TRYING TO MAKE THE TRIATHLON ENJOYABLE; CASTAIC SERIES FOR ROOKIES, VETS.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

A triathlon is one of the most challenging events an athlete can attempt, but Dave Delong, race director of the Castaic Lake Triathlon Series, has made the sport slightly more user-friendly.

In addition to a traditional, Olympic-distance ``Tri-4-Real'' race on July 17, the series also features Saturday's ``Tri-4-Dirt'' - a shorter course designed for less-competitive thrill-seekers which substitutes mountain biking for road racing.

``We shorten up the course a little bit, to make it easier for the kids and as a way to introduce the triathlon to newcomers, to make it a little less imposing for them,'' Delong said. ``And instead of road bikes like they use in the Olympics, we use mountain bikes, and they go riding on trails rather than going out on the road.

``We're also doing it to introduce the sport to mountain bikers, and we're doing it to get some of the road bikers into mountain biking.''

While the ``Tri-4-Dirt'' will attract weekend warriors in search of a challenge, the ``Tri-4-Real,'' with the traditional combination of swimming, bicycle road racing and running, is intended for athletes with a background in triathlons.

``It's normally not the right event for a first-timer,'' Delong said. ``This event may be for someone who is looking to move up and try a more serious competition.''

Regardless of athletic background, Delong believes he has something for everyone. Each race also has a three-person team competition, in which each participant completes one leg of the event. Awards are given in 12 age divisions for men and women.

``Most people don't do it so much for the competition as for a sense of accomplishment, they try to prove to themselves that they can handle it,'' Delong said. ``Doing a triathlon has a lot of different appeals. It's kind of like running a marathon: People will do it just because they want to say they've done it.''

And while they test their endurance, Delong hopes the athletes will enjoy the natural scenery.

``There are a lot of Olympic-distance triathlons out there, but a lot of them are ocean swims, which are difficult, and a lot of them are very hilly and difficult to negotiate,'' Delong said. ``So what we do is flatten out the course a little bit, and we have some of the best freshwater in Southern California, so we take advantage of that.

``Everybody who does this triathlon says that those are the main selling points. The run is very scenic, and we're trying to sell the venue more than anything.''

On-site registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on each race day at the Castaic Lake Recreation Center. For more information, contact Delong at [phone].