On Sunday, April 27, members of the community will come together to participate in Pacific Union College’s (PUC) first-ever Off-Road Triathlon, an event that will benefit Clinica Verde.
Race Director and Missions and Service Coordinator at PUC, Fabio Maia, 41, said he is excited to see the final result of his hard work. “The planning takes about eight months,” he said last Monday. “There are a lot of different pieces that go into putting the event together and we work on it a couple days a week.”
This may sound like a demanding job for Maia and the 50 other volunteers composed of PUC students and faculty alike, but according to Maia it is well worth it to support a cause that the college holds so closely to its heart. Maia, along with some of his PUC students, have gone on four mission trips to Nicaragua to visit and help Clinica Verde and its patients.
Clinica Verde, according to its website, is a nonprofit charitable organization formed to provide sustainable health clinics that improve maternal and infant healthcare in Nicaragua.
Sponsored by St. Helena Hospital, the event will feature a triathlon for adults, which will include a 3.1-mile run, 10-mile bike ride, and 150-yard swim; a beginner triathlon with a 3.1-mile run, 5 mile bike ride, and 150-yard swim; a triathlon relay; a 3.1 mile run and a children’s triathlon with a .75-mile run, .5-mile bike ride, and 25-yard swim. All events will take place on PUC’s campus in Angwin.
Maia, who has 12 years of experience organizing events similar to the Off-Road Triathlon, said he hopes that the event will inspire people of all ages to get active and healthy. “You don’t have to be an all-star athlete to participate,” he said. “There is an event for everyone. We want people to be motivated to exercise. Since one of our main sponsors is the hospital, we want to see a lot of activity and a healthier community. This is a great cause and I can’t wait to see the whole community come together to celebrate. That is my favorite part of doing projects like this.”
Preregistration ends on Friday, April 25. Race-day registration opens at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27. Fees range from $35-$90. Registration is open at napavalleyoffroadtriathlon.com.