The race is now sold out and the waitlist is closed.

The race sold out on July 28 with 400 athletes!  We created a waitlist and raised the cap to 450 athletes on July 29.  Over 130 people signed up on the waitlist.  The waitlist was closed on August 7.

Thanks so much for your interest — we hope to see you racing next year!!

I am an expatriate.  That’s a fancy word for someone who left El Paso to go to college and never returned.  Not that I lacked reasons to; I could give you a list of reasons why I love El Paso.  Suffice it to say it includes family, the Franklins, and Chico’s Tacos.

The truth is life and career just took me in other directions.  But I find – no, I look for – reasons to remain connected to my hometown because it is very much that.  Home.

I live in Austin, and I’ve participated in more races than I can remember.  Fun races, timed races, races with thousands of participants, professionally organized races that attract tourist dollars, promote local business, and get people thinking about Austin.

So when I learned about Race El Paso’s Eagle in the Sun Triathlon, scheduled for September 5, Labor Day weekend, and I heard that the El Paso Sports Commission gave the race its full support, I found one of the best reasons to visit El Paso later this summer.  In fact, I registered for the race the week after I heard about it.  (All registration is online at http://www.raceelpaso.com/events.)

The race date is perfect for a come-homer like me.  Labor Day weekend offers race tourists a three-day window of travel-race-travel time.  El Paso already hosts a series of other races and a timed marathon – now it’s time to take multisport races to the next level.

Maybe you’ve never considered doing a triathlon.  I’ll be honest: this is my first, too.  I’m a runner, so the 5K portion of Eagle in the Sun is the least of my worries.  I also ride a bike recreationally, so the 20K cycling distance is not bad.  I’m really working on the 400-meter swim.

Eagle in the Sun, though, is perfect for a first-timer like me precisely because of the sprint (triathlete word for “very short”) distance.  I’m also happy to be a part of El Paso’s launch into a sport that is growing at a tremendous rate.  According to a USAT survey (USAT is the national triathlon organization) conducted in 2008, 78 percent of triathletes participate in sprint distance races.  The shorter races are attractive to persons new to triathlon.

I also love that the race is about accessibility for El Pasoans, Texans, beginners and veteran triathletes from all over the region.  Eagle in the Sun organizers are putting together a top-notch, timed event (timer chips really get your motor going on race day) that opens El Paso’s doors to a new batch of sports tourists and visitors.

I hope to see you there on race day.  And to keep me honest, I’ll keep a daily blog starting July 5 until race day so I can share my training with other El Pasoans who are looking forward to the first of many Eagles in the Sun.  Follow me at http://epeagleintraining.blogspot.com.

Arturo Ballesteros works for the Texas Senate in Austin, Texas.  He grew up in Northeast El Paso, graduated from Austin College, and has worked as a legislative professional for more than 10 years.  He rides an old steel bike and he’s proud of it.

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Thursday, June 17, 2010
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Toro Burger Bar
(6950 Montana Ave – Montana Plaza 2 shopping center, corner of Montana and Airway)
 
Race El Paso invites you to kick off the first-ever Eagle in the Sun Triathlon with a big El Paso-style party on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at the Toro Burger Bar location at 6950 Montana Ave (near Airway), from 5:30p to 7p.
 
Everyone is welcome! Seasoned triathletes, new triathletes, potential triathletes and the El Paso community are invited to help us kickoff the 2010 Eagle in the Sun Triathlon. Come down and enjoy some Toro eats, learn about tri training and gear, and register to participate.
 
The sprint-distance Eagle in the Sun Triathlon will take place on Sunday, September 5, 2010 and we’re getting the party started now to kick start your training.  “Beginners have plenty of time to prepare for a great race,” says Race Director Gabriela Gallegos.  “Now’s the time to make the commitment and start training.”  Get in on the action with a 10-week training program provided by El Paso Triathlon Club for Eagle in the Sun Triathlon. Go on now, amaze yourself and get a tri under your belt!
 
KICKOFF PARTY POSTER

Date: Saturday, June 19th, 2010
Time: 7:30 – 11:45 AM
Location: Santa Teresa Country Club
Country Club at McNutt Road
75 Feather Moon Drive
Santa Teresa, NM 88088
(575) 874-4700

REGISTER HERE

The El Paso Triathlon Club and the Santa Teresa Country Club invite you to improve your triathlon skills! Great chance for beginning triathletes to learn more about triathlons and to start a training program. The clinic will cover transitions, nutrition & hydration, and offer specific instruction and hands on training for the swim, bike and run. Taught by local triathletes, the price includes the clinic, light snacks & drinks during the instruction/training sessions and includes lunch at the El Paso Triathlon Club’s summer meeting immediately following the clinic. All proceeds to benefit the Santa Teresa Country Club Swim Team.

Clinic also provides participants a 10-week training plan for Race El Paso’s (http://www.raceelpaso.com/) Eagle in the Sun Triathlon, a USAT sanctioned race, being held in the Mission Valley, on Sunday, September 5th, 2010. Immediately following the clinic, stay for lunch at the El Paso Triathlon Club’s summer meeting from 12:00 – 2:00PM. There will a mini-expo with local swimming, running, and cycling stores present.

Pricing, clinic schedule and registration information to follow shortly.

For any immediate questions, please e-mail us elpasotriclub@yahoo.com.