THIS weekend Newcastle hosts the region's only open triathlon event, when the Sparke Helmore NBN Triathlon and the Newcastle Foreshore Triathlon combine forces for three days of running, swimming and cycling.
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Event director Paul Humphreys of the newly named Triathlon Festival said it had been impractical to stage the two events a few weeks apart while competing for market share with a plethora of fun runs and challenge-style events.
"Being the only triathlon event in the region we're hoping will give us a new platform for growing the event even further," Mr Humphreys said.
"Already we've seen with the Sparke Helmore NBN Triathlon that 30 per cent of participants come from outside the region, from Taree, Forster, Gunnedah, Queensland, even as far away as Quebec."
The event starts on February 27 with the Foreshore 5, a five-kilometre run or walk.
Novices can choose from four events on Saturday, February 28, the Women's Triathlon; the untimed Junior Triathlon; the Newcastle Foreshore Triathlon; and a new event, the Club Relay Challenge.
Participants in the latter must be a member of a triathlon club and each complete the running, swimming and cycling legs. The winning team become state champions.
Competitive athletes can register in the Olympic or Sprint Triathlons on Sunday, March 1.
"We've encouraged workplaces to enter teams because it gets them out of their comfort zone and focusing on their best skills in working together as a team," Mr Humphreys said.
"You all get to run through the finish line at the same time and it's a great sense of accomplishment."
Each leg of the triathlon is held close to the event base at the Nobbys Beach end of Foreshore Park.
The combined events are expected to attract about 2000 participants and 10,000 spectators.
It is expected the events will raise about $20,000 for the Hunter Medical Research Institute.