ORANGE — The Packard Heights Association will hold its 35th annual mini-triathlon at Packard Pond next month, and this time it will include a kayaking leg.
The Aug. 14 event will start at 1 p.m., rain or shine. There is a $30 entry fee and net proceeds will benefit the preservation of Packard Heights. Entry forms can be picked up at the Athol Area YMCA or from any association member.
“It’s a fun time for everybody,” said Packard Heights Association member Joann Deacon. “Everyone has a great time there.”
Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each category — individual male, individual female, male team, female team, mixed team and family team. Teams of one to three members can enter, but the number of teams is limited. There will also be an award for the best time in each leg (running, cycling and kayaking).
The 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Deacon said last year’s race had a mere 16 participants.
“After COVID, we lost a lot of participants. We’re hoping to gain them back by having a kayak (portion) … instead of the swim,” she said.
Deacon explained racers will check in at the beach and then run a 2.1-mile lap around the pond, then cycle two laps around the pond before kayaking 1½ miles on the pond.
Packard Heights Association member Daniel Gullage said he has participated in nearly every mini-triathlon but will sit this one out, opting instead to help the race operate smoothly. He said the kayaking leg will be an interesting change “to try to shake up the bag.”
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Deacon also said that after the main race there will be a “mini-mini-triathlon” for the children of racers or association members. The kids will run on the beach and around a block, with everyone earning medals and T-shirts. Deacon mentioned many regular mini-triathlon participants raced in the mini-mini-triathlon when they were children.
Deacon recounted she got the idea for the event after participating in a similar one at her sister’s lakehouse in Pennsylvania.
“It was just fun to see the whole lake getting involved and supporting it,” she recalled. “So we decided to have it at Packard. It brings the whole lake out.”
Both races are sponsored by Girardi Distributors Inc. of Athol. Entrants and volunteers will receive T-shirts.
For more information, contact Deacon at 978-407-1298 or Pam or Pennie Smith at 978-575-8003.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.