14th annual Treeathlon event set for Redwood City this weekend

The Stanford University Triathlon Team is set to hold its 14th annual Treeathlon event in Redwood City on March 3 and 4.

Tonight, Redwood City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to approve a partial street closure of Seaport Boulevard for the event that’s been held in the city for the past 13 years.

About 500 runners, including students and community members, are expected to participate in this year’s Treeathlon, which is slated to start and finish in the 1700 block of Seaport Boulevard.

Sponsored by the Stanford University Triathlon Team, the event is a fundraiser for the team’s trip to the National Collegiate Championships in Clemson, S.C.

The event is part of the collegiate triathlon circuit in California, and is set to include Sprint races (collegiate), F1 races (youth/juniors) and a “Saplingathon” (6-12 year olds).

The “Saplingathlon,” slated to run from noon to 3 p.m. on March 3, will occur entirely within the Pacific Shores business complex, and will only require partial closure of the easterly end of Seaport Boulevard that encompasses the business complex, according to the city.

Three waves of triathletes will set off at 7 a.m. on March 4, with race courses including swimming in the Westpoint Marina, running along the pedestrian path on the southside of Seaport Boulevard, east of Chesapeake Drive, and bicycling using one lane in each direction on Seaport Boulevard east of Blomquist Street. The triathlons are expected to finish by 2 p.m.

“The team hopes to continue to use the event to showcase the sport of triathlon in Redwood City and raise the profile of the Stanford Triathlon and Redwood City within the regional triathlon community,” city staff added.

The Stanford University Triathlon Team will pay for the police traffic control services needed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4.