The first of three mid-week sprint triathlons at Island Lake State Recreation Area in Brighton will be held on Wednesday, June 24, sponsored by Running Fit owner and race director Randy Step.

The triathlon course will include a half-mile swim, a 12-mile bike race, and a 3.1-mile run. The course is easy enough for beginners, organizers said. It offers a practical fitness level check for athletes training to compete in additional events.

The swim, organized in waves, is straightforward, as are the bike and run portions of the course, which are all on paved surfaces. Volunteers will line the course to ensure the smooth flow of participant traffic and answer any questions along the way.

"With last season's inaugural T-Rex Triathlon being a huge success, I am excited to have three triathlons this year instead of one," said DNR Park Manager Joanne Stritmatter. "The race is very well organized and a wonderful opportunity to GO-Get Outdoors. On behalf of the Island Lake Recreation Area, I welcome the race series and am appreciative of the opportunity to expose the park to newcomers."

The three scheduled events are the Triceratops Tri on June 24, the Pterodactyl Tri on July 22, and the T-Rex Tri on Aug. 19. All events are being held on a Wednesday and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The events are limited to 600 participants, and organizers encourage early registration.

Participants who are up to the challenge and enter all three events will receive a distinctive Series Finisher pint glass, a chance to win exclusive T-Rex series age division awards, and discounts on race series entry fees.

For more information about this race series, to register for these events, or to obtain course maps, contact Running Fit at www.runtrextri.com, or contact Randy Step at (734) 929-9027.

Island Lake Recreation Area is located at 12950 East Grand River near Brighton. The park entrance is located one-half mile south of Exit 151 off I-96 and Kensington Road. For information about the park or accessibility, contact the park supervisor at (810) 229-9067 (TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired), or visit www.michigan.gov/islandlake.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.

Join the DNR in celebrating the 90th anniversary of Michigan State Parks (1919-2009) this year. Events are being posted at www.michigan.gov/dnrgogetoutdoors.