Athletes headed to coulee for big race

Hundreds of athletes from throughout the United States and Canada are putting their finishing touches on training for the 10th annual Grand Columbian Super Tri triathlon scheduled here Saturday, Sept. 21.

Some 300 to 325 athletes are expected to compete.

The event, sponsored by Tri-Freaks, a Kirkland racing firm, will kick-off all swimming events at Spring Canyon Campground, with the bike portion of the tri-event beginning at the end of the swim and ending at the park below the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam. There, the running portion of the event will begin feeding runners to the Downriver Trail.

Friday evening at 6 p.m., competitors and their families, along with the rest of the community, can eat a carb-loading dinner at the Nazarene Church, put on by the local Rotary Club.

A post-race day brunch is planned for 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept.22, at the Eagles Lodge in Grand Coulee.