RIVER ROCKS WEEKEND EVENTS
› Owl Prowl & Frog WalkWhat: Learn how to spot owl and frog species by the sounds they makeWhere: Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature CenterWhen: today, frog walk at 7 p.m.; owl prowl at 8:15 p.m.Notes: adults $10, children $7, members free› Trailblazer Challenge Training HikeWhat: A 21-mile training hike in preparation for the Oct. 22 Trailblaze Challenge, which is a 26-mile hike benefitting Make-A-Wish East TennesseeWhere: Lula Lake Land TrustWhen: Saturday at 7 a.m.Notes: Registration required› Chattanooga Head Race:What: 5K rowing competition organized by Lookout Rowing ClubWhere: Ends at Ross’ Landing. Spectator-friendly from bridges or either side of the riverWhen: Saturday at 8 a.m.› Swim the SuckWhat: A 10-mile open water swim race through the Tennessee River GorgeWhere: Begins at Suck Creek boat launchWhen: Saturday at 9 a.m.Notes: The 120-swimmer event sold out within the first 20 minutes of the registration period› Urban Nature 10KWhat: A 6.1-mile run through north Chattanooga roads and trails.Where: Begins and ends at Coolidge ParkWhen: Sunday at 8 a.m.Notes: Race-day registration is $30. The event benefits Stringer’s Ridge and the Tennessee River Gorge Trust.
More Info
For more on the River Rocks festival, visit www.riverrockschattanooga.com
Out of 7 million open water swimmers and 8,000 marathon swimmers around the world, only 142 are members of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
And three from that elite club are coming to Chattanooga this weekend.
Thomas Bell, of Pennsylvania; Kent Nicholas, of Arizona; and Ranie Pearce, of California highlight a stacked list of swimmers for Saturday's 10-mile Swim the Suck through the Tennessee River gorge.
"There are some pretty impressive resumes," race director Karah Nazor said of the field, which includes seven people who have finished a swim across the English channel.
Completing the Triple Crown requires swimming 20.9 miles across the English Channel, 20.2 miles across the Catalina Channel in Southern California and 28.5 miles around Manhattan Island in New York.
"We had so many experienced swimmers coming this year that we decided to have a panel discussion at our pasta dinner with the athletes on Friday," Nazor said.
Swim the Suck anchors the second weekend of the local River Rocks festival.
The event sold out just 20 minutes after registration opened this year and is bringing 120 swimmers from 29 states and England to the Scenic City for the increasingly popular downstream swim. Twenty-two competitors are from the Chattanooga area.
"People like that it goes through the mountains," Nazor said. "It's really beautiful, and people like to travel to someplace they've never been."
The race starts from the Suck Creek boat ramp at 9 a.m. and concludes at private property. Nazor said the easiest place for spectators to gather is likely at the boat ramp for the start.
Another 120 volunteers will kayak next to the race - one for each swimmer - to guide and feed the competitors.
"That's another reason why people like to come, is because there are a lot of local volunteers who are willing to kayak beside the swimmers for anywhere between two and a half and six hours while they swim," Nazor said. "It's almost an event for the kayakers, too."
CPR POSTPONED
Climb, Paddle, Run, a unique triathlon consisting of climbing, paddleboarding and running that was scheduled for Saturday on the River Rocks calendar has been postponed.
Insurance companies balked at covering the race, according to race director Randy Whorton.
The event was slated to begin with six climbs on the outside wall at High Point Climbing Gym's downtown location. Then competitors were going to paddle eight miles to Baylor School and run back to the finish line at the climbing gym.
"We're not canceling," Whorton said. "We're just postponing until I can get the insurance worked out."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.