Kayakers, paddle boarders, runners &amp; spectators will fill Hunting Island State Park on Saturday March 9 for the 9th Annual Adventure Biathlon which is presented by the Sea Island Rotary Club of Beaufort.

The race starts at 2 p.m. when more than 200 participants take to the water in kayaks and stand-up paddle boards in the Hunting Island lagoon and race for 6 miles returning back at the launch site. Upon beaching their boats and boards, the running leg commences. Runners will race 4.5 mile trail course through a pristine forest.

<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SIR_Biathlon_2013.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10174" alt="SIR_Biathlon_2013" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SIR_Biathlon_2013-300x203.jpg" width="300" height="203" /></a>Participants can paddle and run solo or form a team made up of tandem paddlers and runners, or form a relay team.  Arrangements have been made for interested entrants who do not have a kayak to rent one from Higher Ground or the Kayak Farm on St. Helena Island. Higher Ground is also pairing up individuals who want to be on a team and need a buddy.

It’s called an Adventure Biathlon because each year unexpected challenges are introduced along the way. The challenges are normally announced just before the start of the race. For example, one year the runners had to complete the run with their paddle in hand. In other years, runners had to stop and do push-ups and sit-ups, crawl under mesh nets or hurdle over stumps.

“The objective of this event is to have fun and raise money for our local charities,” says Rion Salley, Sea Island Rotary Club President.  “Our signature charities include: CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association), Hope Haven of the Lowcountry, Lowcountry, Habitat for Humanity, and various Rotary service projects.”  “The Adventure Biathlon is a lot of fun and, as a fundraiser, is second only to the club’s Annual Shrimp Race held during the fall at the Beaufort Shrimp Festival.  For the past several years we have been able to donate more than $50,000 annually toward charity,” says Salley.  “This is a wonderful way to help charity and compete in a unique athletic event.”

Race organizer, Mike Mashke, says the event attracts participants from all over the Southeast U.S. The location of this event is spectacular and its uniqueness is a great draw. This is truly a one of a kind experience.

Sea Island Rotary Club is a part of Rotary International, a worldwide organization of 1.2 million members dedicated to improving education, health and living conditions worldwide.

For more information and to register go to www.setupevents.com. Also, see the event on Facebook.
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