PORT ANGELES — Athletes must register by Monday to take advantage of discounted prices for the Big Hurt.
The Big Hurt, hosted by Peninsula Adventure Sports with presenting sponsor Sound Bikes and Kayaks, is a multi-discipline endurance event for Ironman athletes and teams combining mountain biking, kayaking, road cycling and running. The race takes place in and around Port Angeles on September 28.
The registration fee is $95 for an individual participating in the Iron Division and $70 per individual if participating on a team. The fee is $35 per individual for a high school team.
After Monday, the cost increases to $100 for an individual Ironman and $75 per person for a team and $40 per person for a high school team.
This year, the number of participants will be limited to 75 teams of two, three and four people and 75 Ironman athletes.
Monday is also the deadline to receive a Big Hurt T-shirt. If people sign up after Monday, they are not guaranteed a T-shirt in their size or a T-shirt at all. The T-shirt was designed by Port Angeles artist Rachel Ruth McElhose.
The Big Hurt includes a 15-mile mountain bike leg that begins in the foothills above Port Angeles with 10 miles on trails and forest roads and five miles on downhill roads to the Port Angeles Harbor Race Center.
Next, a 2.6 mile kayak leg across Port Angeles Harbor to the old Rayonier Mill site and back.
This year, paddleboards will not be allowed. Racers can also view other kayak requirements at www.tinyurl.com/kayakrequirements.
This is a 30-mile road cycling stage west of Port Angeles, across the Elwha River and up to Freshwater Bay, also touching the lower portions of Kelly Ridge on the Dan Kelly and Eden Valley roads.
The cyclists return to Port Angeles and the final leg is a 10km round trip ride east along the waterfront and the Olympic Discovery Trail.
The event starts at 9am. There will be a beer garden, hosted by 4PA and music by the Grave Dashers. There will be an awards ceremony with medals for several categories. There are also Big Hurt podcasts on Spotify, Apple and Amazon.
People can register for the Big Hurt at www.tinyurl.com/BigHurtRegister.
Registration is also open for the Little Hurt on September 29, which this year includes a run and bike ride for preschool and kindergarten children.
In grades one through eight, the Little Hurt consists of three legs: biking (children can use any type of non-electric bike), rowing on rowing machines provided by the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association, and trail running in the forest behind the Peninsula College campus. Each participant completes all legs. There is no relay option for the Little Hurt.
In the K/Pre-K (ages 3-5), children will bike and run only (no rowing) and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. This is a very short event, just for fun and to expose children to the joy of biking, running, and racing with friends.
The cost is $15 for grades 1-8 and $5 for kindergarten and pre-K. Those interested can register online at www.tinyurl.com/LittleHurtRegister.
Peninsula Adventure Sports hosts a variety of endurance events throughout the year including the Frosty Moss Relay, Gravel Unravel, Olympic Adventure Trail and the upcoming Great Olympic Adventure Trail Half Marathon, Marathon and 50K Run on September 7.
Although the GOAT Half Marathon is sold out, there are still spots available for the marathon and 50K. Registration remains open until September 6 and can be completed online at www.tinyurl.com/GOATrunregistration.
Also in the fall, Peninsula Adventure Sports hosts the Salt Creek 24-hour race at the Salt Creek Recreation Area on October 26-27.
