FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival Bring Competition and Celebration to Downtown Portland

Over three hundred athletes set to race in the third year of the Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival

Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Portland, Maine

PORTLAND, ME – July 6, 2009 – The third annual Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival will take place in downtown Portland on Saturday, July 18. Three hundred fifty athletes will gather at East End Beach at 8:30 a.m. to compete in the ½-mile swim, 13-mile bike, and 3.7-mile run event.

The enhanced 2009 Zone Urban Epic (ZUE) event will feature a new finish on the Maine State Pier with a prominent post-race festival that includes a Smuttynose Beer Garden, Mammut climbing wall, local food and retail vendors, and live music by the Jason Spooner Trio. The spectator-friendly festival is free and open to the public.

Racers will start at 8:30 a.m. at East End Beach with a ½-mile out-and-back swim in Casco Bay, followed by .5-mile run down the East End Trail to the main transition area located inside Portland Yacht Services at 58 Fore Street. Next, they will embark on a 13-mile bike course up to the Eastern Promenade and down to Baxter Boulevard, completing two loops along Back Cove before heading back to the TA along the same route. Athletes end with a 3.7-mile out-and-back run along the Eastern Promenade and a big finish on the Maine State Pier.

Also new in 2009, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine will present an Urban Epic Kids Race following the adult event. Kids ages 4-6 can compete in a 200-yard-dash Fun Run, and kids from 7-13 can fundraise and compete in an Aquarun (swim-run) race. Both races will finish on the Pier, where there will be a special family-oriented play and learn area. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Seventy percent of the athletes hail from Maine, while 30 percent will be traveling in from 14 states and Canada. Athletes compete both individually and in relay teams and range in ability from first-timers to seasoned pros. Mixed into the ZUE field of athletes will be competitors in the Epic Restaurant and Bar Challenge. In relay teams of three, local restaurant and bar establishments will face off for the title of “Most Epic Restaurant/Bar” in Portland.

The Zone Urban Epic will again focus on minimizing its environmental impact on the city and renewing certification as a sustainable athletic event through the Council for Responsible Sport. Bruce Rayner, the Chief Green Officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet and a local sustainable events coordinator, will oversee implementation of the race’s green initiatives; while Climate Counts, a nonprofit organization working toward reducing global warming, will provide a ZUE Green Team to sweep the post-race run course for trash.

Later Saturday night, athletes, spectators, and the general public are encouraged to attend the final Epic celebration of the evening: The Smuttynose Après Epic Party taking place at Novare Res at 5:30 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed for the event. To learn more or register, contact Erik Boucher at erik@tri-maine.com or 207-221-5420 x 4.

Important Road Closure Information: For the safety and consideration of athletes and volunteers, certain roads will be closed the morning of the race. Motorists should be advised of the following closures and times and plan travel accordingly:
-    6:30-10:30 a.m.
- Baxter Blvd. (both sides, from Preble Street Extension to Bates Street)
-    8:30-10:30 a.m.
- Fore Street (between Mountfort and Morning)
- Franklin Arterial (north-bound lanes ONLY, from Cumberland Ave. to     Marginal Way)
- Marginal Way (west-bound lanes ONLY, from Franklin Arterial to Preble Street Extension)
- Preble Street (cove side ONLY, from Marginal Way to Baxter Blvd.)
- Washington Avenue (between Madison and Eastern Prom.)
- Southbound 295 – Exit 8*
- Both Southbound and Northbound 295 – Exit 7*
* Access to and from 295 is available via Forest Avenue

Other roads affected but not closed include Walnut Street, Fox Street, Somerset Street, and the Eastern Prom. While bikers are on the roads – from 8:50-10:30 a.m. – motorists should expect delays and proceed with extreme caution. Police officers and volunteers will be managing the flow of traffic.

Parking for the event is available at municipal lots, with shuttles running from the Marginal Way Parking Lot and the County Courthouse Garage. Parking is also available at the new Ocean Gateway Garage on Fore Street for $10/day.

Title sponsor Zone Labs Inc. is a leading functional foods and nutraceutical company based out of Danvers, Massachusetts. Additional sponsorship support for the event is provided by Peak Performance Multisport, Orthopaedic Associates, Smuttynose Brewing Company, The Maine SWITCH & Mainetoday.com, The Landing Center for Healing Arts, Head Games Salon, Mammut, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf. The ZUE is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event.

Live results can be viewed on race day at www.urban-epic.com. For specific event details, Athletes to Watch interviews, or more information contact Amy VanHaren at 207-221-5420 x 5.

About Urban Epic:
Fusing a triathlon with a unique festival, the Urban Epic is a celebration of health, fitness, music, art, environmental sustainability, and the active way of life. Urban Epic events take place in vibrant city locations and draw in thousands of athletes and spectators looking to be a part of something innovative and exciting. Urban Epic combines athletic competition and urban culture into an unforgettable race and festival experience. The Zone Urban Epic is a Tri-Maine Productions event and one of two Urban Epic races. Following the ZUE, Urban Epic Boston will take place on August 16, 2009 on the shores of South Boston. Visit www.urban-epic.com to learn more.

About Tri-Maine:
Tri-Maine Productions is Maine’s premier multisport event management company. Providing high quality, competitive races in dynamic New England locations, Tri-Maine serves more than 3,000 athletes, 5,000 spectators, and 800 volunteers annually. Tri-Maine partners with first-rate local and national sponsors to provide an athletic experience like no other. Fusing arts, music, environmental consciousness, health, and community together with the active lifestyle, Tri-Maine delivers specialized events that transcend the traditional. Visit www.tri-maine.com for more information.

Contact:
Amy VanHaren, Marketing and PR
Urban Epic Events
207.221.5420 x 5 – Work
amy@urban-epic.com
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