Co-race director John Lierle recently announced that McDowell Mountain Regional Park will host the 12^th annual TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon.  The event, which consists of a 3.5 mile run, a 21 mile road bike course followed by a 2.7 mile run, will take place at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday February 22, 2009 at McDowell Mountain Regional Park located just north of Fountain Hills, AZ.  Multi-sport athletes from all over North America will travel to the park, which is operated by the Maricopa County Parks system, to compete in the run/bike/run endurance event. 

The event will also feature a Juniors Duathlon (ages 15-19) that consists of a 1.5 mile run, 11 mile bike and a 1.5 mile run as well as a Kids Duathlon (ages 7-14) consisting of a mile run, 5 mile bike and mile run.

Lierle described the course as "A unique duathlon venue that combines smooth trail runs with a challenging road bike course through the majestic sonoran desert. The Trisports.com Desert Classic Duathlon is a favorite of many professional triathletes who use the race as an early season test of their fitness." said Lierle. "The race also draws a very strong field of top age-group athletes from across the U.S. looking for a warm weather destination where they can race and vacation."  Participants in the race have included IronMan 70.3 world champion Samantha McGlone, Olympic Gold Medalists Simon Whitfield & Kristin Armstrong & XTerra world champion Michael Tobin.

The TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon raises money for youth education programs in the Maricopa County Parks system and is produced by the Phoenix Triathlon Club, whose members serve as the volunteers who put on the race.

To register for the race visit: http://desertclassicduathlon.com/registration.html