Enticer means plenty for Rota Blue

After announcing that the upcoming Rota Blue Triathlon will serve as one of the qualifying races for the 2006 Micronesian Games next summer, the organizers of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation recently sent word that the most determined rookies have a shot at getting help with their first off-island race.

According NMITF Enticer Series director Sue Knecht, Onishi-san of KFC Triathlon group added a little incentive to the newest batch of multisport enthusiast by offering the top male and female rookies the chance to save $80 by earning a free entry for the Nov. 19 race.

Next month’s race takes place at Pau Pau Beach in Marpi and will be the final event of the NMITF Enticer Series. The fun of the swim, bike, and run is slated for Saturday, Oct. 15, as the rookies return to the lagoon for their toughest test to date during the 600-meter swim at 4:30pm.

Once out of the water the budding triathletes will transition to the 16-kilometer bike course that will lead them down the winding Marpi roads and back to the parking lot. From there the swimmers-turned bikers will transition to the run 4-km. course.

All of the distances are doubled from the second race, and the NMITF has a tune-up event for those looking for a little more of a challenge in the form of a double-sprint distance race. The swimmers will spend a little more time in the water during the 1,200-m course and will double the Enticer distances by taking two loops on both the bike and run courses before relaxing with a Pot Luck Barbeque on the beach.

Aside from racers, the NMITF is also looking for a number of volunteers to help with many aspects of the race. According to Knecht, the organization is currently in need of four volunteers for timing, another four for road safety, two timers, and people to help out with registration and to write the numbers on the racers.

Racers are free to choose their distance, but registration for the events starts at 3:30pm followed by a pre-race.

The KFC Triathlon Club will be hosting the Rota Blue Olympic Distance Triathlon in association with the MVA, and the course includes a 1.5-km. ocean swim that local officials call amazing, followed by a 40-km. rolling hills bike ride, and a 10-km. run. In the past there has been a Half Iron Man distance race as well, but currently the status of the extra distance endurance race is unclear.

Knecht also reminded all racer that in addition to finishing with the fastest times, qualifications to represent the CNMI in the Micro Games includes the athletes having resided on Saipan for a period no less than five years.

In 2004 the NMITF got the series started in November to get wannabe racers ready for the Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon, but this time around the people who like three sports better than one are on a mission to turn the most adamant couch potato from a tuber to terrific three months earlier so that they could be ready to tackle the Rota race.

The cost to participate in all of the Sprint/Enticer races is $5 for NMITF members and $10 for non-members. The cost of an annual membership is $25. To pre-register for the races, send your intentions to sueknecht1@yahoo.com.

The fee for the Rota Blue Triathlon is $80, and registration is possible through Onishi-san at KFC triathlon via email to kfc-onishi@gem.hi-ho-ne.jp. For more information about the race, contact Frank Tudela at the MVA by calling 664-3210 or visit http://www.gem.hi-ho.ne.jp/kfc-onishi%20/.