PIA plans 7th annual triathlon

SPARTA — Registration is currently open for the 7th annual Pass It Along Triathlon to be held on Saturday, July 23, at Lake Mohawk in Sparta.
For the past six years, the PIA Tri has drawn over 350 athletes of all ages and fitness levels from across the nation, and successfully raised an average of $40,000 a year for Pass It Along’s program.
More than 40 percent of the participants come from Sparta, N.J. It is anticipated over 800 attendees will be at this year’s event.
The PIA tri offers a short, yet challenging course set in Sussex County’s beautifully quintessential, private lake community, Lake Mohawk Reservation in Sparta Twp. Most of the event’s racers complete the half mile swim, 10.8-mile bike and 3.1-mile run all by themselves, and in an hour or so. While others recruit friends and family, and run the event as a relay team. Event begins with a swim start at 7 a.m. and all the participants are done by 9:30 a.m.
A PIA Tri t-shirt, postrace food, and promotional giveaways are included with the registration fee. Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall male & female participants, relay teams and various age group finishers. Information and registration is currently available online at www.passitalong.org/triathlon. The event has several registration options available for individuals that would like to participate in some segments of the race, individuals looking for relay team member(s), and individuals that would like to have a swim angel. A swim angel is an experienced swimmer or lifeguard who provides support shore-side or in the water at open water swimming events, especially for individuals who are nervous, newbies or inexperienced about swimming in open bodies of water. There is no event day registration. Participants must pre-register for this event at Pass It Along’s secure website. This event sells out quickly and closes out at 350 entries.