Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon returns for second year –THIS WEEKEND!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REGISTRATIONS STILL AVAILABLE
MORNING OF REGISTRATION IS PERMITTED
One Million Revolutions and Oregon Trout are pleased to announce a return to downtown Portland for the second annual Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon. Slated for THIS WEEKEND August 31, 2008, the event will include both Olympic (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) and sprint-distance (750m-swim, 26km bike, 5km run)
triathlons. The races will start and end in Waterfront Park and once again will represent the only triathlon ever held in downtown Portland, Oregon.
The Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon will kick off the city’s newest festival, RiverFest. Envisioned by triathlon organizers in the spring of 2007, RiverFest will celebrate the Willamette River for 10 days beginning August 28. In addition to the triathlon, Riv erFest will include boat parades, concerts, kayak and canoe paddles, dragon boat races, bridge tours, and nature outings. A wide spectrum of non-profit organizations, businesses, city bureaus, and civic-minded individuals have a hand in the organization and planning for RiverFest.
The Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon is produced by the same director as the Musselman Triathlon, an annual classic held in New York and this year hosting 1,500 athletes from across the country, including three Olympians competing in Beijing: Jarrod Shoemaker, Julie Ertel, and Kathy Tremblay.
The Portland event adhered to strict environmental standards for race production in 2007, and this year’s event will continue to do the same. All power for the race comes from solar sources, race shirts are made from recycled polyester, extensive on-site recycling and composting divert over 90% of waste from the landfill, and the bike racks are made from bamboo. The event devel oped the first registration system in the country to incorporate greenhouse gas offsets for participant travel, and through a partnership with the Climate Trust over 75% of athletes offset their carbon footprint. The triathlon will again be the only major event in the country to feature a naturopathic medical tent.
Never before has this level of sustainability been achieved by a major sporting event.
A triathlon in downtown Portland would not be possible without the decades of work carried out by Oregon Trout, a Portland-based non-profit organization founded in 1983 to protect and restore native wild fish and the habitats that sustain them. Recognizing that clean water is as crucial to triathlon as it is to our very livelihood, Oregon Trout deeply supports the mission of this race through its title sponsorship. A portion of race proceeds will return to Oregon Trout to continue their mission.
More information on Oregon Trout can be found a t www.oregontrout.org.
More information about the City of Portland Triathlon can be found at www.portlandtri.com.
Highlights:
NEW BIKE COURSE
The Powers That Be have approved a shiny new bike course for 2008, a loop
twice as long as 2007 and with four times the charisma. Athletes will
enjoy a scenic odyssey through some of the best of downtown, including the
riverfront, leafy Terwilliger Boulevard, and a haunted tunnel. Much of the
course is completely closed to traffic, and it’s spectator-friendly and
low in carbs.
SPRINT RACE ADDED: MORE TIME FOR THE BEER TENT
With the approval of a new bike course, conditions are perfect for the
addition of a sprint course to complement the existing olympic-distance
race. Beginners, those looking for a shorter option, or those eager to
dive into the post-race festivities should give this a look. Instead of
three loops of the bike, you ‘ll do two, and instead of two loops on the
run you’ll do one. All of the best elements will be in both the sprint and
the olympic, but you’ll be first in line at the massage tent.
THURSDAY WEEKLY SWIMS – great photo opp this week pre-event!
Starting this evening, every Thursday through the triathlon we’ll be
heading down to the Willamette River for an informal swim. The swim will
be unofficial and unsupported, but a chance for you to test the waters and
hone your open-water skills. Bring a bright-colored swim cap and converge
on RiverPlace Marina at 6pm, on the North Breakwater dock (same place the
triathlon starts). Swim the course or do your own thing, but get out there
and enjoy bobbing around in the middle of a city of a million people!
PACIFIC NW REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The City of Portland Triathlon has received a special designation for
2009: Pacific NW Regional Championship. What does this mean for you? A
faster front end of the field and more qualifying spots for USA
Triathlon’s national championships. Next year we’re also planning to add
an open-water swim on Saturday evening, so make plans now to spend some
time with us in Portland.
RIVERFEST!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In 2008 the triathlon is proud to
kick off RiverFest, a new 10-day event coming to downtown Portland in
celebration of the Willamette River. In the days before and after the
triathlon, you’ll be able to enjoy canoe and kayak paddles, bridge tours,
the Oregon Symphony, dragon boat races, community tables and educational
seminars, live music, and good food – plus a whole slew more.
Contact for more information:
Jeff Henderson — Race Director, 503-922-1589
OR
Rachel Trice — President, PUNCH Event Marketing, 503-341-4851
P U N C H
Event Marketing & Ma nagement | Sponsorship | Creative Services
107 SE Washington St., Suite 137
Portland, OR 97214
Direct: 503.341.4851
Fax: 503.236.7792
rachel@ineedpunch.com
www.ineedpunch.com