First-Ever Triathlon Event Comes to Laguna Niguel

This year, the city of Laguna Niguel decided that Feb. 17 is race day for the Reverse Sprint triathlon which will be held at Crown Valley Community Park.

The Reverse Sprint distance triathlon consists of a 5k run, 17k bike ride and 150 meter swim, whereas the duathlon consists of a 5k run, 17k bike ride and finishes with another 5k run.

These two races will start at 7 a.m. and the 1k kids run will start five minutes later. The kids race should finish before the fastest 5k runners complete their race.

Reverse refers to the order in which various portions of the race are completed while sprint is one of the shorter-distance types of triathlons. Usually, a triathlon begins with a swim, followed by a bike course and then ends with a run.

Race Director David Flournoy of Go Forward Racing, Inc., a race production and management company out of Dana Point says that the business started three years ago and has since hosted five other running events, including the Orangeman Triathlon. He predicts that approximately 400-500 people will participate in the running events and that another 400-500 people will be spectators.

Flourney said that the city was excited about the local event and that there are many different types of races for runners of all capabilities. He also said that having a variety of races will encourage people to sign up.

Racers can still sign up for the event through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 14 via the online registration form.

According to the form, the run portion of the Laguna Niguel Triathlon is a 5K and will start and end on the soccer field of Crown Valley Community Park. The run course utilizes the recreational trails within the Crown Valley Community Park and Laguna Niguel Regional Park.

The bike portion is 17 kilometers on the streets of Laguna Niguel. Athletes must complete two laps of this 8.5K route.

The swim portion will take place in the pool at the Crown Valley Community Park. Runners will start at the same time as Triathletes and use the same course.

Triathlete Mike Puritz, a 26-year resident of Laguna Niguel plans to participate in the race. In 2011 Puritz ran the Inaugural Orangeman half Ironman and also last year’s Doheny State Beach half Ironman races, both hosted by Go Forward Racing. He is impressed with how the business organizes and runs events.

“I hope they keep this as an annual triathlon in our own backyard," Puritz said. "It can be a tradition that many of the Laguna Niguel residents can take advantage of.”

The pre-race Athlete Packet Pickup & Fitness Expo will take place at Crown Valley Community Park the day before the race from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

YMCA of Laguna Niguel and the Laguna Niguel Military Support Foundation are nonprofit organizations that will benefit from the event.