Human Racers Have Three Times the Fun

Although figuring out the winners and losers in the real-life Human Race can be difficult, things will be a little more clear-cut in Sunday’s triathlon of that name in Newport Beach.

The Fi-Bar Human Race, started in 1977 and billed as the oldest triathlon in the continental United States, is a sprint event--a half-mile swim, 13-mile bike ride and three-mile run. Last year’s race drew more than 500 participants to Newport Dunes Aquatic Park on Newport Bay, and a similar crowd is expected this year.

“It’s developed into one of the premier sprint races in the country,” said Bill Leach, an organizer of the event. For the third straight year, the Human Race is serving as a regional sprint championship for the Triathlon Federation/USA, a national governing body.

The term sprint, of course, is relative. “In comparison to the Ironman (competition), it’s a sprint,” Leach said. “Compared to the 100-yard dash, it’s a pretty long way.”

Hawaii’s highly publicized Ironman competition--acknowledged as the first triathlon--is made up of a 26.2-mile run, 112-mile bike ride and 2.4-mile swim. The more common international distance features a swim of 1.5 kilometers, a 40K bike ride and a 10K run (roughly one mile, 24 miles and six miles, respectively).

The relatively short distance of the Human Race makes it a popular race for first-time competitors, said Jack Caress, who has been race director for 10 years and was a competitor in every race before that. The event was inspired in part by the first Ironman race.

“Some of us said, ‘Heck, we can do that,’ ” Caress said. “The first few years, we didn’t even have a race director. . . . I think a lot of people entered because they just didn’t know what a triathlon was.”

The event has changed over the years, but this year’s course is almost identical to last year’s. The swim is first: a 700-yard rectangular course in Newport Bay, which means that swimmers have the added buoyancy of salt water without having to fight the surf.

Wet suits are allowed.

The bike ride is a fairly flat 13 miles up Jamboree Road and through parts of Irvine. The run is the most challenging part of the event, encompassing one tough hill and including a half-mile section on a dirt path.

Note: It’s too late to register by mail for this event, and there is no registration on the day of the race. Registration can be made in person at Newport Dunes on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

What: Fi-Bar Human Race triathlon.

When: Sunday, 7 a.m.

Where: Newport Dunes Aquatic Park, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take Jamboree Road south to Back Bay Drive. Turn right and enter the resort on the left.

Wherewithal: $50 ($75 for relay). Register in person at Newport Dunes on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Where to call: (714) 731-8433.