Growing multisport community gets more local events

The triathlon/multisport community has been growing in Brevard County, and now, thankfully, so are the number of multisports events available to all you enthusiasts out there.

Smooth Running, LLC, run by Mictch Varnes started the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon Weekend last year. There are races rancing from 5K to marathon distance and prize money up for grabs. That weekend is coming up Feb. 6-7.

But, the new races, dubbed the Surf Coast Trifecta, will kick off in mid-April and crown overall and age group series champions the third week of June. Athletes may enter one or all events in the series, but series championships will only be awarded to those competing in all three events.

The total cash purse for the series championship is A $3,000. It's likely to draw some elite talent, but Smooth Running says it is primarily aimed at everyday people looking for personal challenges and accomplishments.

"We have a couple of really great longstanding events in our area with the Pineapple Man and Health First Triathlons," Varnes said. "The Surf Coast Trifecta is designed to complement those two triathlons while giving athletes the opportunity to compete in more events and improve their competitive fitness through much of the year. We have spoken with lots of runners and triathletes around Central Florida, and there is enthusiastic support for the series."

The Surf Coast Trifecta will feature a sprint distance triathlon (1/4- mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run) in Cocoa Beach, a "Bikearathon" (6.2-mile run and 20-mile bike ride) in Viera and another sprint distance triathlon in Sebastian Inlet State Park in Melbourne Beach. The Cocoa Beach swim will be in the Banana River while the Sebastian Inlet swim will be off the beach in the Atlantic Ocean.

The two triathlons will be sanctioned and overseen by USA Triathlon