Key Largo Triathlon Athletes to Swim, Bike and Run in Subtropical Setting

KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — Athletes can test their physical and mental stamina by competing in the Key Largo Triathlon set for Sunday, Aug. 18, at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

The racing challenge, produced by Game On! Race Events and presented by City Bikes, includes swimming in calm waters off the beach at Pennekamp; biking on U.S. Highway 1, called the Florida Keys Overseas Highway; and running through the state park and Key Largo areas. 

Competitors can choose the Olympic-distance or sprint-distance triathlon or duathlon or the Olympic aquabike event. Relay teams can compete in the Olympic triathlon or duathlon, with individual team members tackling different legs of the selected races. 

The Olympic-distance triathlon features a .9-mile swim, a 24.8-mile bicycle ride through north Key Largo and a 6.2-mile run. Sprint-distance contenders are to complete a .25-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and 3.5-mile run. 

Olympic aquabike entrants complete a .9-mile swim and 24.8-mile bike ride. Olympic duathlon athletes run for 1 mile, bike 24.8 miles and then run 6.2 miles; while sprint-distance duathlon entrants run for 1 mile, bike 12 miles and then run another 3.5 miles. 

There are also two options for differently abled people to participate in the days’ athletic activities with volunteers through Special Compass Power Buddies. 

Participants can pick up race packets from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at City Bike Aventura at 20335 Biscayne Blvd. in Aventura, Florida. 

Pickup in Key Largo is at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, and on race day from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. at the race site. 

A first-timer’s clinic is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday during the Pennekamp Park packet pickup. 

Sunday’s races are to have staggered starts from 6:40 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. All participants should arrive at the race venue by 5:30 a.m. 

A post-event party and awards ceremony is to take place at Pennekamp’s Cannon Beach. Awards await the top three finishers in varying age groups, top three overall male and female finishers, and top three male and female masters (age 40 and above). 

One northbound lane of U.S. 1 from mile marker 102.5 (the entrance to Pennekamp Park) to mile marker 105 is to be coned off for cyclists’ use between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The other northbound lane will remain open to vehicular traffic.