HITS Triathlon Series Launches! First to Feature Five Distances and Year-Round Events

Key Investor Includes Equity Firm Leonard Green, and Six-Time Ironman World Champion Dave Scott Signs On as HITS Spokesperson and Key Advisor

Saugerties, New York - July 18, 2011 - HITS, Inc. today announced the HITS Triathlon Series, the first race series to feature five distances at each event, with events taking place at unique destinations every month of the year. Designed for seasoned triathletes as well as first-timers, HITS Triathlon Series offers A distance for everyone!™

HITS, Inc. is also proud to announce that six-time Ironman World Champion Dave Scott will serve as a key advisor and spokesperson for the HITS Triathlon Series. Scott will also provide custom training programs, tips and more for race participants. "HITS Triathlon events are the best option for triathletes who want to race competitively in a single category or challenge themselves with a greater distance," said Scott. "I've seen the sport of triathlon grow tremendously in the last decade and believe that the HITS Triathlon Series will open the sport to countless others."

Unlike other triathlon events, HITS Triathlon Series events include five distances during a single weekend ranging from the beginner in the HITS Open to the experienced triathlete in the USAT sanctioned Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full distances. The HITS Open is a free novice participatory triathlon that will feature a 100-meter swim, a 3-mile bike and 1-mile run created especially for first-timers who never thought that competing in a triathlon was possible. The HITS promise of A distance for everyone!TM assures a challenging course geared to the unique level of training, endurance and personal goals of participants.

"USA Triathlon is excited to support a major race series that will appeal to age-group triathletes as well as those new to the sport," said Rob Urbach, CEO of USA Triathlon. "HITS Triathlon Series' wide range of distances, including a free HITS Open category for novices, demonstrates its commitment to growing the sport of triathlon. We are thrilled to add them to our roster of USA Triathlon-sanctioned events."

The first triathlon series with an event every month of the year, the HITS Triathlon series takes place at 12 exceptional locations culminating with a HITS National Championship in Palm Springs, California, on December 1-2, 2012. Specific locations and dates include:

Date Location
December 3-4 (2011) Palm Springs, California
January 7-8 (2012) Naples, Florida
February 18-19 Corpus Christi, Texas
March 24-25 Ocala, Florida
April 28-29 Marble Falls, Texas
May 12-13 Napa Valley, California
June 9-10 Hunter Mountain, New York
July 28-29 Galena, Illinois
August 25-26 Cable, Wisconsin
September 22-23 Cooperstown, New York
October 2012 TBD
November 10-11 Lake Havasu City, Arizona
December 1-2 Palm Springs, CA

The HITS Triathlon Series was founded by Tom Struzzieri, an avid triathlete and successful event entrepreneur who created the largest equine show jumping production company in the world and has been running world-class events since 1977; and Mark H. Wilson, a highly-accomplished triathlete and coach with more than 20 years of experience. The HITS Triathlon Series is also supported by Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., one of the nation's preeminent private equity firms with approximately $9 billion in equity capital under management. Leverage Agency, a leading sports, entertainment and media marketing firm, is managing all marketing and sponsorship opportunities.

"With the HITS Triathlon Series we are setting out to change the landscape of high-end triathlons by giving athletes access to well-run, multi-distance events in great locations all year round," said Struzzieri. "There's no question that there is a great deal of pent up demand for triathlons and we believe with the introduction of our series the days of planning your life a year in advance in order to register for the full and half distances are over. Our formula of offering all five distances may strike some as a challenge, but we see it as a great opportunity to bring the community of athletes together for an extraordinary event and we expect it to be a winning approach."

Registration is now open for the HITS Triathlon Series at www.hitstriathlonseries.com.

About HITS, Inc.

HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing endurance sports events and hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS is dedicated to creating high-quality events in desirable destinations with unmatched, professional operations. For more information about the HITS Triathlon Series, please visit www.hitstriathlonseries.com.

 

VIEW NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS >

HITS Triathlon Series debuts in New York State

Maps finalized and registration open for June 9-10 event

SAUGERTIES, NY (May 11, 2012) – The region known for the eclectic sounds of the famed Woodstock and Mountain Jam music festivals and superb northern skiing may soon garner a new reputation as a triathlon hot-spot. HITS Triathlon Series will make its New York State debut in Hunter Mountain, New York June 9-10 and offer local and national triathletes alike a glimpse at what the northeast has to offer.

HITS Triathlon Series released a set of finalized maps this week for all five distances of the Hunter Mountain event. They feature swims in the pristine waters of North/South Lake, which sits within the boundaries of a spacious state park. The Sprint and Olympic distance bike and run courses experience the hills of New York State while still welcoming triathletes of varying levels. The bike and run courses for the Half and Full distance races boast dynamic routes, which include a 15 mile rolling warm-up, plenty of seated climbs and a sweeping decent into the village of Phoenicia. 

Course maps for HITS Hunter Mountain are available online and can be viewed here.

Read more...

VIEW MEDIA COVERAGE >

HITS Triathlon Series: Utah's James Lawrence wins full triathlon

Written by Woody Wommack - Naples News

NAPLES — When James Lawrence set a goal to run 30 triathlons in 2012 and in the process set the world record, completing each race was his primary goal. On Sunday in Naples, his journey toward the world record got off to a great start when he not only finished the inaugural HITS Full Distance Triathlon, but also won the race’s overall title with a time of 10 hours, 27 minutes and 46 seconds.

“Every step the second half of the run I was feeling it,” Lawrence said. “But every time you cross that finish line it all goes away, especially when I remember why I’m doing this.”

Read more...

VIEW HITS Triathlon Videos >


HITS Triathlon Series rings in 2012 in Naples, FL

A Mother's Story - HITS Triathlon Series

HITS Triathlon Series Inaugural Event - Palm Springs, CA

The HITS Full Triathlon Winner at Palm Springs!