| Wilmington,
NC – March 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / It’s “off to the races”
this spring in Wilmington,
North Carolina’s historic river district and the island beaches of
Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach, and Wrightsville
Beach, with nearly two dozen organized competitions ranging from 5k
and 10k races to marathons, biathlons and triathlons. Wilmington’s inaugural
Susan G. Komen-Race for the Cure got the season off to a running start
Saturday (March 1). More races are planned throughout the spring, including
the Azalea Triathlon on March 8, followed by the Quintiles Wrightsville
Beach Marathon and Half-Marathon on March 16, the Wrightsville Beach Biathlon
on March 22, and the Carolina Beach Double Sprint Marathon on May 11. There
are also swim, surf and standup paddle competitions, soccer tournaments,
and other exciting sports events that take place nearly every weekend March
through June, and beyond. In mid-May, the Seaside
Soccer Classic brings youth soccer players from across the Southeast.
Spring spectator sports heat
up when Wilmington’s professional soccer (Wilmington Hammerheads) and baseball
(Wilmington Sharks) teams take to the fields in April and May.
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Visitors who wish to stay
active but don’t want to compete will enjoy fitness trails from the river
to the sea. More than 54 parks and gardens include the 1.75-mile Wilmington
Riverwalk in the historic river district and Wilmington’s Gary Shell Cross-City
Trail—an off-road, multi-use trail with bicycle and pedestrian access to
recreational and cultural sites. On the island of Wrightsville Beach, The
Loop is a fitness trail for jogging and walking with incredible views of
island waterways. Two state parks are located on Pleasure Island: Carolina
Beach State Park and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, both of which offer
hiking and cycling trails, as well as fishing and other recreational activities.
And Kure Beach boasts an Oceanfront Park and a disc golf course.
Surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Cape Fear River, as well as marshes
and channels, there are abundant recreational opportunities for fishing,
boating, surfing and paddling. Surf schools offer lessons and camps, and
several outfitters offer kayak, canoe and paddleboard lessons and excursions.
Information about outdoor activities and can be found online at www.WilmingtonAndBeaches.com/things-to-do.
Now is the time to plan your
active spring getaway to Wilmington, N.C. and island beaches. Following
is a sampling of spring sports events. Dates and times may change without
notice, so please contact event organizers directly to confirm details:
Races
March 8: Azalea Triathlon.
8am. UNCW Natatorium & campus. www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=2184
March 15: 10th Annual
Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run. 8am. Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina
Beach. www.lotiderun.org
March 15: Quintiles
Wrightsville Beach 5k. 5pm. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington. www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com
March 16: Quintiles
Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon & Full Marathon. 6:15am. The Wrightsville
Beach Half Marathon is proud to be the 2014 USATF NC State Championship.
Wrightsville Beach. www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com
March 22: Wrightsville
Beach Biathlon. 10am. Stand-up Paddleboard & Run. Blockade Runner Resort,
Wrightsville Beach. www.eventbrite.com/e/wrightsville-beach-biathlon-2014-tickets-10543145833?aff=erelexporg
March 22: McGregor
5k. 8am. Johnnie Mercer Fishing Pier, Wrightsville Beach. www.active.com/wrightsville-beach-nc/running/races/mcgregor-5k-2014?int=29-101-4
March 29: Blue Ribbon
Run 5k. 4pm. Autumn Hall, Wilmington. its-go-time.com/event-registration?ee=76
March 29: Coastal
NC Run for Autism. 8am. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington. www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1099368
March 30: Paws4People
5k/10k. 9am. UNCW University Station, Wilmington. www.p4pwilmington5k.com
April 5: Azalea-Big
Buddy 5k/10k/Fun Walk. 7am. Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington. 910-392-8180;
www.ncazaleafestival.org/events/azalea-5k10kfun-walk-2013/
April 6: Holland Hustle.
2pm. Kid-friendly race. Carolina Beach Elementary School, Carolina Beach.
its-go-time.com/event-registration?ee=125
April 19: Step Up
For Soldiers Combat Mud Run. 8am. National Guard Armory, Wilmington. its-go-time.com/event-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=67
April 26: The Great
Glow Run 5k. 8pm. Battleship Park, Wilmington. www.greatglowrun.com
May 11: Carolina Beach
Double Sprint Marathon. 7am. #8 of the AAA Car Care North Carolina Triathlon
Series. Carolina Beach. www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=2573
May 17: Stoked to
Go Out! The Grey Liston Pier to Pier Memorial Swim. 9am. 1.7 mile swim.
Wrightsville Beach. www.stokedtogoout.com
June 7: Pier To Pier
Run & Crab Crawl. 8:15am. Johnnie Mercer’s Pier to Crystal Pier, Wrightsville
Beach. wrightsvillebeachfoundation.org/wb-low-tide-run
June 8: 5k Race for
the Planet. 7am register; 8am race. Earth Day event. NC Aquarium at Fort
Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-7468; www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher/5k-race-for-the-planet-2
June 13: NewBridge
Bank Bridge to Bridge. 6pm. CFCC Schwartz Center, Downtown Wilmington.
its-go-time.com/event-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=68
Spring Surf / SUP Competitions
April 23-27: Carolina
Cup. Stand Up paddleboard event. National qualifier race for World SUP
Championships. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach. www.wrightsvillebeachpaddleclub.com/about-the-carolina-cup
May 3-4: WBLA Longboard
Classic & SUP Surfing PRO-AM. Wrightsville Beach. Registration closes
May 1. Surf/SUP competitions held in conjunction with the Wrightsville
Beach Waterman Ocean Festival at the Holiday Inn Resort, Wrightsville Beach
(May 1-4). www.wblasurf.org
June 7-8: 17th Street
Shred Fest. Carolina Beach. www.esa-snc.com
Spectator Sports
April 5-Sept. 7: Wilmington
Hammerheads Soccer Season. USL PRO Division. Hammerheads home games at
Legion Stadium, Wilmington. www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
May 17-18: 21st Annual
Seaside Soccer Classic. Youth Soccer Tournament. Cape Fear Regional Soccer
Park & others, Wilmington. 910-392-0306; www.capefearsoccer.com
May 27-August 4: Wilmington
Sharks Baseball Season. Coastal Plain League. Sharks home games at Legion
Stadium, Wilmington. www.wilmingtonsharks.com
It’s not only easy to stay
fit while on vacation in Wilmington, North Carolina and the island beaches
of Carolina Beach,
Kure
Beach, and Wrightsville
Beach, it’s also an easy drive from Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro
along I-40 and from the Charlotte area along US 74, with easy access from
I-95. For more information on seasonal specials, featured events and experiences,
visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com.
For a free Visitors Guide to Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic river
district and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville
Beach, please call 866-266-9690, or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com.
Media
Contact:
Wilmington
and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau
Connie
Nelson
Communications/PR
Director
910-332-8751
866-266-9690
ext. 120
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The
New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches
Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization
of New Hanover County, North Carolina that stimulates economic development
through the promotion of travel and tourism.
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