by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Of the approximately 300 people who will take part in the Sartell Apple Duathlon this May, about 65 of them are newcomers to the race – including 10 St. Joseph men and women – said Adam Konczewski, the duathlon’s director.
That’s quite a switch from previous years, when nearly every runner-biker had previously competed in the race, in some cases year after year.
Konczewski said he and the Apple Board are pleased about all the newcomers who registered because they are trying to promote new people giving the race a try.
“We’re really excited about it,” he said. “And most of the new ones are right from this area.”
The 33rd annual Apple Duathlon will take place starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23 at Sartell Middle School. The Kids’ Apple Duathlon will be held the evening before, on May 22 at Pine Meadow Elementary School. The race for the youngest children, ages 3 to 6, will begin at 5:50 p.m. That age category can participate for free. The children from 6 to 14 will start their race at 6 p.m. The venue for the kids’ race this year is new. It had always taken place at the middle school, but since a varsity sport will take place at the school that night, the venue was changed.
Also new this year are the following:
- A $5 discount for anyone who has never participated in the Apple Duathlon before.
- Three people, instead of a team of two, can now do the race as a three-person relay team, with one person doing the first running stretch, the second doing the biking and a third doing the final stretch of running.
To register for the race, to volunteer or to find out more about it, go to appleduathlon.com.
At the 2014 Sartell Apple Duathlon, adult contenders dash off from the starting line.
A gaggle of happy, eager children dash off at the start of the Apple Duathlon Kids’ Race.
