Tillsonburg's Charity Duathlon returns for another run, and cycle, and run
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Tillsonburg’s 3rd Annual Charity Duathlon organizer George Papadakos is not going to change a winning formula.
Proceeds once again will go to the Alzheimer Society of Oxford County, and the duathlon will consist of three legs – 3 km running, 15 km cycling, and another 3 km run to reach the finish line in Memorial Park.
“Same location, same route, same everything,” said Papadakos. “The distance doesn’t change, except for the kids. The kids just do the run part of it.”
He has made some minor changes for this year’s duathlon on Sunday, Sept. 29. Details can be found on the Charity Duathlon website at www.charityduathlon.ca. Registration can be done online on their website, or in person at Corey’s Restaurant on Brock Street.
“We have a kids fun run this year and the ‘open’ duathlon. We also have a new relay option for those who don’t want to do the whole event. If they want to get a team, a couple people, they can split it up so one bikes, one runs, or maybe two people run. It’s kind of fun to see a relay, too. It gives a different element to the race itself.”
It will open the event up, he said, to people who maybe enjoy cycling but not running, or the reverse.
Last year they saw some elite racers join the event, swelling numbers from 60-80 in the initial year to nearly 100 last fall. This year he expects to reach 150 participants, plus the kids – which could be 100 or more.
“You see who the best athletes are, but at the end of the day the charity benefits from everybody coming out. It’s great to win, but at the end of the day it’s all for the charity. We had a great time last year.”
Last year they raised $7,000, after expenses, for the Alzheimer Society of Oxford County, thanks to registrations, pledges, and sponsorship.
“I think this year we can definitely bring in that kind of money again, if not a little bit more.”
Papadakos encourages people to visit the website, www.charityduathlon.ca, created by website designer Jason Lenting, and donated by Jeremy Stockmans of Alliance Interactive, to register, to see the race format, and after the race to check results.