Burlington – July 21
Now in its ninth year, the Buckner Mission Man Triathlon is still considered to be one of the best courses in North Carolina, not to mention one of the best supported. Front Street Methodist Church volunteers ensure a smooth start as well as well-stocked tents to refuel after the race. In addition to the top-notch support from the church, a beautiful course attracts both newcomers and elites.
Nestled into the Lake Cammack Park and Marina, this event offers a mix of many different racing experiences, including a 750-meter swim that starts in the water and moves out in a counter-clockwise direction. Water temperature ranges between 80 and 85 degrees, making for a comfortable non-wetsuit swim. The 15-mile bike course is one of the most enjoyable courses in the Trysports Triathlon Series, too. Road surfaces are newly paved and smooth and the course gives you no major climbs, just an assortment of flat to rolling terrain. Beginners will enjoy the scenic route and elites will be able to take advantage of a fast bike course. Police and volunteers man each intersection and turns are marked with roadway arrows and directional signs. The two-loop 5k course is mostly off road on a series of rolling to flat trails that weave throughout the park. The first and middle half-miles are on the paved park road as athletes complete lap 1 at the event site before beginning lap 2. The trail system is old and established but a few areas do have a few roots. While racing flats are a fine option for this course, a more stable shoe is more appropriate for first timers and those with weak ankles. Aid stations are positioned every mile.
A unique aspect of this event is that church teams may enter the contest to win money for that church’s mission endeavors. All church teams will be relay teams consisting of three members, each running one leg of the race. One member of each relay team must be a member of the sponsoring church. The finish time for each three-person team will be handicapped based on the number of female and minister participants. There will be $3,600 in total award money distributed to the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-place church team winners. This award money may be donated by the winning teams to their mission of choice.
This event benefits the mission work of Christ through Front Street United Methodist Church, who along with Set Up Events, the Burlington Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Burlington City Council are again sponsoring the Buckner Mission Man Triathlon. The following charities benefited from monies raised by the 2011 race: Habitat for Humanity, Friendship Center, Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry, Allied Churches Kitchen & Shelter, Wheel Chair Ramp Ministry, Alamance ElderCare, Prison Ministry, Christian Counseling Center, Residential Treatment Services, ALAMAP, Methodist Home for Children, Society of St. Andrew, Zimbabwe Orphan Endeavor, and Russian Church Initiative.
