By Sarah Walston
Mount Pleasant Recreation Department

MOUNT PLEASANT – While still weeks away, the Second Annual East Cooper Coastal Triathlon, set for Sunday, April 23, has already received over 50 entries and numbers are expected to rise as race day approaches. Significantly, the race has seen a considerable increase in out-of-state participation, signifying that it is quickly becoming a coveted event. Participants have already registered from nine states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, New York, Illinois, Wyoming and Nevada.

With its competitive course through the East Cooper area, the race attracts triathletes for its exceptional challenge both on land and in the ocean. In addition, the triathlon is particularly appealing because of its ideal location, in which participants can take advantage of the unique offerings of the Charleston area and turn their visit into a destination weekend.

Triathlon Director Paul King promotes the triathlon as a high-quality event and supports its ability to generate out-of-state appeal.

"One of the great things about triathlons is that generally the field of athletes is drawn from a wider area than just the host community," King said. "And when you combine the excitement of competing in a triathlon with traveling to a great location, it can be pure magic."

King is particularly excited about the wide range of triathletes that have already registered.

"Although it is still early, the entries we have from outside South Carolina bring more than a regional flavor to the East Cooper Coastal Triathlon," King said. "When the race was envisioned, it was hoped that this early season triathlon would attract cold-weather triathletes- and it has. With entries from Wyoming, Nevada, New York, and Illinois the Coastal Triathlon is beginning to take its place as a triathlon worth traveling to."

Matt and Kerry Carr (both 35) have been rigorously training in the cold-weather temperatures of Jackson, Wyoming. While enduring difficult runs on snow-covered grounds, the two have been forced to perform much of their bike training indoors on stationery bicycles.

"It’s been a cold winter on the gerbil wheel," said Matt. "We’re looking forward to biking outside." Matt and Kerry are currently training for the Ford Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene Triathlon in June 2006 in Couer d’Alene, Idaho, and felt that the East Cooper Coastal Triathlon would provide an ideal opportunity to test their progress, particularly since the two had never before competed in a triathlon.

"We’ve only competed in marathons," said Matt, "and we really wanted to experience a triathlon."

Matt also said that the triathlon attracted them because of the open-water swim, which is limited in the cold water temperatures of Wyoming.

This is all a learning curve for us, and the open water swim should allow us to become more comfortable with our swimming abilities, Matt said.

While an ideal ground for athletic training, the triathlon also a perfect fit for the Carrs’ travel plans, as the two organized a family reunion trip while in the area.

"My parents have a house on the Isle of Palms and my sister, who is expecting a baby, has lived in Mount Pleasant for five years," Matt said. "We thought we would come down for the triathlon and take some time to visit them, as well."

The Carrs’s sentiment was further echoed in registered participant Tiffany Berry, a 24 year-old sales manager from Naperville, Illinois, who also found that participating in the triathlon satisfied dual functions.

Tiffany has been competing in triathlons for two years and is currently training for a Half Ironman Triathlon in August 2006. However, as a mother of three young boys, Tiffany is using the triathlon as a reason to squeeze in a mini vacation while still continuing to work on her training for the Iron Man.

"I really wanted to come to a beach town and do an ocean swim," Tiffany said. "I searched and searched, and when I saw the pictures of the area, it looked so beautiful and peaceful.

Tiffany said that this was the first time she had ever raced outside the state, but that she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to travel and train at the same time.

"What a perfect way to spend four days – run a triathlon and then sit on the beach and read a book!"

Over the next few weeks, Tiffany, Matt, and Kerry will continue to advance their training, looking forward to the day of the triathlon when they join a group of elite athletes, who, whether local or out-of-state, have come together for an extreme challenge of athletic strength and endurance.

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