for the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon scheduled for February 24, 2008. We will then lead you on a preview run of the first 3.5 mile run and the second 2.7 mile run followed by a preview ride of the 21 mile duathlon bike course.
In addition, Phoenix Tri Club Juniors Director, Pat Moty, will be on hand to lead a preview of the Desert Classic Juniors Duathlon Challange course that consists of a 1.5 mile run, a 10.5 mile bike and a 1.5 mile run. This is a great opportunity for high school age athletes to run and ride the new juniors course for the very first time.
After the ride (at around 10am) we will join the staff at McDowell Mountain Regional Park to help clean up the North Trail (Duathlon run 1 course) by picking up trash and trimming back the bushes and branches along the the trail to get the course ready to the duathlon. We will have HOT COFFEE, provided by the 53X11 Coffee Company, hot chocolate, water and food for those of you who stick around to help out with the trail clean up AND if you stay to help out the Clean Up Crew, the park will pick up your park entry fee for the day.
If you plan to stay and help out with the Clean Up Crew event send an e-mail to: VicePresident@PhoenixTriathlonClub.org no later than Thursay January 31st. so I can put you on the list for free park entry. Bring some work gloves and it you have them a pair of garden "branch clippers".
New Bike Lane New Complete
The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has completed the installation of bike lanes on both sides of McDowell Mountain Road between Fountain Hills town limits & and Forest Road which include all of the duathlon bike course outside the park boundry. The new 5 foot bike lanes represent a huge upgrade to the duathlon bike course and will provide a safer and enhanced racing experience for duathlon athletes. Thank you Maricopa County Department of Transportation!
To check out the the new bike lanes, as well as the rest of the duathlon course, join the Phoenix Triathlon Club on February 2 at 8:00 am for a duathlon course preview of both running courses and the bike course. Race directors will be on hand for a course brief and to answer questions. Meet at the race transtion area at the North Trailhead. There is a $6 park entry fee per vehicle.
New for 2008 - Desert Classic Duathlon Juniors Duathlon Challenge
The TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon introduces an event just for high school athletes: The Desert Classic Duathlon Juniors Duathlon Challenge. The new race will feature a separate wave start with a1.5 Mile Run, an 11 Mile Bike followed by another 1.5 mile run. The first run will take the athletes around a circular 1.5 mile course and right past the cheering pro/elite and age group athletes waiting for their race start. The bike course is designed for safety and will stay completly within McDowell Mountain Park. The final 1.5 mile run will follow the same course as the elite and age group second run with a turnaround at the 3.4 mile mark back to the finish line.
Divisions: Boys 15-16, Girls 15-16, Boys 17-19, Girls 17-19, Boys Relay 15-19, Girls Relay15-19, Mixed Relay 15-19
Check out the Juniors Duathlon Challenge course map.
10/11/07 VeloVie donates carbon frame to be raffled at this years race.
VeloVie, announced recently that they will donate a VeloVie Veloce 100 Triathlon Bike frame to the 2008 duathlon raffle. This is the same bike, with a value of $1,299, that was the talk of Inter-Bike 2007 in Las Vegas this September. Literally translated to “fast”, this profoundly lightweight and aerodynamic bicycle will help any rider race past the competition to the finish line. The carbon frame features straight, elegant, aerodynamic lines with an optimal rear wheel cut out for unsurpassed acceleration. The mix of high and medium modulus carbon frame is assembled using monocoque construction with 12K design certain to guarantee a stiff yet lightweight ride. And like all of Velo Vie’s innovative, top of the line bicycles, the Veloce 100 uses Carbon Axis Formula to guarantee the finest and fastest ride available. Check out the VeloVie web Site at: www.velovie.com
9/5/07 2008 USAT Age Group National Championship Qualification Standards
USAT 2008 Age Group National Championsip Qualification Standards are now posted on this web site on the "Race Info" page.
You may also view the qualification standards on the USAT web site.
9/1/07 Duathlon Selected as Qualifier for 2008 Short Course Duathlon Worlds
The TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon has been selected by USAT as a 2008 Short Course Duathlon World Championship Qualifier Event. The event will serve as a way for athletes from across the United States to qualify for the 2008 Short Course Duathlon World Championship that will be held in Rimini, Italy on September 27-28, 2008. The top two athletes in each age group will qualify for the world championships with spots rolling down to 5th place.
Read press release: Desert Classic Duathlon Host Duathlon World Championship Qualifier
8/20/07 Course Record Correction
A HUGE appology is in order for the men's course record holder, Armand van der Smissen of the Netherlands. There was a mistake in the "History & Records" page of the web site that did not reflect Armands men's course record of 1:23:45 from 2004. It has been corrected and Armand's record is now properly reflected.
08/09/07: More Photos from past races.
Photos from the 2005 TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon are now up on the new web site. To view them, go to the Results & Photos page.
08/06/07: New Web Site Feature
Photos from the 2006 and 2007 TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon are now available on the new race web site. Photos can be viewed on the Results & Photos page.
07/28/07: Press Release - McDowell Mountain Park to Host 2008 Duathlon
