NMITF Enticer Series returns anew

It’s time to put down the remote and shine up that rusty derailer as the Northern Marianas Islands Triathlon Federation has just released the schedule for the 2005 Enticer/Sprint Triathlon Series.

In 2004, the NMITF got the series started in November to get wannabe racers ready for the Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon, but this time around the people who like three sports better than one are on a mission to turn the most adamant couch potato from a tuber to terrific in time for the Rota Blue Triathlon on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Whether your goal is to get fit or to try something new, the first race of the series offers a taste of the world of multisport on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8:30am at the Kan Pacific Pool in Marpi.

According to series director Sue Knecht, anyone is able to handle 200 meter swim, 4-km bike ride, and 1-km run on Saipan’s northern end—whether they have the gear or not.

“If you need a bike, a helmet, goggles, babysitter, etc, send me a note and we’ll do our best to get you out on the course. No excuses!”

Following the race, some of the seasoned veterans will stick around to offer some tips and tricks during a question-and-answer session. Newbies can also sign up for the free Mini-Triathlon Clinic that is scheduled to be held the following Thursday, Sept. 1, at Pau Pau from 5:30pm until 7pm.

The second race of the season begins a week later with the same intentions as the NMITF will be supporting the Try Wayne Tri II on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Kilili Beach near AJ’s Restaurant.

All comers are welcomed to the second ever event as it crashes in to the Saipan Lagoon for the first time. Times are not the focus of the TWTII, as style and fun are in fashion during the 1300m swim, 20km bike, 4km run.

The next NMITF Enticer race comes two weeks later on Saturday, Sept. 17, as the new batch of triathletes tackle the double distances in Marpi. At 8am the swimmers will take to the waters along Pau Pau Beach for the 400m shallow ocean swim before transitioning to the 8km bike ride and the 2km run.

The returning triathletes will get a chance to return to the competitive scene as well in the first Sprint race of the season by challenging the 600m swim, 16km bike, and 4km run.

The final round of Enticer fun follows a month later on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 15, as the rookies compete in their first Sprint race—a 600m shallow ocean swim, 16km bike ride, and a 4km run. The new racers can also opt to run with the big dogs in the Double Sprint Distance race, where Saipan’s top triathletes will vie for the lowest time in the 1,200m shallow ocean swim, 32km bike ride, and 8km run.

The races start later in the day with a go time of 4:30pm at Pau Pau to allow for an evening barbeque at the beach.

The final tune up before the race in Rota takes place three weeks later with a Mini-Sprint training tune up on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 6am. The training session is solely for Rota entrants and consists of a 200m swim, 4km bike, and a 1K run repeated three times. The first will be at a slow and relaxed pace, followed by a “comfortable and slightly more intense” second round, and the third set at race pace.

According to Knecht, anyone who sees the course through to the end will be able to participate in the 1,500m swim, 40km bike, and 10km run of the Olympic distance Rota race.

The Enticer/Sprint Series events are all adult races, and while entrants must be 14 years of age or older, those between the ages of 14-18 must have a signed parental consent.

The cost to participate in all of the Sprint/Enticer races is $5 for NMITF members and $10 for non-members. The cost of an annual membership is $25.

To pre-registration for the races, send your intentions to sueknecht1@yahoo.com. For more information about the Try Wayne Tri II, contact huengo@att.net. To register for Rota with Onishi-san at KFC triathlon, send an email to kfc-onishi@gem.hi-ho-ne.jp.