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New director, sponsor for Batavia Triathlon

It seems a little chilly to think about a dip at Quarry Beacch, followed by a run on the Fox River Trail.

But signup begins Sunday for the June 10 Batavia Triathlon. And organizers are proudly announcing a new title sponsor and race director.

Experience Triathlon is the title sponsor for the event, which will include a triathlon and a duathlon. There will also be a relay category, for teams where one person swims, a second cycles and the third runs.

The Batavia Triathlon is a sprint-distance event, unlike the famous Ironman Triathlon, which features a marathon-length run, a 2.4-mile swim and a 115-mile bike ride. In Batavia, athletes swim 400 meters, ride 14.7 miles on their bicycles on country roads west of town, and run 4.1 miles on the trail. Duathletes run, bike and then run again.

“We feel the event is for people new to the sport of triathlon,” and a good way for veteran triathletes to start their race season, said Erin Ruehrwein, the race’s marketing coordinator.

Naperville-based Experience Triathlon sells personal, group and online coaching and nutrition services, and offers strength training, massage, performance testing and training camps.

It was founded and is run by Joe LoPresto — who will be the new race director. The previous race director, who had done it for four years, had become too busy with work and family commitments, but remains on the planning committee, Ruehrwein said.

The June 2012 event will be the ninth triathlon. There is also a youth triathlon, with shorter distances. No course changes are planned so far.

“We’ve got a really good course established,” Ruehrwein said.

Participation is usually capped at 900 athletes. A portion of the registration proceeds is split between several charities, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Entrants can also choose, for a higher cost, to have their registration fee donated to the charity of their choice.

The race was started by Noel Basquin, engineer for the city of Batavia.

Basic triathlon, duathlon and triathlon relay fees range from $65 to $95 through Feb. 29, then increase $5. Register at bataviatriahlon.org.

Ryan Giuliano of Schaumburg was first to cross the finish line at last year’s Batavia Triathlon, with a time of 1:02.26. Daily Herald file photo
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