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Triathlon set for Saturday, traffic to be affected

Residents traveling in the area of Picnic Park this Saturday, Aug. 27, should try to avoid the route for the Peachtree City Triathlon that begins at Picnic Park at 7:45 a.m.

Triathlon participants will exit Picnic Park and head south on Hip Pocket, east on Kelly Drive/McIntosh Trail, south on Robinson Road, south on Colonnade Drive, back to Robinson Road, and return via the same route to Picnic Park.

Traffic will be closed to through traffic along Robinson Road from McIntosh Trail to Colonnade Drive during the early morning hours of the event. Police officials expect the road to reopen by 10:30 a.m.

The third annual Peachtree City Triathlon is bigger than ever with 600 athletes participating in this year’s event.

The race will start with a .3-mile swim in Lake Peachtree, a 12-mile bike ride in and around Peachtree City and a 5K run on the golf cart paths around the lake.

There will be staggered starts for the age groups competing, which range from 14 and under to 80 and up in both men’s and women’s categories. The race will also match the fastest U23 and Junior (ages 16-19) triathletes in the southeast against each other. That race will kick things off at 7:10 a.m. with the age group races beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The top three finishers in each category and age group will receive awards. The top overall time for men last year was 1:01:43 by Richard Klepacz, while the top time among women was from April Gellatly at 1:09:08.

Among the local participants in this year’s race is an 18 person team representing Providence United Methodist Church. The church is also hosting the 2004 Ironman World Champion in the women’s 30-34 age bracket, Sabine Bildstein. Origianlly from Germany, Bildstein now resides in Austin, Tex.

If you’ve never seen the competition in the Peachtree City Triathlon, find a spot along the route and watch as people push themselves to the limit for a chance at glory.

Visit www.tri-ptc.com for more information.