Chattanooga Track Club co-race director Jenni Berz estimates that more than 1,450 runners will take off in the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon July 10 starting at 7:30 a.m. The public is invited to watch the event.
"Participants come from all over the country," said Berz. "The economic impact to the city of Chattanooga is $1 million."
Kelli Smith runs in the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon.Race participants must register in advance online at http://www.chattanoogatrackclub.org/. The race historically sells out.
"The Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon starts at UTC Rowing Center next to Scrappy Moore Field," Berz said. "They will swim a mile down the Tennessee River, get out at Ross's Landing just before the pier and transition to their bike to pedal 26 miles out Highway 27. Then, they turn around and come back south into town. They get off their bikes at Ross's Landing and run 6 miles on the Tennessee Riverwalk to the finish line."
The Chattanooga Track Club will present more than $5,000 in cash and prizes to the top male and female overall, the male and female masters and the male and female grand masters. All participants will receive helmets, sunglasses and duffle bags.
Berz said it takes 400 volunteers to organize the intermediate distance triathlon. She said the Valley Canoe Club, Chattanooga Triathlon Club, HAM Radio Club and Southern Searchers all provide safety on the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon course.
"The Waterfront Triathlon will have an event expo all day Saturday and on race day Sunday," she said. "The expo will have vendors like bike shops, running shops, triathlon accessories and apparel, sports jewelry, food vendors and a BMW of Chattanooga booth with cars on display."
Berz said the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon is one of the main annual events for the Chattanooga Track Club and proceeds help the club put on charity races year-round.
"We do a Scenic City Half Marathon and 5K Charity Challenge that supports several nonprofit organizations," she said. "We partner with Children's Hospital Foundation at Erlanger. We do a series of races to promote health and wellness for kids."
She said Chattanooga Track Club organized the recent Run for Ringgold where 800 runners helped raise $32,000 in profits that went to help Ringgold High School athletic and band departments. She said Oakwood Baptist Church alone donated $5,000.