Posted: October 1, 2004

Triathlon: Soma Triathlon to take place in Tempe on Sunday, October 31

TEMPE, Ariz.-The second annual Soma Triathlon will take place on Sunday, October 31 in Tempe and the surrounding communities.

The event is expected to feature more than 1,000 athletes from around the world competing, more than three times the amount of athletes who competed in the inaugural event in 2003.

The event will feature a half-Ironman distance (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run) and a ¼ Ironman distance event (1000-meter swim, 28-mile bike and a 6.5-mile run).

The Soma triathlon is the premier Half-Ironman distance triathlon in Arizona and will take place on much of the course to be featured at the inaugural Ironman Arizona triathlon set to take place in Tempe on Saturday, April 9, 2005.

The event will also feature a race expo at Tempe Town Lake on Saturday, October 30 from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. The transition zone, finish line and race expo will all take place at Tempe Town Lake, a short walk from downtown Tempe.

The coaches of Multisports.com will be doing seminar all day Saturday at the race expo, and the event will also feature autograph sessions with three-time Ironman Australia champion Chris McCormack (Australia), former Ironman World Champion Heather Fuhr (Canada) and eight-time Ironman World Champion Paula Newby Fraser (Encinitas, Calif.)

In a special twist, athletes will have their finishes called by Fraser as well, as the Ironman legend will also act as the race announcer at the event.

Great prizes and awards as well as a raffle will be held at the post-race awards party, set to take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 31 at Tempe Town Lake. More than $10,000 worth of gifts and prizes will be given away. There will be free food and drink as well as great entertainment at the post-race awards party.

“We are very excited about the Soma triathlon this year,” said Soma Triathlon Race Director Jeff Suffolk. “The growth of the event points to the popularity of Tempe as a destination and the fact that athletes enjoy racing in the area. We look forward to hosting a great event.”

Limited entry is still available for the Soma Triathlon, but is expected to close shortly. Athletes who are interested can enter by logging onto www.redrocktriathlon.

For more information on the Soma Triathlon, log onto www.redrocktriathlon.com.