Oct 5, 2008 11:56 am US/Eastern
Athletes Take Part In "Escape To Miami" Triathalon
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
More than a thousand athletes took to the streets of Downtown Miami Sunday to take part in an "urban triathalon."
The Publix Escape to Miami is considered by many weekend 'ironmen' and 'ironwomen' to be one of the most challenging races in the country.
The Olympic distance triathlon has been recognized nationally because of its signature start, the swim from "Escape Island." Sunday morning the participants were ferried to an island off the downtown area in Biscayne Bay and waited for the starter's gun. After the .9 mile swim to Margaret Pace Park on the mainland, athletes then hopped on bikes for the second portion of the event; a two lap bike course which took them across the Julia Tuttle Causeway to Miami Beach then looped back to the park for a total of 24.8 miles. The final leg consisted of a two lap 3.1 mile run past the Arscht Center for the Performing Arts then over the MacArthur Causeway to Star Island where the course then doubled back to the park for a total of 6.2 miles.
Actor Matt Damon surprised the crowds by taking part in the running part of the course with his brother and a friend.
This year the event featured a sprint course in which athletes could opt for a .25 swim followed by only one lap each of the bike and running course.
In all, 12-hundred athletes from 7 countries took part in the event
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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