The sixth annual Cortez Burst Triathlon is in full swing for registration, and per tradition, all funds raised by the event will be donated to Friends of Recreation, a nonprofit that provides recreational opportunities to underprivileged members of the community.
Friends of Recreation board president Rayna Hall says that what sets Burst apart from other triathlons is that it has events for multiple ages and skill levels.
“We consider ourselves the best triathlon because it’s very user-friendly, they’re not hard courses, you can do teams, you can compete as an individual. It’s kind of like walking into a store where you can mix and match,” said Hall. “It’s a big triathlon buffet!”
Because of its broad appeal and scenic backdrop, the Cortez Burst Triathlon has grown from 20 participants to 150 in the six years since its inception, Hall says.
Both the 12-mile Recreational and 16-mile Competitive course follow the same route: It begins at City Park, heads east on Montezuma Avenue and continues north on Mildred Road to Road M.
Riders then head west on Road M to Road 25, where they continue north.
Those in the Competitive race will continue on to the Lebanon Cemetery, while those in the Recreational race will continue on only to Road P to a turnaround route that shoots back to Montezuma Avenue.
For competitors in the youth bracket (ages 11-14), there’s a 3-mile route that begins in City Park, heads east on Montezuma Avenue and continues north on Mildred Road to a turnaround point at Road M.
Children 6 and under can compete in a 1-mile bike ride that starts at the staging area at City Park and goes east on Montezuma to Mildred Road. Riders will follow Mildred Road north to East Empire, where they’ll continue west to North Park down to the transition area.
“Over the years, the event has really gotten stronger. As a race committee, we really try to do things right,” said Hall. “We don’t cut corners just to raise money. Safety is really important to us. We’re always trying to make the event something that touches all corners: fun, safety and raising money.”
For more information about this year’s Burst Triathlon, go to Corteztri.com or email corteztri@gmail.com.