Spotlight With David Daggett: The Smiley Triathlon Festival Weekend

Volunteers are heroes to me!  You might be surprised to learn that in my extensive experience in race announcing 5Ks, 10Ks, Ironman Distance Triathlons and more, the lifeblood of these events are the volunteers. There is no way to have a successful event, no matter the distance, without an army of volunteers marking the course, directing the participants, handing out water, lending a helping hand, and cheering at the finish line.  Won’t you join the worldwide family of race volunteers this summer by joining me in support of the Smiley Triathlon Festival weekend? I promise you will not regret it!

A two-day event, the Smiley Triathlon Festival Weekend celebrates the 20^th Anniversary of the Kids for Kids Triathlon for children ages 7-14 on Saturday, July 29th, and the Smiley Sprint Triathlon for adults on Sunday, July 30th. I have been involved in both events separately for years, and when given the opportunity to combine them, I jumped at the chance to offer the community a Triathlon festival unlike anything seen in the Triad before. As our participants have come to expect, we will have a live band at the finish line, hundreds of spectators, and many Clemmons West families watching the race from their own front yards.

                The Kids Race is one of the highlights of our community and is nationally acclaimed. This year will mark the 20^th anniversary of this wonderful event. For all in attendance, the smiles on these young faces provide a lifetime of memories.  We are so pleased to introduce kids to the sport in a safe and fun environment!

                For those unfamiliar with Triathlons, these sprint distance events are perfect for beginners and athletes new to the sport or who are trying out a triathlon for the first time, as well as for the seasoned competitor racing to beat their own personal best time on the course. Our races are in a safe, encouraging environment and are perfect for anyone wanting to give it a tri (pun and spelling intended). All are welcome to come and try your hand at a full triathlon, or to be part of a relay team.  

               We are also very grateful to all who help make these events such a success. To be honest, we would not be able to put on these triathlons without our wonderful volunteers! They are the best in the sport! Remember, no experience is needed, and we promise a great experience.  If you would like to volunteer, please visit our website.  We are so pleased to see members of our community embracing a healthy, fit lifestyle and are glad to be part of these wonderful events and we would love to see you at the festival! Join us – we will make you feel like a champion!