Hendersonville – On your marks, get set, go! Swimmers will be jumping into the water in a 50-meter pool with eight lanes to race 400 meters, followed by a 12.5 mile bike route through the lovely Oklawaha Greenway and later a 5K run. This greenway’s name comes from a Cherokee word meaning “slowly moving muddy waters.” All is set for the Hendersonville Triathlon presented by Hunter Subaru with many sponsors on Sunday, June 26, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Patton Park at 114 East Clairmont Drive in Hendersonville.
Daphne Kirkwood, Owner and Race Director for iDaph Events, has organized another exciting athletic event. The races are filled with many participants of all ages. There are prizes for overall—top three finishers, both male and female, as well as specific age groups—19 and under, then each decade after. Amazingly, for those who cannot be present, there is a virtual option whereby the results are sent in and they also receive a top-finisher prize. This came about to help participants during COVID.
The 400 meter pool swim race takes place at Patton Pool in Hendersonville. The pool is an Olympic-sized 50-meter lap pool with 8 lanes. Participants will have a time trial start with plenty of time between each swimmer and will be organized into waves according to their estimated 100-yard swim time. Swimmers will flow in one direction in the lane. If you make a creative entrance into the water during the race, you can win a prize plus a free entry to the 2023 Hendersonville Triathlon to become a winner of the Make a Splash Contest. Be creative; think bellyflops, cannonballs, perfect dives, or silly jumps into the water.
The 12.5 mile bike route rolls through the quiet and beautiful Oklawaha Greenway in the City of Hendersonville, exits the Greenway and flows along a “rolling” hilly course through Henderson County’s country roads. There is a short section with packed down gravel. Cyclists will return to the park by way of the greenway. The 5k run is fast and, for the most part, flat! There is one hill near the end of the run. The entire run is on the quiet, shaded and beautiful Oklawaha Greenway in the City of Hendersonville. The route is an out-and-back style course with a water station.
Sign up and pick up your informative triathlon packet on Saturday, June 25th, the day before. No packet pick up on race day. If you are parking, if you are racing, you must park at the Beverly Hanks Business Center parking lot. Competitors cannot park at Patton Park, but spectators can park at Patton Park—maybe near the pool.
For more information about the race and course turn-by-turn directions and maps, visit the website.
Hunter Subaru is presenting this triathlon, but there are a number of sponsors: Asheville School, Asheville Regional Airport, YAM Yoga and Massage, The First Bank, The YMCA, Green Moose Fuel, Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway, Hendersonville Community Co-Op, The City of Hendersonville, Sycamore Cycles, JBird Coaching, and Fleet Feet of Asheville.
Charity partners for this event include the YMCA of Western North Carolina, where funds will be going to underprivileged swimmers, Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway to help with the upkeep of these beautifully landscaped grounds, and then IDream Athletes Foundation to provide opportunities for Western North Carolina youth and adults who are unable to pay for sporting event fees, coaching, travel expenses, and/or equipment to train for and/or participate in our WNC sporting events.
iDaph has been holding a number of competitive events throughout the year, such as Hendersonville’s Black Bear Half-Marathon & 8K, the Ugly Sweater Run at Mills River’s Riveter, and the Jump Off Rock Half Marathon. On Sunday, July 17, 2022, they will be holding the Asheville Triathlon at the Rec Park Pool in Asheville and on Saturday, September 3, the Apple Festival Races in Hendersonville, which will consist of a 5k, 8k, and Kids Fun Run.