On Sunday, May 4, we are hosting our 5th Annual Buck Hurley Triathlon.

Start time is at 7:45 a.m., so we hope to have all participants off the roads before Sunday school starts. For everyone — participants and neighbors surrounding these routes — here is some information on the routes that will be used for the Buck Hurley Triathlon:

The swimming distances will be 300 yards for sprint, 100 yards for ages 12-13 and ages 9-11, 50 yards for ages 7-8 and 25 yards for ages 6 and under, which is one length of the pool.

After our participants swim in the pool on Saturday, May 3 at 4 p.m., ages 7 and up will race on Sunday. They will get on the bike and ride the following;

• 10-mile bike route: coming out of the YMCA on Jake Alexander Boulevard going towards the former Salisbury Mall, turning right on Statesville Boulevard and turning right on Brenner Avenue. Participants for the Sprint will do this route two times. After the ride, they will park the bike in the transition area, which is behind the YMCA on the infield and then start running. The following routes will be used:

• 5K for Sprint participants: Leave the YMCA on the Harris Teeter side and run behind Harris Teeter to the greenway on Brenner Avenue and then turn right. Run the greenway until Old Wilkesboro Road and turn right, towards the back of Livingstone College. Then turn left on Partee Street and then right on Monroe Street. On Fulton Street, turn right and right again onto Lincolnton Road, going past Salisbury High School back towards the YMCA. Turn right behind High Rock Church back to the track and the finish line.

• 3K bike route (almost 2 miles) for ages 12-13 and 9-11: Behind Harris Teeter, come on greenway, make first right onto Milford Hills Road, first left on Locke Street and a right onto Wilson Road and right again onto Lincolnton Road, turning right behind High Rock Church to the back of the Y and the finish line.

• 1-mile run for ages 12-13 and 9-11 and bike route for ages 7-8: Behind Harris Teeter on greenway, turn right onto Milford Hills Road and stay on it until Lincolnton Road, turning right and right again behind High Rock Church to the finish line. The half-mile run for ages 7-8 goes behind Harris Teeter, around cone and back. This year, our 4-6 year-olds will have their Triathlon on Saturday, May 3. All of their events are on YMCA property.

For our churches on these routes, we hope to be done before Sunday school (10 a.m.) and I really appreciate your patience and support once again. Melanie Thompson of the Salisbury Police Department does an outstanding job making it safe for the participants and the least inconvenient for our drivers with the help of Salisbury Fire Department and Locke Fire Department, Salisbury Parks and Recreation and over 100 volunteers.

All are helping to make this a fun, exciting, healthy event where the proceeds go towards our Annual campaign. The YMCA does not turn anyone away due to the inability to pay, and that campaign supports our cause, along with United Way and many sponsors. Without the support of this community and all the sponsors, this event would not be possible and I want to personally thank each one of you again. Each year, I am humbled to be part of such amazing community effort.

Main presenters are Bill and Shari Graham, followed by Cloninger Ford, Toyota, and Scion; Busby & Webb Orthodontics; Wendy’s; Fowler Physical Therapy; RAM Pavement; Salisbury Tutoring Academy ­— the one-on-one school; Law office of Koontz & Smith; Novant Health Carolina Women’s Health Associates; Autumn Care; F&M Bank, Food Lion; Harrison RV LLC; Central Piedmont Builders; Fast Med Urgent Care; Tina Merhoff DDS; Novant Health Rowan Medical Center; Salisbury Urological Clinic; Pinocchio’s Restaurant; Skinny Wheels Bike Shop; Salisbury Rowan Runners; Salisbury Police Department; Salisbury Fire Department; Locke Fire Department and Salisbury Parks and Recreation.

If you want to participate or sponsor this awesome event, you can contact me at emarsh@rowanymca.org, come to the JF Hurley Family YMCA to sign up or go online to Sportoften.com and register there.

If you would like to volunteer (a great Crosby Scholar opportunity), please email me, call the YMCA at 704-636-0111 or email Sarah Busby, co-race director, at sarahpbusby@gmail.com.

Get ready to “Buck Up”!

Ester Marsh is health and fitness director at Hurley YMCA and WRHS girls track and field coach.