Nearly 400 up for Lake in the Hills triathlon

Registration has ended, and 387 local athletes are stretching their muscles in preparation for the Lake in the Hills Triathlon Sunday.

The fourth-annual triathlon features a half-mile swim, a 15.5-mile bike ride and a 4-mile run.

The event kicks off with the swim at Indian Tail Beach at 6:30 a.m. There will be eight total groups, beginning three minutes apart.

Overall winners will be awarded with high-tech backpacks and medals. The top male and female athletes also will be honored. Finishing the triathlon is a reward in itself as well, said Trudy Wakeman, Lake in the Hills' director of parks and recreation.

With intense heat expected, event organizers are reminding participants to stay hydrated as the race approaches. They also added extra ice to the two-mile turnaround and the finish line.

Spectators are encouraged to park near the police station or Ryder Park for walkable access to the swim and finish areas. No roads will be shut down, but Randall Road will be monitored by police officers for the bike riders to cross between 6:40 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. Crowds between 400 and 700 people are expected, and a party will commence after the awards ceremony to celebrate the athletes' accomplishment.

"Our goal is to make sure every athlete has a good experience," Wakeman said.