Get ready for the Le Mars Sprint Triathlon Saturday, Sept. 6.

"Last year we had 120 participants from about six states," said Angela Loutsch, Le Mars aquatics director. "It's another form of introducing and encouraging multiple sport athletics."

The triathlon begins at 9 a.m. with a 300 yard swim (six laps) at the Le Mars Outdoor Swimming Pool, continues with an 11-mile bike ride to K-64 and back, and finishes with a 5K or 3.1-mile run. All legs of the race begin and end at the pool's parking lot.

Eighty to 90 volunteers age 15 or older are needed to help make the event a success, Loutsch said.

"We have them on every corner of the bike route and run route to help control traffic and maintain safety," Loutsch said.

Volunteers are also stationed along the routes to ensure participants' safety and make sure bicyclists and runners know the way to go.

Those interested in volunteering can call the City of Le Mars YMCA at 546-6655, sign-up at the YMCA front desk or send Loutsch an email at angelal@lemarsymca.org.

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"A lot of people from last year just had a blast out there," Loutsch said.

Volunteers are given bright, orange T-shirts to wear so they are visible to participants, visitors and drivers.

No streets will be closed to traffic during the event. Loutsch discourages drivers from traveling the routes with the bikers and runners as was the case last year.

"We do highly, highly recommend they stay off Central Avenue and 12th Street eastbound," she said. "The extra cars and vehicles out there, the more problems with safety we had for volunteers and participants."

Loutsch does, however, invite people to come and watch the timed event, and she encourages homeowners along the biking and running routes to cheer for competitors as they pass by.

Triathlon participants must be at least 15 years old. They can be individuals or teams of two to three. Each person on a team will compete in one event and will pass the timing chip to the next member.

AllSport Central Chip, a Sioux Falls, S.D. company, will be timing the event and providing a chip each participant will wear from start to finish.

"They bring down all the equipment that it takes to time the event so the information is available immediately," Loutsch said. "It splits everything so you can see where you were weaker at and where you were stronger at."

The company, which times events around the world, also makes its website www.allsportcentral.com available for people to register online for the Le Mars Sprint Triathlon and other races.

In addition to signing up online, athletes can register by contacting the YMCA through Thursday, Sept. 4.

Registration fees are $40 for individuals and $60 for a team. That includes a T-shirt, timing chip, post event meal and goody bags that have info about area businesses and coupons among other items.

"It just kind of brings them into downtown," she said of triathlon participants. "It lets them see what Le Mars is about and what we have to offer."

Revenue from registration fees is used to make improvements to the triathlon each year.

"Instead of renting bike racks, we are purchasing materials to make them this year," Loutsch said. "Then revenues from this year can go toward something different."

And sometime down the road, Loutsch said, there is the possibility that proceeds from the race could be used for charitable causes.

The main reason for starting the Le Mars Sprint Triathlon is not to bring people to the city or to declare a winner, Loutsch said.

"It's just for fun," she said.