The first-ever
Rouge-A-Thlon has been announced for April 22, 2017. The duathlon will wind runners and bikers through Rouge Park on Detroit's west side—at 1,184 acres, it's the city's largest park. Money raised will benefit
Friends of Rouge Park and its efforts to maintain and improve the park's trails.
Tour de Troit is organizing for the event, which will take participants through a 5K trail run into a 10K street bike ride, and finishing with a second 5K trail run.
"There are so few duathlons in the Detroit area," Vittoria Katanski, director of Tour de Troit, says in a statement. "I think we're really filling a need for active people who want a jump start on summer training."
Registration is capped at 250 people. There are two tiers of registration, VIP and standard. The VIP tier is limited to 50 people and costs $140. It includes a Tour de Troit runner's towel, commemorative t-shirt, and premium placement on the run-to-bike transition. The standard tier costs $70 and includes a commemorative t-shirt. Registration for two-member relay teams is also available.
In addition to the commemorative gear, registered participants will be greeted with beer, Amicci's Pizza, and a finisher medal at the end of the race.
Rouge-A-Thlon running and biking partners RUNDetroit and Wheelhouse Hamtramck are hosting a free brick training workout on April 1 at the Wheelhouse Hamtramck storefront. Registration for the free event
is available online.
Proceeds raised from the event will go to Friends of Rouge Park, a non-profit advocacy group for the park. The money will go toward park improvements, including trails.
"It's such a scenic, beautiful park, the runners really enjoy the views and the winding roads," says Katanski.
Registration for the Rouge-A-Thlon is available online.
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