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The Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Chisago will host the Fourth Annual Chisago Lakes Half Ironman and Sprint Triathlon the last weekend in July. Managed by Midwest Sports Events, this is a USAT sanctioned event that draws athletes from throughout the United States as part of the 5 STAR Triathlon Series. The mission at Midwest Sports Events is to positively impact communities and to help individuals create healthy lifestyles.

This swim, bike, and run event, features a sport for everyone. Situated in the heart of Chisago City, the Triathlon events will start and finish at Paradise Park. Overlooking Chisago Lake, the park offers exceptional viewing for the key points of the event; the swim start, the transition points from the bike to the run, and also the finish line. There are three distance events beginning with the Kids' Triathlon at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 25 and the adult Half Ironman and Sprint distance triathlons begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 26. The Sprint distance includes a ¼-mile swim, 20-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run, while the Half Ironman participants will endure a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run, but will be rewarded by a panoramic view of the St. Croix River. Registration for the 2009 Chisago Lakes Area Triathlon and Kids' Triathlon is open.

If you are not planning to participate, but want to support your family or friends - or get a "front row seat" to watch - please volunteer! Volunteers are needed throughout the event to help with set-up, to apply participant body marking, to direct spectators and participants on and off the course, to provide refreshments at the aid stations along the course and after the race.   All volunteers receive a t-shirt, and are invited to attend a "kick-off" celebration and brief training session on Thursday evening before the event. To volunteer or for more information, please contact the Chamber office at 651-257-1177 or send an email to the volunteer coordinator at [email protected]. This is a great opportunity for businesses, organizations, families, neighbors or individuals to support this community.

Midwest Sports Events is pleased that Fairview Lakes Health Services is again the Medical Sponsor, and the RiverBank MN is the Presenting Sponsor. Other sponsors include Forest Lake Cycle & Skate, Gear West, Louis Girneau, Sport Wave, Orbea, Hampton Inn and Wild Mountain. Working in cooperation with community leaders, and the support of fantastic sponsors and volunteers, the 5 STAR Series continues to deliver quality events that are safe, technically sound and exciting for everyone involved.

To register for the event, you can pick up a registration form at Forest Lake Cycle & Skate or the Chisago Lakes Chamber Office in Lindstrom, or visit www.midwestsportsevents.com..

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