The 42nd annual Eppie’s Great Race — known as “The World’s Oldest Triathlon” — is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2015. Each year the race raises funds to benefit Sacramento County Regional Parks’ Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) program. TRS provides fun-filled recreation activities to people with disabilities in the Sacramento community.
Race participants run 5.82 miles, cycle 12.5 miles, and paddle 6.35 miles on a racecourse located on and alongside the American River Parkway. Both teams and/or individuals over 14 years old can compete in divisions from “Junior,” to “Iron Person.” The last day to register online is July 15, 2015. Last minute participants can register in person at the packet pick-up party on Friday, July 17 or on the morning of the race.
TRS is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015. This year’s $20,000 donation to TRS represents proceeds collected during the 2014 Eppie’s Great Race. To date, the race has raised more than $1.4 million for TRS, and now accounts for over 25 percent of the program’s overall budget.
Funding from Eppie’s Great Race helps support TRS programs. These programs include dances, attendance at sporting events such as River Cats games, overnight travel, summer camps, and more. TRS also manages the Sacramento County Chargers, a Special Olympics team founded more than 30 years ago. With more than 200 athletes who participate in a variety of competitions including the Special Olympics, TRS also provides year-round training for five different sports—basketball, soccer, swimming, track & field, and floor hockey.
Eppie’s Great Race starts at the William B. Pond Recreation Area with the runners and finishes with the paddlers at River Bend Park. The American River Parkway Multi-Use Trail will be closed from Guy West Bridge upstream to Sunrise Avenue footbridge from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Aid stations will be set up at approximately every 1 mile to provide support to the runners, cyclists and paddlers with food, fluids, and if needed, medical attention. Learn more in the Eppie’s Great Race program.
