Community News

Triathlon returns to Patton Park

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 12, 2020

IDaph Events will host the Hendersonville Triathlon in Patton Park, welcoming 150 athletes from across the region, on Sunday, Sept. 20. It is in the same format as the Asheville Triathlon, which was held in the park in July as a result of Covid-19 restrictions in Asheville.

The triathlon includes a 400-meter swimming time trial in Patton Pool, a 12.5 mile cycling course through Oklawaha Greenway and Henderson County countryside roads, as well as a fast and flat 5k run on the greenway. Wave starts and extended time gaps between when participants begin their swim are in place to help athletes stay safely spread out while cycling and running.

"We will aim to have a ‘contactless’ event to provide a safe event for all,” says Daphne Kirkwood, race director and owner of IDaph Events.

Cheer zones will be designated to avoid a crowd forming around the start and finish line. Each zone will allow family and friends to see their participant twice and maintain social distancing with others. Maps for each cheer zone are posted on the Event Guide and emailed to all participants prior to the event.

Kirkwood said, “We had a lot of positive comments about the Asheville Triathlon and the guidelines we put in place regarding COVID, and it was good to hear that people acknowledged that we are taking COVID-19 very seriously, and that we have safety and social distance plans put together for the entire event from start to finish.”

Jenn Stanton, female overall winner of the July triathlon, said of the Asheville Triathlon, “iDaph did a fabulous job putting on the event with the location switch - everything from the drive through packet pick up to a rolling swim start and finish line bags to-go. It was definitely a different race day experience, but it worked.”

After the July race, Carlton Beverly Cooper said, “Thanks for a great race and race plan. I felt safer racing yesterday than going to the grocery store.”

The Hendersonville Triathlon may become an annual event, as the City of Hendersonville and the YMCA pool both expressed interest in holding the triathlon every May or June, according to a press release from IDaph.

“We are so grateful for the support we have from our participants and the City of Hendersonville, Patton Park and the YMCA of Western North Carolina for this event to take place in Hendersonville again,” Kirkwood said.

The triathlon also includes a new category and award for the fastest high school and college racing teams.

“We know the college and high school racing season has been decimated due to the pandemic,” said Kirkwood. “This is an opportunity for high school and college athletes to come and participate in an event.”

More information about the event can be found on IDaph’s website. To register to participate, click here.