A trying day in store

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- It’s the longest-running, longest-swimming,

longest-biking triathlon in U.S. history, and it’s right here.

On Sunday, the 25th annual Kring & Chung Newport Beach Triathlon will

begin at the crack of dawn at Newport Dunes.

“This is the longest-running triathlon in the United States I think

partly because of its location,” said Jack Caress, president of Pacific

Sports LLC and race director for the triathlon. “It’s an interesting

course in Newport -- swimming at the Dunes, and it’s not often you get to

ride your bike on a closed street.

“It’s a fun course,” he continued. “It’s an attractive place. And the

Newport Beach name alone seems to help it out.”

The sport, a race combining bicycling, running and swimming, is

growing in popularity nationwide, Caress said. And that success is

amplified even further in Newport Beach. The city’s triathlon serves as a

good warmup event because of its relatively short course: a half-mile of

swimming, 13 miles of biking and a three-mile run.

As of Friday, about 1,000 competitors were signed up with more

expected to register today. This is a leap from last year’s 940

participants and, over the last three to five years, shows the event has

grown by about 25%.

So it’s not a surprise to see big-name athletes return. Among the

competitors registered this year is Olympic silver-medalist Michellie

Jones, who set last year’s women’s record at 1:00:48. Marc Lees, one of

the top-ranked triathletes in the world, will also participate. So, too,

will UC Irvine women’s water polo coach Julie Swail, an Olympic

silver-medal winner for water polo.

And our local take on the triathlon even offers something for those

not so athletically inclined.

“The start and the finish and everything worth watching are all within

about 300 yards from each other,” Caress said. “Within just a short walk,

you can see it all. It’s probably about as easy a spectator event of this

type as there is.”

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .

FYI

WHAT: The 25th Annual Kring & Chung Newport Beach Triathlon

WHEN: First wave starts at 6:45 a.m.

WHERE: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport

Beach

REGISTRATION: Participants may register Saturday at Niketownat Costa

Mesa’s Triangle Square.

SPECTATORS: The event may be watched from the Newport Dunes; admission

is free, though there’s a fee for parking.

INFORMATION: For triathlon information, visit

www.pacificsportsllc.com; the Dunes’s number is (949) 729-3863.