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A children's event has been added to this year's Stamford KIC It triathlon. The children's triathlon will be held Saturday, June 25, with the triathlon for adults scheduled for Sunday, June 26. The events benefit Kids In Crisis, a free emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis counseling center for Fairfield County children and families.
The weekend festivities will begin with the KIC IT Kids Triathlon on Saturday morning at Cove Beach in Stamford, where youngsters can enjoy an athletic event of their own. Featuring two age groups racing on two shortened courses, the race is all about participation not competition with prizes and activities for every youth athlete. It is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. and will be conducted in two waves. Wave 1 will be for children ages 7 to 10, who will complete a 50-meter swim, a 2-mile bike course and a half-mile run. Wave 2 will be for children ages 11 to 13, who will complete a 150-meter swim, 4-mile bike race and 1-mile run. The KIC IT Kids Triathlon is the latest entry in one of the biggest growth areas in American sports and, according to industry organization USA Triathlon, one of triathlon's fastest-growing demographic groups.
Registration will be limited with only 100 slots in the KIC IT Kids Triathlon. Adults and kids interested in participating in the events should visit www.kicittriathlon.com to register and learn more.
The Stamford KIC IT Triathlon will begin Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. as the Olympic-distance event starts with a 0.9-mile swim at Cummings Beach in Long Island Sound, transitioning to a 24.8-mile bike ride from the shore through the heart of the downtown business district and up into scenic North Stamford, and finishing with a 6.2-mile run through the streets of downtown Stamford. Six hundred athletes completing the full triathlon or participating as relay team members are expected to participate, cheered on by event co-chairs, Gov. Dannel Malloy and Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia, among others.
"The Stamford KIC IT Triathlon has become one of the highlights of the Stamford summer experience over the last three years, for triathletes, residents, and visitors alike," says Shari Shapiro, executive director of Kids in Crisis and a resident of Stamford. "This summer, we wanted to showcase the great city of Stamford even more by expanding to a weekend full of activities perfect for the entire family."
The Stamford KIC IT Triathlon weekend will conclude with a family-themed festival in Columbus Park, open to all area residents, where athletes and their families, spectators and volunteers will gather at the finish line to enjoy live music, great food and family activities, including face painting, a giant bouncy obstacle course, caricatures, artists creating temporary tattoos and more.
The Stamford KIC IT Triathlon was created in 2008 to support the services offered by Kids in Crisis. Since its introduction, the Stamford KIC IT Triathlon has grown into an outstanding athletic event attracting competitors from across the country, while maintaining a special focus on offering a fun family experience.
Kids in Crisis is Connecticut's only free, round-the-clock agency providing emergency shelter, crisis counseling and community educational programs for children of all ages and families dealing with a wide range of crises domestic violence, mental health and family problems, substance abuse, economic difficulties and more.
Will you be participating in the KIC It Triathlon? Will you have your kids compete? Start the discussion below!
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