This year's Subway River Raid, the 13th edition which is hosted by Rainbow Warriors Triathlon Club will see the participants compete over a new race course on Sunday in Samaan Park, Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas from 8 am.
Making this disclosure was nine-time national triathlon winner, and Event Director, Jason Gooding at the launch of the event at Mikes Bikes, 21 O'Connor Street, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
The event will include a Trail Run, Mountain Bike Race, and Doggy Run.
Speaking at the launch, Gooding proudly stated, "We started this years ago when there was just one trail in Chaguaramas, and we use to ride up the trail and then ride down the road.
"Now 13 years later we have definitely evolved at the Chaguaramas area and there is now a trail network that you can probably do a two-hour race for one loop".
Concerning the event, Gooding added, "It has evolve and once again we are proud to have this event in Chaguaramas partnering with the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) on this venture as well as our sponsors inclusive of Subway, Odessey Timing Company, GoVet Mobile Vet Clinic, Dairy Dairy, Blue Waters, Gatorade, Universal Ambulance Service, Renew Star Serpentine Limited, and dr. Caliente Designs.
He added, "We would like to thank Subway which is in its sixth year partnering with Rainbow Warriors Club on this event and we are very fortunate in a tough economic time that we are in to have our sponsors supporting us.
With regards to this year's event, Gooding noted that one of the new things they have this year is a brand new trail.
He explained, "Last year because of all the rains we had trails that got destroyed due to the floodings because we used river banks and river beds for most of the course".
"So we decided to scrap that whole trail and redirect some of the previous trails and create a brand new trail, and it's going to be exciting. Its been completed about three weeks now, and we have a lot of people riding the trails, and it's our exciting".
This year what we are doing, in addition, is having our "Doggy Race". We started three years ago with our Doggy Dash with our Pro Plan Doggy Dash, and at Rainbow Warriors we want to try and do more things to encourage people to bring their dogs out to events. So we have started including dog and owner categories in our races to encourage people to exercise as well as to exercise with their pets, and have an opportunity to be more social and have a social environment for their dogs. We are trying to change the stigma of dogs being aggressive.
"I am looking forward to a great turnout of participants and really good event and we are Rain Warriors are going to try our best and execute as professionally and as fun as we can.
"I would say it's one of the most popular events. On a regular River Raid, I think one of our biggest adult Mountain Bike competitions we have gotten was about 125 participants, we had to cap off on that figure
Last year we had like 109 participants, as it seems to attract a lot of people. What we do that is different to other people is not having an overly challenging event. We have one that is more endurance, so a lot of people tend to shy away from the races that are too technical.
This one even though it's not as technical for the better Mountain Bikers, they still use it as a good opportunity to come and hammer through the trails.
"And I think just from a national level it gives the top Mountain Bikers a good race to come out and take part in that is competitive. You also get an opportunity for the youngsters coming up to look at the big guys racing as its another good event that you can add to your training schedule.
Having been involved for almost all of the staging of the event, Gooding said he was quite happy where he was in terms of his vision for the event.
"The event is at a state where it gets recognition as people know about it, people come out and take part and it attracts new people to the sport and to the event in general.
"We offer something different with our trail run, now we are offering something different with the "Doggy Run" and we are at a state where we are just happy and hoping to execute the event.
"Where this event can go in the future, maybe we can mesh much better with the T&T Cycling Federation," ended Gooding.
Sunday March 17:
Venue: Samaan Park, Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas.
Youth (11-15) Mountain Bike, 8 am
Adult (Open) Mountain Bike, 8.15 am
Youth (7-10) Mountain Bike, 9.45 am
Trail Run, 10 am
Doggy Ruu, 10.15 am.