Entering her first-ever Pineappleman Sprint Triathlon has been a turning point for longtime Eleuthera-lover Susy Siel. Siel (pictured top left), maiden name “Beach,” first visited the island – home of the annual Pineapple Festival – in 1965.
Now, a young 53, she will attempt the 500-meter swim, 16-kilometer cycle and 5k run Saturday, June 6 in Gregory Town.
“Health and fitness have always been important to me,” said Siel via Facebook message. “However I have never competed in anything like this. I had a health scare in early September and it made me think about how a moment can change everything. I decided that I needed to make a change. Eleuthera is a place where I have friends and family support, so I chose the Pineappleman Sprint Triathlon as my first big athletic event.”
For a second consecutive year proceeds from the Pineappleman will be donated to The Zion Children’s Home. The children’s foster home was founded in 2008 on Current Island. Z.C.H. ‘Mothers’ will be selling chicken souse and drinks Saturday morning as part of the fundraiser. Logoed bags and mugs will also be on sale.
Race director Tom Glucksmann said registration is on pace to set an all-time turnout record for the annual race, first held in the late 1980s in conjunction with the Pineapple Festival. Added to the triathlon this year is a 5-kilometer fun run/walk event which sends racers from the Gregory Town waterfront to The Cove Resort entrance and back, with a challenging climb up one of Eleuthera’s steepest hills each way.
“There’s a lot of first-timer entries in both the triathlon and 5k fun run and walk so that’s great,” said race director Tom Glucksmann. “We’ll be accepting entries on Friday late afternoon at the festival and anyone still interested should come on out and sign up. The goodie bag is pretty nice too.”
Making the race and fundraiser possible are featured sponsors: Think Simple, Island Made Gift Shop, Rainbow Inn, Sands Beer and Pineapple Fields Resort. Ocean Tally restaurant, now open on Whale Point is a first-time prize sponsor, joining longtime sponsors Laughing Lizard Café, Island Touch Massage and Daddy Joe’s. Co-Tees, JB Graphic & Web Designs, Bodyworks Bahamas, The Cove Resort, The Eleutheran, Out Island Eco, Ministry of Tourism, PROMPT, bahamaislandsinfo.com, Mystery Shopper, Vita Coco, Herr’s Chips and Bahamas Out Island Adventures are all 2015 sponsors.
Traffic Advisory and Detour route
From 8.15 to 10.15 a.m. Saturday, cyclists and then runners will take to the Queen’s Highway heading north from Gregory Town to the Glass Window Bridge and drivers are urged to drive slowly and use caution. Cyclists will be traveling at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour on some downhill stretches.
A section of the main highway running through Gregory Town will be closed during these hours and drivers will need to use a side road to navigate through the settlement. Please use care and look both ways when merging back onto the Queen’s Highway. Cyclists and runners will be traveling with traffic on the left-hand side of the road.
The Laughing Lizard Café, a race sponsor, is also open for its last day of business on June 6. Volunteers will be manning a water station there and spectators can join them to form a cheering station atop the infamous hill. Drivers are urged to use caution when parking at and leaving the café.
Check in for two junior races – a 200-meter swim, 800-meter run aquathlon, and a 400-meter road race begins at 9 a.m. A slowest bicycle race will begin at 10 a.m. Entrants will also enjoy free paddleboard rentals, free beer courtesy of Sands Beer and DJ music.