NEARLY all of the spots on the starting line for Monday's North Shore Triathlon have been sold out for more than a month and now all that's left is for the racers to dive in and start swimming.
The action will begin holiday Monday morning bright and early at Ron Andrews recreation centre with Kids of Steel races starting at 7: 30 a.m., adult races kicking off at 8 a.m. and elite racers hitting the pool shortly after 11 a.m.
More than 600 total racers will take part, according to event organizers, including 250 kids.
"It's a record-breaking year in terms of total participation and certainly a record-breaking year for the number of kids participating as well," said North Shore Triathlon Club president Nick Lyne. "It's tremendous to see this level of involvement, particularly from the kids."
The event will feature a new test race this season, a youth Super Sprint. More than 20 elite athletes ranging in age from 14 to 20 will race the Super Sprint, the first of its kind in British Columbia. The new short distance race is meant to act as a development ground for future international competitors and this season will be used as part of the qualification series for the Canada Summer Games.
Other features of this year's race will be on-site food carts as well as the Destination Kids Zone running from 9 a.m. to noon featuring a magician and balloon artist.
Spectators are invited to come out and watch the action - racers swim in the rec centre pool, bike a loop on Mount Seymour Parkway between Emerson Way and Mt. Seymour Road and run along Mount Seymour Parkway and surrounding streets and trails.
The Parkway's two south-side lanes will be closed to traffic until noon to accommodate the race, reducing the flow of traffic to single lanes in both directions on the north side of the parkway. For more information visit northshoretriathlon.ca.