Leon's Triathlon, the National Park Service and Team Rubicon Disaster Response are partnering to present the inaugural America’s Race on Sept. 11 at Indiana Dunes National Park's West Beach.
The event is inspired by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and will honor military veterans and first responders. The 5K and 10K races will obstacles representing American military conflicts.
Join Tristan DeFord, Jami Rieck, and Nancy Zakutanksky on a shift working for Superior Ambulance in Merrillville.
According to organizers, the course will include obstacles representing the forests of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the trenches of World War I, the obstacles on the Normandy beaches on D-Day in World War II, the challenges of a patrol in Vietnam, the sand dunes of the Middle East and the stairs of the Twin Towers.
Registration will be capped at 250 contestants. Participants will receive a special jersey created by the veteran-owned firm Legendborne. The red, white and blue jersey includes a representation of the American flag as well as the race logo.
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The race will have staggered start times to avoid crowding along the course. Participants should be prepared to low crawl, bear crawl, carry sandbags, drag dummies and negotiate numerous obstacles spread throughout the racecourse. There will be a water point approximately at the halfway point and snacks and refreshments will be provided close to the finish line.Â
Organizers tested the course on July 4, including lining parts of it with American flags, as they intend to do on Sept. 11.
The race is part of the Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival, a weekend event with over 70 events showcasing Region outdoor activities such as hiking, paddling, biking, geo-caching, photography, birding, yoga and more. The festival has events for families, beginners, experts and those with limited mobility.
For more information on America's Race, visit the race website at leonstriathlon.com/ . For information about Indiana Dunes National Park, call 219-395-1882 or visit www.nps.gov/indu .
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Christopher Delgado, of Whiting, raises his pierog Sunday after a successful catch during Pierogi Fest's pierogi toss competition in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Lily Morando, center, Pieroguette and Pierogi Fest volunteer, brings around the grease bucket Sunday for the pierogi toss. Besides tossing pierogi, participants have an extra challenge of catching the dumplings with greased hands.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
The Pierogi Fest Buscias help form and monitor the lines Sunday for the annual pierogi toss contest in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Mr. Pierogi shares fist bumps with competitors Sunday ahead of the pierogi eating contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Michael Lugo, of Lansing, takes a sip of water Sunday as he competes in the Pierogi Fest eating contest. Lugo would come out as the contest's winner.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
A greasy pierog is ready to be tossed Sunday during Pierogi Fest's annual pierogi toss competition in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Best Pierogi Fest vendor
Justina Haluch, left, and Mike Salikowski, representatives for I Love Grill & Lemonade, celebrate Sunday after being named best Pierogi Fest vendor.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Christopher Delgado, of Whiting, holds out his hands to catch a greased pierog Sunday during Pierogi Fest's pierogi toss competition.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Casimir Kronkowski, of Goshen, hangs his head Sunday after dropping his pierog in the pierogi toss contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Pierogi Fest eating contest participants had three minutes to wolf down as many pierogi as they could.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Michael Lugo, of Lansing, smiles after coming out victorious in a tiebreaker against Joshua Urbanowski Sunday in the annual Pierogi Fest eating contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Best Pierogi Fest vendor
Pierogi Fest Chairman Tom Dabertin, left, hands a decorated trophy off to Justina Haluch after I Love Grill & Lemonade earned the honor of best Pierogi Fest vendor Sunday in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Best Pierogi Fest vendor
John Sopo, center, vice president of the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce, brings out a trophy honoring the best Pierogi Fest vendor Sunday in Whiting. The trophy went to I Love Grill & Lemonade.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Pierogi toss participants slowly stepped back farther and farther after successful catches Sunday to add to the challenge.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Joshua Urbanowski, of Chicago, stuffs himself with pierogi Sunday during Pierogi Fest's annual pierogi eating contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Brothers-in-law Ken Doan, left, and Benny Wright, both of Portage, share a fist bump Sunday after coming out victorious in Pierogi Fest's annual pierogi toss competition.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Best Pierogi Fest vendor
Pierogi Fest Chairman Tom Dabertin emcees the annual Sunday competitions featuring the pierogi toss and eating contest in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Pierogi Fest eating contest participants gave their best shot to stuff their stomatchs with as many pierogi as they could in three minutes.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
The Pierogi Fest Buscias help form and monitor the lines Sunday for the annual pierogi toss contest in Whiting.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Michael Lugo, of Lansing, wipes his face Sunday after coming out victorious in a tiebreaker against Joshua Urbanowski in the annual Pierogi Fest eating contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Joshua Urbanowski, of Chicago, cracks a smile as he tries to keep up in the Pierogi Fest pierogi eating contest. After tying with Michael Lugo in the first round, the two faced off in a minute-long second round.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest pierogi toss
Joseph Abenante, right, of Whiting, can't come up with the catch for a greased pierog as competitor Benny Wright, of Portage, looks on on Sunday during Pierogi Fest's pierogi toss competition in Whiting. Both competitors dropped their pierogi, but a misstep by Abenante's teammate, Christopher Delgado, cost the pair the title.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Pierogi Fest Chairman Tom Dabertin reads facetious disclaimers Sunday ahead of Pierogi Fest's pierogi eating contest.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Pierogi Fest eating contest
Michael Lugo, of Lansing, scarfs down pierogi Sunday during Pierogi Fest's annual eating contest in Whiting. Lugo would finish as the winner.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Pictured is the Pierogi Toss contest in 2021.
Times file photo
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
Gallery: Pierogi Fest Sunday contests
Kale Wilk, The Times
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