Triathletes and triathlon fans will soak up the sun and the beach boardwalk vibe when CHALLENGE MAINE 2015 kicks off on August 30th in Old Orchard Beach. The oceanfront venue provides a plethora of family entertainment at the Palace Playland amusement park, along with stunning vistas across the Atlantic Ocean. And if the location itself is not tempting enough, athletes enjoy the option of celebrating their accomplishments in true Maine style with a delectable Post Race Lobster Bake.
The CHALLENGE MAINE swim features a soft sand beach start, followed by a mostly flat and fast bike course shaded by pine trees with just enough rolling hills to keep things interesting. The fully flat out and back run is designed for personal records, with the finish line awaiting in downtown Old Orchard Beach.
CHALLENGE MAINE organizers are excited to welcome triathlon icon Karen Smyers to the start line. Smyers, a multiple World Champion triathlete in the 1990’s, continues to be competitive in the age group ranks while inspiring a new generation of endurance athletes. Her many accolades have evolved to include the titles of mother, coach, motivational speaker and cancer survivor.
More than 50 women will participate in a race-within-the-race as a members of sheJAMS, a group founded to bring together women of all ages and abilities who enjoy being active in a fun and social fitness-oriented atmosphere. In addition to tackling their personal athletic goals at the race, the sheJAMS racers will raise money to help children in need through Make-A-Wish Maine. Also featuring in the competitor field are several QT2 Systems athletes. As the Official Coaching Partner of CHALLENGE MAINE, QT2 Systems’ world-class coaches have first-hand experience on this storied course and have provided customized training programs to mentor athletes of all levels to achieve their racing goals.
Among the volunteers helping to make CHALLENGE MAINE a standout race is a unique group of several international students spending their summer working in Old Orchard Beach on J-1 visas. Antonio Molina, a 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic, spearheads the volunteer team. 2015 marks Molina’s third summer in Old Orchard Beach as a part of the CCI Greenheart cultural exchange program. Although he keeps busy working three jobs over the summer months, Molina has made time to organize other J-1 exchange students to serve as race volunteers, many of who will experience the sport of triathlon for the first time.
All CHALLENGE MAINE athletes will receive a special swag treat, a blueseventy Brick Bag. Additionally, everyone in attendance will enjoy top entertainment at the blueseventy Worst Wetsuit Contest (1:00 p.m. Saturday on the expo stage), with contestants earning a chance to win one of two new blueseventy Reaction Fullsuits.
CHALLENGE MAINE is indebted to the support of a full roster of sponsors including PowerBar, Gatorade, FINIS, blueseventy, Trisports.com, OA Centers for Orthopaedics, TriBike Transport, QT2 Systems, Peluso Open Water, OOB365, Jimmy The Greek Restaurant & Pub and Freeman’s Bicycle Service.
A select number of entries remain open in all race divisions, including the Olympic, Half and Aquabike individual categories plus the Relay division. Register at www.challenge-maine.com/register and follow all the CHALLENGE MAINE race weekend action on Twitter @Challenge_Amer and via www.challenge-maine.com/live.