FAIRMONT– The Fairmont Triathlon will be held this weekend. Organizers will host an Olympic, sprint, and youth triathlon in addition to a 5k run-walk.

As a result of the annual events, Johnson Street will be closed 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Lair Road will be closed from 7 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Drivers are also advised to be mindful of runners who will be on city and county roads this weekend.

“Our goal every year is to put on an organized and as safe of an event as we can,” said race director, Paul Carlson.

Between all four races Carlson estimated the events will involve over 80 volunteers.

“It takes a village to put this on for sure so we’re very thankful for the help that our volunteers have given us,” said Carlson.

On Saturday morning triathlon participants will leave Gomsrud Park and head west on Lair Road before heading north on 190th Avenue then traveling west on Woodland Avenue. Once they reach 180th Avenue they will head south.

The Olympic event consists of a 1.5 kilometer swim, a 40 km biking segment and a 10 km run while the faster sprint event will involve a quarter mile swim, a 20 km biking segment and a 5 km run. It will start at 7:45 a.m. and the sprint will follow at 8:30 a.m. Currently around 50 competitors are registered for both events.

There will be water stations along the running segment but participants are advised to bring their own water in a non-glass container for the cycling segment of the triathlon. Bike helmets are compulsory.

While safety boats will be present during the aquatic portion of the triathlon, Carlson advised inexperienced swimmers to reconsider participation in the triathlon.

“If you have not been training to swim in a lake or don’t feel like you’re a strong swimmer I would steer people away from doing that,” said Carlson.

The Bacon Run 5K is a more approachable activity which will start at Gomsrud Park and loop around Luedtke Slough and the Fairmont High School athletics complex before heading back towards Gomsrud along Johnson Street and the Joe Burns Trail. Bacon-related costumes or attire are encouraged.

Registration will be available online until 5 p.m. Wednesday or starting at 6:00 a.m. on race day. Currently around 50 triathletes competitors and 60 5k runners have registered thus far. Triathlon participants can register as an individual or as a team.

An awards ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. First place male and female finishers will receive a trophy. First and second place winners in their respective categories will receive medals. The categories are as follows; under 15, 16-24, 25-34, etc.

The youth event will be held on June 16 with day-of registration running from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Youth aged 5 through 15 are eligible to compete. The race will start at 5:15 p.m. with shortened biking, running and swimming segments taking place on Johnson Street, the Joe Burns Trail and the Fairmont Aquatic Park respectively.

Previously the biking portion of the event used South Prairie Avenue but this was changed to reduce traffic obstructions. There will be different distances for children ages 5-8, 9-11, and 12-15. Children under the age of 12 can use a flotation device during the swimming section of the triathlon. Online registration ends at midnight Wednesday. Around 100 youth are currently registered for the event, an amount similar to last year.