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⚠️ Please Note: This article was published in 2024. Visit our Events Calendar to view current upcoming events.
Article by Elena Ferrarin
Communications Coordinator
Northbrook Park District
Children can test their running and biking skills at the Northbrook Park District’s 11th annual Kids’ Duathlon taking place Friday in Northbrook.
The event is open to children ages 5 to 14 and takes place from 6-9pm on Friday at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome and includes post-race pizza, drinks and dessert, plus admission to nearby Meadowhill Aquatic Center.
Sisters Emma, 10, and Kaitlyn Birtch, 8, have participated in the Kids’ Duathlon for the last three years and are looking forward to doing so again this year, said their mother, Sara Birtch.
The girls both enjoyed the event and the celebration with friends afterward, she said. “We love the atmosphere and the chance for the kids to do something different. The Velodrome makes it extra fun.”
All participants will bike two laps around the Velodrome, then run a course along Meadowhill Park. Children ages 5 to 7 will run 1/4 mile, children ages 8 to 10 will run 1/2 mile, and children ages 11 to 14 will run 1 mile.
The Kids’ Duathlon provides a unique alternative to the more common running-only races, Northbrook Park District Athletics Manager Meri Shea said.
“Riding their bikes around the velodrome is an exciting experience for kids,” Shea said. “The event also resonates well with our large cycling community, promoting cycling in a fun and engaging way.”
Instructors from the park district’s youth cycling program will be present to assist with the event and share information with interested families.
The fee is $30 per child. All participants will receive an event T-shirt and gift bag. Children should bring a bicycle (no training wheels), helmet and tennis shoes. For more information and to register before the July 25 deadline, please visit nbparks.org/kidsduathlon.