A new outdoor endurance event is coming to Asheville this spring. Unlike 2011’s Dig the Du duathlon at Sky Valley Farm in Hendo, this one’s in city limits on the Biltmore Estate.
The Asheville Duathlon this March is a 5K road run parallel to the French Broad, an 11-mile bike, and another 5K single-track run over packed dirt on the west side of the Biltmore Estate, home to vineyards usually closed to the public.
Individual registration is $75, a two-person team is $110, and a three-person team is $155. Registration is currently set to end on February 15.
From the event’s Facebook page:
A one-of-a-kind duathlon on Biltmore Estate presented by Hunter Subaru! Saturday, March 23, 2013
Mission
To provide a top-notch, multi-sport adventure at a beautiful WNC outdoor venue at the privately owned Biltmore Estate.
Description
5K Run, 20K Bike, 5K Run. The Du the Asheville Du on Biltmore Estate first run flows up stream along the French Broad River. After transitioning to the bike, you are in for a beautiful 20K on Biltmore’s Western Territory. This hard-packed dirt loop takes you past Biltmore’s vineyards and along the lake with extraordinary long range views. The final 5K leg takes you down stream of the French Broad river and is a mixture of road and trail.
Overview from imathlete.com:
Inaugural “Du the Asheville Du” presented by Hunter Subaru –
Race across the river, at Biltmore EstateAt 9am on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013, endurance athletes of all abilities will step to the start line, hearts booming in anticipation, to compete in the first ever duathlon event held at Biltmore. Are you ready to Du the Asheville Duathlon?! This 5k road run, off-road 10.75 mile bike and then another 5k run through packed dirt and single track challenges both mind and body. For the French aristocrat in all of us, this rough-cut, crown-emerald of a race sweeps participants through a mystical journey, back to a time, when the estate might have resembled an 15th century countryside plantation, complete with a game-stocked forest, working vineyards, and a cold mountain river rushing by. Racers on this day will be lords of the land they claim under fast plowing feet and spokes. And the seminal moment is a pace quickening dash across the Estate’s signature 264 foot bridge standing mightily over the French Broad River. As racers pump across this stone-hardened trestle, they’ll slice through a refreshing undulating zephyr, forged below in the veins of the ancient river. Crossers are flanked by a dual set of cloverleaf-style railings, spanning the entire corridor, which unites the western and eastern hemispheres of Biltmore’s expansive 8000 acre property. The inaugural Du the Asheville Du is limited to only 500 participants. Early registration is encouraged to reserve a spot. Registration opens September 1, 2012 on www.imathlete.com. All participants will receive a specially designed (gender specific) custom race tee. Additional information is available online at www.idaph.net. Individuals and teams can register starting September 1st, 2012 on imATHLETE.com. Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook – “Du the Asheville Du.” For additional information, email: events@idaph.net.