Response to the Land O'Lakes event has been tremendous, a deputy in charge of traffic says.
By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer
Published August 5, 2005
LAND O'LAKES - The entrance to Janine Dixon's subdivision will be crowded Saturday morning as hundreds of participants in the Babes & Bums Triathlon run and cycle down Collier Parkway.
If Dixon or her neighbors in Valencia Gardens want to drive anywhere, they might be in for a delay.
Here's what Dixon has to say about that: "I don't see a problem.
"I look at it more like a fun community event, rather than a hindrance," said Dixon, the president of the Valencia Gardens Homeowners Association board. "It's a few hours on a Saturday morning. Let's have fun with it."
The second annual triathlon is expected to draw about 450 participants Saturday and could tie up traffic on several community streets, especially Parkway Boulevard. It will require the closing of one major thoroughfare, Collier Parkway, for a short time. Still, event organizers have thus far managed to avoid any significant inconveniences to residents along the race course.
"You always have a few people who are going to complain, but for the most part the response has been tremendous," said Sgt. Erik Anthes of Pasco's Sheriff's Office, in charge of traffic duties last year and this year.
"My goal is to make it so that no one has to wait any more than five minutes," Anthes said.
Event director Val Thomopalos said that Athletes Who Care, the group that founded the event, has put an extra focus on working with the community this year. The group doesn't want anyone surprised at seeing hundreds of athletes running down their street. They don't want anyone prevented from getting where they need to go.
The event starts and ends at the Land O'Lakes Recreation Complex along Collier Parkway. The recreation complex will be busy Friday night and Saturday morning. Athletes will check in and pick up race packets starting at 5 p.m. today.
Athletes are expected to start showing up any time after 5 a.m. Saturday.
There will be no parking at the recreation complex. Participants should park at Lake Myrtle Elementary School on Weeks Boulevard, or at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church or Harvester United Methodist Church, both on Collier Parkway. Handicap parking will be at the Land O'Lakes Branch Library.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Babes and Bums Sprint, including a 3.1-mile run, 10.5-mile bike and 1/8th-of-a-mile swim. (The sequence is the reverse of the traditional swim, bike, run.) Also the Tri-Fever races. For ages 7-10, a 1-mile run, 3-mile bike and 50-yard swim. For ages 11 and up, a 1-mile run, a 5-mile bike and 100-yard swim.
WHEN: Today, packet pickup; Saturday, triathlon.
WHERE: The Land O'Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway.
