Key Event of Top Triathlon Series Hosted In Perryville

What an exciting way to introduce a unique niche of visitors to the Lower Susquehanna Greenway area. The Town of Perryville will host the Diamond-in-the-Rough Triathlon for the first time this year. This exciting event on July 12 will bring hundreds of athletes from the mid-Atlantic region to the Lower Susquehanna Greenway area as the 3rd event in a 7-series challenge.

This event is part of the sanctioned U.S.A. Mid-Atlantic Regional Club Championship Race that began with the Brandywine Valley Duathlon on April 12^th in Delaware City, DE.

The 2^nd event will be the Fort Delaware Triathlon in Fort Delaware State Park, Delaware City, DE. This second event is scheduled for June 21^st.

The Diamond-in-the-Rough will be staged at the Perryville Community Park. This event will offer a 1-mile swim in the waters off the park area, followed by a muscle-cramping 27-mile bike towards the Conowingo Dam and back. This run includes a 7.5 % grade climb at mile 22 that will certainly separate the serious from the just-having-fun athletes. (Of course, personally, I would have to question even the just-having-fun variety!) This will be followed with a 5-mile run when the cyclists return to Perryville Community Park.

If you’re wondering how you might enjoy this event as an observer, there are several ways. First, you could take a picnic brunch and be at Perryville Community Park early in the morning. This means before 7:30. Otherwise, you’ll end up being in the way of athletes. But you’re sure to get a first-hand sense of the excitement of this event as they move to the water, then compete to be first out of the park on their bicycles.

Another way to enjoy the event would be to sit along the route the cyclists will be taking. See their website for complete details:

www.Piranha-sports.com/diamond.html

Those of you who prefer a pleasant way to enjoy this event in Port Deposit might want to consider having brunch at one of the fine restaurants or just a donut and coffee and sit on the sidewalk between 9 and 10:30 a.m. The cyclists will be working their way to the dam and pedaling their way through Port about that time. Encourage them on their way with a big cheer.

IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE keep your eye out for cyclists throughout the morning. Keep in mind that they are racing the clock. Check carefully before crossing the street and keep a very alert eye on children. Thanks so much. Let’s keep this a fun event.

You can also check out the route that the runners will take as they follow the Susquehanna River in Perryville.

The host hotel is Comfort Inn at the I-95 and St. Rt. 222 interchange in Perryville (Exit 93). Athletes, friends and family will be arriving as early as Friday afternoon. From 3-8 p.m. participants will be picking up their packets at the Perryville Community Park. As you’ll note in the calendar, that same evening, many will take part in the Ironbirds Game Bus Trip from Perryville.

Piranha Sports, LLC, a leading event production company, headquartered just outside of Wilmington, Delaware organizes this event. The company produces swimming, cycling and running events in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. For more information, visit

http://www.piranha-sports.com.

Interested in participating? To win the Regional Championship, you only need to take part in a minimum of 4 of the 7 events. Check it out online. But here’s a quick schedule.

Event 4 is a Cape May Diamond Biathlon at Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ on August 23^rd.

Event 5 is a Delaware Diamondman Triathlon at Lums Pond State Park in Bear, DE on Sept. 7^th.

Event 6 is Lums Pond Triathlon and Duathlon (Bear, DE) on Sept. 28^th.

Event 7 takes place at Cape Henlopen State Park in DE for the Cape Henlopen Triathlon and Duathlon on October 12^th.

Come out and enjoy the fun. Let’s make this a venue that brings visitors back to our area again and again.