Sixth Annual Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon Returns

Kicks Off the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup
 
More than 4,000 athletes, including 33 professionals, set to compete this weekend –
Event also Serves as USA Triathlon’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Club Championship
 
More than 4,000 athletes including some of the top professionals in the world are set to compete at the 2010 Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon (PHLYTRI) this weekend, June 25-27. One of the top ranked multi-sport events in the country, the event hosts three days of competition and activities.
 
This year, the PHLYTRI, presented by Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc., will also serve as the kick-off race for the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup. The internationally-renowned Series includes six of the most prominent international-distance triathlon events in the U.S. –  PHLYTRI, Life Time Fitness Triathlon (Minneapolis), Nautica New York City Triathlon, Chicago Triathlon, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon and the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon (Dallas). The record breaking pro field will compete for a prize pool of $31,000 and the first points in the Race to the Toyota Cup. Top professionals scheduled to race this weekend are:
 
Bevan Docherty – Two- time Olympic Medalist (2008 Bronze and 2004 Silver), 2004 ITU World Champion
 
Matt Reed – 2008 Olympian and 2009 Life Time Fitness Race to the Toyota Cup Champion
 
Andrew Yoder – Winner 2010 Columbia Triathlon, 2nd Place 2008 and 2009 PHLYTRI,  3rd place 2010 Eagleman 70.3
 
Pip Taylor – 2nd Place 2010 Ironman Kansas 70.3, 2009 Australian Long Course Championship, first place 2009 Vineman 70.3
 
Rebeccah Wassner – Three-time winner of PHLYTRI (2007-2009), first place 2009 St. Anthony’s Triathlon
 
David Thompson – Three-time winner of PHLYTRI (2006, 2008, 2009)
 
Tyler Butterfield – 2004 Olympian, 5th place 2010 Ironman 70.3 U.S. Pro Championship
 
Jenna Shoemaker – 2010 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Second Place
 
Mary Beth Ellis – 2010 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Third Place
 
“Since its founding in 2005, the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon has worked hard to become one of the top triathlons in the country,” said Lars Beck, Race Director, PHLYTRI.  “We are always looking to improve the race experience for our athletes and joining the Lifetime Series is the new challenge for 2010.   We’ve doubled our pro prize purse and the elite amateur and age group athletes can also qualify for the Toyota US Open Championships in Dallas, the culminating event of the Series. Thanks to the tremendous support of the City of Philadelphia, The Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia Insurance Companies and all of our sponsors and volunteers we continue to demonstrate that PHLYTRI is a true world-class event.”
 
PHLYTRI was named a top-five triathlon in the United States by Outside Magazine, lauded as one of the top big city triathlons by Inside Triathlon Magazine and named one of the ‘10 Greenest Races on Earth’ by Triathlete Magazine. Founded in 2005, the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon has grown from a one day event into a triathlon festival weekend featuring a multisport expo, kids’ events and both a sprint and Olympic distance triathlon. 
 
The first day of racing is Saturday when 1,500 athletes will compete in the Sprint distance triathlon (.9K swim, 24K bike and 5K run) and over 200 children will take part in the Kids Fun Run and Kids Duathlon.  The main event takes place on Sunday when 2,500 athletes (professional and age-groupers) compete in the Olympic distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) which also serves as the first race in the Life Time Fitness Series Race to the Toyota Cup.  The event expo, located on Smith Memorial Field next to the Please Touch Museum (Memorial Hall) in West Fairmount Park, is open on Friday and Saturday.
 
Returning for the fifth year as the event’s Title Sponsor is Philadelphia Insurance Companies. 
 
“Philadelphia Insurance Companies is very proud to continue our support of one of the top triathlons in the country,” said Jamie Maguire, Chairman and CEO, Philadelphia Insurance Companies.  “Our sponsorship of this event is consistent with our culture of giving back to the communities we serve, and of promoting health & well-being as a foundation for success in life. I’m excited that we have a record number of registrations this year, including great pro field. In addition, I’m also very proud that our event supports The Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Cadence Cycling Foundation as well as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. These charities make meaningful differences in the lives of those they serve.”
 
The official charitable partner of the 2010 PHLYTRI is the Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  A partner since the inception of the race, The Cancer Center at CHOP has received over $400,000 in contributions through race related programs during the past six years.  PHLYTRI is proud to also partner with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program and to welcome the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation program to its charitable efforts as athletes dedicate their training and participation to raise money in the fight against cancer.
 
Additional sponsors of the PHLYTRI include Toyota, Life Time Fitness, Cadence Cycling and Multisport Center, Karr Barth Associates/AXA Advisors, Nathan Performance Gear, TYR, Champion System, Penguin Brands, Healthplex Sports Medicine Institute, Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, among others.
 
The Karr Barth CHOP Charity Challenge
One of the feature events of the PHLYTRI, The Karr Barth CHOP Charity Challenge will take place during the sprint triathlon on Saturday.  Companies have registered teams to compete against other companies in the region to raise money for The Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Over $100,000 has already been pledged to CHOP by companies participating in the Karr Barth CHOP Challenge. 
 
USA Triathlon Mid-Atlantic Regional Club Championship
2010 PHLYTRI Olympic Distance Race has been selected by the USAT Mid-Atlantic Regional Council to host the USA Triathlon Mid-Atlantic Regional Club Championship. Taking place on Sunday, June 27, the club championship will offer a prize purse totaling $5,000. Over 30 clubs are eligible to participate in the Championship.
 
The Kids’ Duathlons and Fun Runs
The Kids’ Duathlons and Fun Runs will also take place on Saturday. These events are available for children ages 14 and under. The Duathlons will start at 12:30 pm, followed immediately by the Kids Fun Runs. All Duathlon entry fees will benefit the Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Kids’ Fun Runs are free. Parents can register their children for these races at the Event Expo on Friday and Saturday.
 
For more information on the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon, visit www.PhillyTri.com. For more information on the 2010 Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup, visit www.racetothetoyotacup.com.
 
About Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC
Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC is a leading multi-sport race production and management company.  Based in Wayne, PA, Philadelphia Triathlon owns and produces the highly-regarded Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon — named a top triathlon in the U.S. by Outside Magazine and Inside Triathlon Magazine — and produces the SheROX Triathlon Series fastest growing women’s triathlon series in the country.  Known for producing high quality races, Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC also provides management and race operation services for additional endurance sporting events.  For more information, please visit www.phillytri.com. 
 
About Philadelphia Insurance Companies
Philadelphia Insurance Companies, a member of the Tokio Marine Group, designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. In operation since 1962, the Company, whose commercial lines insurance subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and AA- for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poor’s, is nationally recognized as a member of Ward’s Top 50 and National Underwriter’s Top 100.  The organization has 49 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service.  To locate the office nearest you or for more information, visit us on the web at www.phly.com.
 
About the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to Toyota Cup
In groundbreaking fashion, the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series launched in 2006 and created the first-ever connection among four of the most prominent international-distance triathlon events in the United States. The Series has continued to grow since its inception, adding the Toyota U.S. Open Championship event in Dallas in 2007 and the PHLYTRI in 2010. The PHLYTRI (phillytri.com) is produced by Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC. The Life Time Fitness Triathlon (ltftriathlon.com), held in Minneapolis, Chicago Triathlon, and Toyota U.S. Open Championship, held in Dallas, are produced by Life Time Fitness, Inc. The Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon (LATriathlon.com) is produced by Pacific Sports LLC. The Nautica New York City Triathlon (nyctri.com) is produced by Korff Enterprises. For more information, visit the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup Web site, racetothetoyotacup.com.