Kids' Duathlon

The Northbrook Park District is gearing up for the third annual Kids’ Duathlon on Friday, July 20 from 6-8pm at Meadowhill Park and the Ed Rudolph Velodrome. The event motivates kids to be active and have fun in two sports – running and bicycling –  while giving kids the opportunity to experience an official banked bike track. The focus of the event is on recreation and fitness rather than competition.

The duathlon is open to ages 5-14; no experience is necessary. The entry fee is $10, and contestants will receive a participation medal, as well as free pizza, drinks and admission to the adjacent Meadowhill Aquatic Center from 8-9pm. Contestants are grouped by age for the following activities:

Biking:    “Flying 250m”

Running: 1/4 mile for ages 5-7

               1/2 mile for ages 8-10

               1 mile for ages 11-14

Check-in and practice begin at 6pm, and the racing is from 7-8pm. Children should bring a bicycle (no training wheels), helmet and tennis shoes. The Northbrook Park District and Northbrook Bicycle Club, sponsors of the event, invite children to free training clinics on Wednesday, July 11 and July 18 at 6:30pm to practice and become familiar with the banked bike track. Registration for the Kids’ Duathlon is available online at nbparks.org, at the Leisure Center and Northbrook Sports Center, and at the event.

The Ed Rudolph Velodrome is the only short, banked track for official bicycle racing in Illinois. All ages and riders can race on Friday nights, and Thursday night races attract top cyclists from the Midwest.

For more information, call 847·291·2980 or visit nbparks.org.