On Sunday, Sept. 16, Tri For The Chesapeake is organizing a swim, bike and run triathlon, or optional duathlon (run-bike-run), at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), with proceeds benefiting SERC.

Push your personal limits and see what your body is capable of doing! Participants will experience Chesapeake Bay ecosystems firsthand by taking part in a 1/2-mile swim, 10-mile bike ride, and 3.1-mile (5k) trail run, OR a 5k run, 10-mile bike ride and 5k run through the forested campus. This is a great beginners race, as the scenic course provides enough of a challenge without pushing athletes onto open roads where they must compete with cars and other large traffic. (There is one small stretch of the bike course on Muddy Creek Road. Other than that it's all closed for the event.)

Sign-in begins at 6am at the Schmidt Conference  Center. All participants must be present by 7:30 for a mandatory pre-race meeting. T-shirts guaranteed to everyone registered by August 15.

View registration and full course details (outside link to active.com)

Photos: Kristen Minogue and Nicole Campbell (SERC)