Triathlon: Endurance Magazine Announces New Triathlon Race Series for Beginners

Endurance Development Series to Appeal to New and Seasoned Athletes Alike

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Endurance Magazine, the premier resource for total fitness in the region, is announcing sponsorship of a new race series in North Carolina for beginners and seasoned triathletes alike. The idea for the Endurance Development Series, produced by Set-Up Inc., was born of a need to meet the rising popularity of triathlons, which has really exploded in the Carolinas over the past ten years. In 1994, Set-Up Inc. produced one race in North Carolina. This year, they are managing 48 races. And individuals are more eager than ever to embrace the sport -- online registration for triathlons jumped 57% in the past year.

"We kept hearing from so many fitness-minded individuals - or those who were aiming to be - that they were excited about the idea of doing a triathlon but wanted a less intense way to start," comments Steve Lackey, Publisher and Managing Editor of Endurance Magazine. "Our decision to sponsor this series was in direct response to our readers' feedback, and we love the idea of so many new people embracing the sport." As such, the series is designed to be more beginner-friendly, with short distances, appealing locations, and supportive venues.

The distance of the sprint races vary, but they average between 250-750 yards in the swim (the series includes both pool and lake swims), 9-15 miles on the bike, and a 5K run at the end. The first race is on March 13th in Valdese, with an 11am swim start, and the race series wraps up with the seventh and final race on August 29th, the Fit & Able Triathlon in Cary.

This is the first race series sponsorship for Endurance Magazine, which published its first issue in July of 2003. "The growth we've experienced in nearly nine months of distribution has been phenomenal," comments Lackey. "We have quickly grown to distributing at over 425 locations, reaching more than 50,000 readers. The support we've received from this regional community has been outstanding, and we're thrilled to be a part of this series."

Other key sponsors in the Endurance Development Series include Team In Training, part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and TriMyCoach.com, which is providing free beginner training programs for all participants. Log onto either Set-Up Inc ( www.set-upinc.com ) or Endurance Magazine ( www.endurancemag.com ) to learn more about race dates, locations, and descriptions -- and to sign up for a race.

About Endurance Magazine.
Endurance Magazine is the premier resource for fitness in the region. Each month Endurance Magazine reaches over 50,000 people and is also directly delivered to subscribers and registered race participants.