Mark Coleman was born on St. Patrick's Day and a few years ago, he found himself thinking of ways he could celebrate that were different than the usual glasses of green beer.
Coleman is a triathlete and the owner/race director for Endurance Maryland, a company that promotes a number of races in Carroll County, and so Coleman decided on a duathlon; a race consisting of two sports - running and biking - as compared with the swimming, biking and running portions of a triathlon.
"The opening leg of the duathlon is a 5K run. Then there's an 18 mile bike, and then a shorter 2.5 mile run," Coleman said.
According to Coleman, this will be the third year for the St. Patrick's Day Duathlon, which will be held on Saturday, March 16.
In addition to the full duathlon race, Coleman said that there will also be a 5K race and a relay option for those who may not be ready to take on the full duathlon.
"It's only a two person relay. One person does both running sections and one person does the biking," Coleman said.
Relay partners can be of any gender, according to Coleman.
For those considering trying a multi-sport event, Coleman says a duathlon is often a good place to start.
"It's a great race for first timers and veterans. It's a natural progression for some people from running to a multi-sport event like a triathlon, but triathlons can be intimidating with the open water swimming," Coleman said.
Marc Malott, of Bethesda, has participated in the St. Patrick's Day Duathlon the past two years and was the overall male winner last year. Malott said that the race is a great event for first timers and veterans alike.
"I think it's a great event because the management is very good. It's easy enough for a first timer to do it, but not so easy that it would not be challenging," Malott said.
Alyssa Godesky of Baltimore was the top female winner last year, and agrees with Malott that the race is great for first time multi-sport racers.
"There are lots of opportunities to ask questions and it's not high strung like you might find at some other events," Godesky said.
According to Coleman, each leg of the duathlon will be a loop beginning and ending at North Carroll High school, and there will be a special transition area for getting on and off bicycles at the start and finish of the biking segment of the race.
Coleman said that while a road bike can be helpful, it is not strictly necessary for a race of this distance.
"It helps if they have a road bike because there is less resistance on those tires. But 18 miles is not that far for someone who cycles a couple of times a week and I have seen people out there on mountain bikes," Coleman said.
There will be aid stations offering water at the transition area and at mile one of the run, but the bike ride will be entirely self-supported and Coleman said that those racing the full duathlon or the bike portion of a relay should plan accordingly.
Gun time for both the full duathlon and the stand alone 5K race is 7:30 a.m., and racers will have several hours to complete the course.
According to Coleman, award plaques will be given to the first three finishers in each race category - male and female overall, male and female racers in each age group, relay racers and the 5K racers - with a larger plaque for the top winners.
There will also be a costume contest for all athletes, Coleman said, with prizes going to the top three St. Patrick's Day themed costumes, Coleman said.
"We encourage athletes to dress up and have fun with the race ... it is a celebration of St. Patrick's Day and a celebration of personal accomplishment through fitness ... To qualify individuals must participate in the duathlon or 5K," Coleman said.
There is no participation medal being presently offered, but Coleman said he would be open to offering a medal if possible.
"It's just a matter of the economics. Right now we have about 150 people registered. If we get more registrants we may be able to do a participation medal," Coleman said.
In terms of advice for first time racers and veterans alike, both Malott and Godesky emphasized keeping a conservative pace in the opening run.
"I would just say, don't go out too hard in the first 5k because your legs will feel like lead in the second one," Malott said.
According to Coleman, advanced registration is encouraged and will be accepted through March 14.
"[Participants] are guaranteed a T-shirt, but it may not be the right size if they do not register in advance," Coleman said.
Advanced registration is available through active.com, or by printing a registration form that can then be mailed to Endurance Maryland. Links to both registration methods are available on the Endurance Maryland website at http://www.endurancemaryland.com.
Registration for the full duathlon is $75, for relay teams it is $100, and for those running just the 5K race, $40.
According to Coleman, those participating in the Duathlon must have a USA Triathlon license for the race, and one day licenses are available for $12.
McDaniel College students and staff may take $5 off their total entry fee and must bring their McDaniel identification when picking up their race packet, Coleman said.
Race packets can be picked up on March 15 at the YMCA of Carroll County at 1719 Sykesville Road, in Westminster, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Registration will be available by cash or check from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m. on the day of the race.
