Triathlon Archives - GetGoing NC!

This weekend: a 2X Tri, Wilderness Survival and the Friendly Side of Mitchell

JoeMiller — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:42:49 +0000

Photo courtesy AllEvents.in

Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon: the triathlon so nice they let you do it twice. Plus, surviving the wilds of South Mountains and experiencing Mount Mitchell’s gentler side.

Coast

Loaded with energy? Say, twice the energy you typically have?

Then perhaps you’re up for Saturday’s Carolina Beach Douple Sprint Triathlon in Carolina Beach. Swim 375 meters in the Atlantic, run 1.5 miles, bike 20K. Then, instead of collapsing and kicking back a cold one, collect yourself for another 1.5-mile run, another 375 meters in the ocean. The course is described as flat.

Logistics: Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, June 24, 7 a.m., Carolina Beach, $85. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy with a race start temperature of 79.

* * *

Looking ahead: Sharks Tooth Island Full Moon Kayak Trip, Aug. 7, Halyburton Park, Wilmington. More info here.

On the lookout, at South Mountains

Piedmont

You’re happily exploring, then, suddenly, you’re lost. Now what?

You’ll know what if you attend Saturday’s Wilderness Survival 101, which borrows a page — several, actually — from the Boy Scouts of America Handbook to cover basic first aid, shelter and a variety of other issues that can pop up in the wild.

Logistics: Wilderness Survival 101, Saturday, June 24, 2 p.m., South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, afternoon high in the mid 80s.

* * *

Looking ahead: Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2: the trails at Hanging Rock State Park’s Vader Mecum area are open. More info here.

Mountains

Pretty rugged terrain at Mountain Mitchell State Park, atop the East Coast. The rocky spine that defines the Black Mountains is a challenge to even the most experienced and nimble hiker. While the thought of hiking Mitchell is appealing, the reality can be intimidating.

Unless, that is, you drop off the ridge a short distance to the Commissary Trail. This former high country highway is flatter, friendlier and still takes in much of the high alpine, spruce and fir ecology that gives Mount Mitchell State Park its appeal. It’s also the site of a Guided Commissary Trail, a ranger-led hike Saturday.

Logistics: Guided Commissary Trail, Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m., Mount Mitchell State Park. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High at hike time of 60 with a chance of thunderstorms.

* * *

Looking ahead: Riverboard Demo Day, July 22, Ledges Whitewater Park, Alexander (on the French Broad River). More info here.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of coastal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: a 2X Tri, Wilderness Survival and the Friendly Side of Mitchell appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: Start with a walk, end with a tri

JoeMiller — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:17:00 +0000

At the coast, we start with a Wellness Walk intended to get you off the couch and moving about. In the mountains, we finish with one of the most taxing events around, the half ironman. And in the Piedmont, pick up a paddle and explore a river you may not know.

Coast

Walking: what could be more natural (courtesy R. Crumb)

You have to walk before you can, well, run, hike, skip … . Walking leads to a lot of things, which is why we’re recommending Saturday’s Wellness Walk on the Summer Rest Trail in Wilmington. Sponsored by New Hanover County Parks & Gardens, Brian McKeever, Physical Therapist and owner of Lumina Wellness & Physical Therapy, will lead the 1.4-mile walk, which will be at a casual pace. No age restrictions.

Curiously, the hike begins at the trailhead by Port City Chop House.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m., Summer Rest Trail, 1981 Eastwood Road, Wilmington. Free. Go here for more information or call 910.798.7622

Saturday forecast: High of 74 at walk time, with a chance of thunderstorms developing later in the day.

* * *

Looking ahead: Too hot to paddle during the day? Then try it at dusk, with the Masonboro Island Sunset Kayak Trip on August 26, departing from the Trails End Park Boat Launch in Wilmington. $35-$45, contact Halyburton Park here or by calling 910.341.0075 to sign up.

Piedmont

The Mayo (photo courtesy N.C. State Parks)

Some places you’re comfortable paddling on your own. You know the water, you know the access. Some, however, you feel more comfortable being part of a guided group.

We’re guessing that’s the case with the Mayo River, which you may have heard of, but that’s where your familiarity ends. Saturday, let a Mayo River State Park ranger guide you down a stretch of the river that will start at the public boat access at Old Anglin Mill Loop Road and end at the public boat access on U.S. 220 Business. Expect to be on the water about six hours.

No boat, no problem. Be among the first 11 to register and the park will supply a canoe, paddle and pfd, free of charge.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug.8, 10 a.m., Mayo River State Park. To register and learn more, call 336.427.2530.

Saturday forecast: High of 85, sunny.

* * *

Looking ahead: Start next weekend early with a Sunset Canoe Trip Friday evening (Aug. 14) at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. $5 per person, $10 per canoe. For more info: 919.460.3390

Mountains

Lake Logan (photo courtesy Glory Hound Events)

This weekend is the Lake Logan Multisport Festival, which means …

Not up for the full half iron triathlon (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1-mile run)? Then check out the international tri (1,500-meter swim, 24-mile bike ride, 6.2-mile run). Or perhaps the sprint (500-meter swim, 12-mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run). They make it hard to say, “I can’t.”

The half tri is Saturday, the international and sprint are Sunday.

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9, Lake Logan Episcopal Center. Find all your pertinent registration and race information here.

Weekend forecast: Highs reaching the low 80s, mostly sunny.

* * *

Looking ahead: The Blue Ridge Breakaway, starting from the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, rides of 106, 76, 50.8 and 25 miles, Aug. 15. More info here.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of coastal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: Start with a walk, end with a tri appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: A tri, a TACO, a wildlife education

JoeMiller — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 10:34:53 +0000

Cross “sprint triathlon” off your 2014 list in Wilmington, Take a Child Outside at a state park, celebrate hunting and fishing with the family in the mountains: it’s another diverse weekend outdoors in North Carolina.

The 1,500-meter swim is long for a sprint tri, but the tide is at your back the entire distance.

Coast

A triathlon isn’t something you’d ordinarily do on a lark, certainly not an Olympic length (0.9-mile swim, 25-mile bike and 6.2-mile run) or longer. A sprint tri, on the other hand … .

Face it, as we near the end of the year do you find yourself without a physical achievement on your 2014 list? And are you aware that the opportunities for such are quickly dwindling? Redemption could be yours this Saturday at the Wilmington YMCA Sprint Triathlon at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach. A 12-mile bike ride (doable), a 5K run (likely doable), a 1,500-meter swim (you can make it — may the tide be with you!), all points to a salvaged 2014.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 27, 7 a.m., Blockade Runner, Wrightsville Beach. $70 if you sign up before Saturday, here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 80.

Children thrive in the outdoors.

Piedmont

It’s Take A Child Outside Week, and one of the best places you can take a child outside is a North Carolina State Park. In observance of this annual event, many state parks are holding TACO events this weekend. Saturday at Morrow Mountain State Park, for instance, there’s a Kids in Parks Track Trail Hike. The focus on this roughly half mile hike that lasts an hour is on checking out nature.

Logistics: Take A Child Outside Week runs through Sept. 30. You can find out more about the event at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences TACO website, you can learn more about the Morrow Mountain hike Saturday and other events at North Carolina’s State Parks, here.

Saturday forecast: Should be a nice weekend throughout most of the state.

John Rock, high above the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.

Mountains

Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will celebrate the annual event its Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education off US 276 north of Brevard.

A variety of family-oriented events are planned, including hands-on fishing, outdoor cooking, archery and pellet rifle range events. While you’re there, you can also visit the fish hatchery, where three types of trout are raised for release in local streams. And, you can take a three-mile hike up to John Rock.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. More details and directions here, more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 73.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: A tri, a TACO, a wildlife education appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: Test the waters

JoeMiller — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 16:58:53 +0000

Grandfather Mountain

Sample a triathlon in Cary or sample hiking on Grandfather Mountain. Or, at the coast you can workout for a cookout. Good options all for the last weekend before Labor Day weekend.

Coast

Always a smart move, scheduling a cookout with a workout, which is the gist of Saturday’s Rise and Grind Workout and Cookout Saturday morning at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington.

Sponsored by Cape Fear Boxing, a local non-profit that offers fitness and other programs for at-risk youth and troubled teens, there will be a pair of workouts in the morning followed by a cookout. Live music and a raffle, too. Sounds like a good way to celebrate the last weekend before Labor Day, viewed by many as the official end of summer.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 23, with workouts at 9 and 10:30 a.m., cookout to follow. $15. More info here or by contacting Rasheed Diaab at 910.200.0870 or capefearboxing@gmail.org.

Saturday forecast: High of 83, chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Piedmont

As you run down your to-do list for the summer, there’s a glaring omission: you didn’t do your first triathlon.

Yet.

Sunday, you can cross try-a-tri off your list with the ingenious Plunge Pedal & Plod at the Triangle Aquatics Center in Cary. This 17-year-old event is made for the person, adult or kid, who wants to sample a triathlon without investing a lot of time and energy. Try it and like it? Let that chapter of your life begin. Not so much fun? At least you tried.

The PP&P comes in four sizes, ranging from 50-yard pool swim, 4K bike ride and 1.6K run, to an 400 meter swim, 12K bike ride and 3K run. This is a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event.

Logistics: Sunday, Aug. 24, 7 a.m. (course closes at 10 a.m.). $70, non-USA Triathlon members must buy a one day membership ($10 for 17 and under, $18 otherwise). More info here.

Sunday forecast: Morning high in the low 70s, overcast.

Mountains

Saturday at Grandfather Mountain State Park it’s the Three Bears of hiking. Four Bears, actually.

The Chargers and ReChargers Hiking Club of Boone is conducting hikes for various ability levels. A newcomer to hiking? Check out the Easy 2.0-mile roundtrip from the Profile Trail trailhead: a lovely wander through a mature hardwood forest. Up for a little more? The Moderate 3.5-mile round trip tops out at Foscoe View and gains a total of 500 vertical feet. If you’re willing to venture into Strenuous territory there’s the 5.5-mile trip to Shanty Springs (1,600 feet), while the Very Strenuous hike gains a total of 2,046 feet over seven miles as it tops out at Calloway Peak.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 23, four hikes, all starting at 8:30 a.m. The hikes are free, but preregistration is required, by Friday, by calling the park office at 828.963.9522. Learn more about the park here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, cloudy, chance of rain.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: Test the waters appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: A weekend of last chances

JoeMiller — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:43:36 +0000

Need another triathlon before the season ends? We’ve got one? Another century ride? Got one of those, too, in the mountains, no less. And if you’re just into a good time with food, music and water, water everywhere, we’ve got that covered as well.

The Wilmington YMCA Tri begins with a 1,500-meter swim.

Coast

Attention triathlon junkies: Looking to get just one more event in before the season ends? Check out Saturday’s Wilmington YMCA Triathlon, a sprint tri broken down as such: 1,500-meter swim, 12-mile bike ride, 5K foot race. And if you’re looking for redemption on your times, even better: this tri is at Wrightsville Beach (based at the Blockade Runner), which has an elevation of about 1 (foot).

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 a.m. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 82.

Piedmont

Water-based festivals are the best: they typically have three of the main

From a previous Catawba RiverFest (photo courtesy lakejamesstatepark.org)

ingredients for a good time — food, live music and water play. In the case of Saturday’s 10th Annual Catawba RiverFest, the latter involves canoe and kayak races and, for those without canoes or kayaks (let alone the desire to race them), there will be demo boats on hand for you to take for a spin. In addition to the aforementioned, there will also be educational exhibits and a live raptor release. It all happens in the Paddy’s Greek Area of Lake James State Park near Nebo.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 75 (good news), 90 percent chance of rain (not-so-good news).

Mountains

Time is also running out this year for event bike rides, especially of the mountain century variety. There’s one this weekend, though, the Hilly Hellacious, which offers 100-mile and 62-mile options, as well as a shorter route that’s 20 to 25 miles, give or take. The rides all start and end in Fletcher (at the Fletcher Valley Natural Food Store, just across from Park Ridge Hospital). The ride benefits Asheville Youth Cycling.

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m. $45 for the 62- and 100-mile rides, $20 for the 25(ish)-miler, kids 12 and under ride free. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 68, which is perfect for a long bike ride; 90 percent chance of rain, which isn’t.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: A weekend of last chances appeared first on GetGoing NC!.