April 21 – Mount Pleasant, S.C.
In its third year, TryCharleston Half and Sprint are quickly becoming the Lowcountry’s premiere event – mark your calendar, April 21, 2012. The course is flat and fast! The swim is a triathlete’s dream, as it will most likely be wetsuit legal and is an in-water start at the KOA campground’s spring-fed lake in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The bike and run courses are new based on participants’ feedback in an effort to constantly try to make a great event even better. The one-loop bike course takes participants on a journey through many scenic Lowcountry marshes, wetlands, and oak-shaded roads. It is on open roads and is well supported by both the Mount Pleasant police and Charleston County sheriff’s departments.
Race organizers encourage participants to drop off their bikes at Transition 1 Friday at packet pick-up from 2-7 p.m. at KOA. Mount Pleasant police department will be on hand throughout the night to guarantee the security of your bike. The run features a two-loop out-and-back format on running paths, free of traffic, allowing athletes to view their competition several times. Water stations on both routes are managed by our seasoned volunteers. Run stations will have water, Heed, Coke, Hammer gels, pretzels, electrolyte pills, fruit, and iced towels. Your safety and welfare are of utmost importance to us.
Finish line activities include live entertainment and a free meal for racers consisting of Lowcountry shrimp creole, rice, coleslaw, cornbread, pasta salad with beans, fruit, cookies, Coke, tea, lemonade, and water. Family and friends can purchase breakfast ($5/Chick-fil-A) and lunch ($8) tickets on-site on Friday at packet pick-up or Saturday at T2/finish line. There also will be certified massage therapists providing their services for $1 per minute, up to 15 minutes, with all proceeds going to our selected beneficiaries. So after the race, plan on hanging around to have a massage, enjoy the music, feast on the food, and support the racers. All finishers will receive a medal, and awards ceremonies for the top 3 in every category will be held at 10 a.m. for the sprint and 2:30 p.m. for the half.
The TryCharleston Half and Sprint Triathlons are races with purpose. TryCharleston’s goal is to promote a healthier and more physically active community; to raise funds for health and wellness programs in the Charleston County Elementary Schools and Meeting Street Academy (www.meetingstreetacademy.com) as well as the Disabilities Foundation (www.dsncc.com/Foundation.html); to donate dollars for KOA Cares Camp, which is for children with cancer; and to foster community involvement and volunteerism. TryCharleston is a family-fun event run by volunteers who are committed to a quality experience that will have you wanting to come back year after year – it’s a great area to make the trip a weekend vacation.
Things to See and Do in the Lowcountry
With a rare combination of geography, latitude and attitude, the Charleston, S.C., area has considerable appeal for active adults and an abundance of things to see and do during race weekend.
The Lowcountry – the fertile region surrounding the charming Southern town of Charleston – features a string of undeveloped, pristine barrier islands along with more than 90 miles of coastline, making it ripe for exploration and outdoor recreation.
“The wild places adjacent to the peninsula of Charleston have been recognized as world models in conservation and include the longest contiguous stretch of protected coastline on the East Coast of the United States,” says Capt. Chris Crolley, owner of Coastal Expeditions, the eco touring company that operates the ferry to Bulls Island. Located within Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Bulls Island is home to a large population of nesting loggerhead sea turtles, bald eagles, dolphins, and a staggering 277 species of birds.
“The ‘Boneyard’ beach on Bulls Island is an awesome geographic anomaly that has left the maritime forest stranded on the sea shore,” Crolley says. “The 200-year-old live oaks have been bleached by the sun and weathered by the salt air. They are monolithic on the waterfront and appear off-white in color, like bones.”
More Things to See and Do Race Weekend
SoCon Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships www.soconsports.com
Charleston Race Week (Sailing Regatta)
www.charlestonraceweek.com
East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival
Places to Stay
Hampton Inn at Patriots Point
225 Sessions Way, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
843-881-3399
KOA Campgrounds on Highway 17 North
Event Host and Location of Swim
843-849-5177
