FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The 13th Annual Publix Grandman Triathlon, is set for Saturday. Hosted by Mobile Baykeeper, the June 3 event starts at 7 a.m. at the Fairhope Municipal Pier.

Athletes begin this sprint triathlon by jumping off of Fairhope Pier into Mobile Bay and swimming 1/3 mile to the shore. Following the swim, racers will bike 18 miles, beginning up a steep hill before riding through downtown Fairhope and miles of rolling countryside. The race to the finish line consists of a 3.1 mile run through the streets of Fairhope and finishes along Mobile Bay at Fairhope Park. The race usually draws between 750-800 racers, close to 1,000 spectators, and requires more than 100 volunteers.

The main fundraiser for Mobile Baykeeper, The Publix Grandman Triathlon is a Waterkeeper Alliance Splash Series Event presented nationally by Toyota.

Following the Grandman, the Jubilee Kids Triathlon will also take place at the Fairhope Municipal Pier Sunday, June 4 at 7:30 a.m. Also hosted by Mobile Baykeeper, this event is for children between ages 7-15.

Casi Callaway, race director and executive director of Mobile Baykeeper, thinks combining the two races under the same weekend umbrella for the first time will be a great selling point for families looking to spend a weekend together in Fairhope.

“Fairhope is the perfect race destination for the whole family,” said Callaway. “We really want to encourage parents to race in the Grandman on Saturday and then cheer on their children at the kid’s race on Sunday. These events are an important way to get people of all ages outside and expose them to the beautiful natural resources we have in Coastal Alabama.”

Racers of ages 7-10 will complete a 100- yard swim, 1-mile bike, and a 3⁄4-mile run. Racers of ages 11-15 will complete a 200-yard swim, 4-mile bike, and 1.75 mile run.

Proceeds from both races benefit local non-profit organizations: Mobile Baykeeper, Delta Bike Project, and myTeam Triumph: Southern Alabama.

For more detailed information about the races, visit TheGrandMan.com or contact Race Coordinator Justine Herlihy at jherlihy@mobilebaykeeper.org (251-433-4229).

Mobile Baykeeper is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that works to provide citizens a means to protect the beauty, health and heritage of the Mobile Bay Watershed and our coastal communities. For more information, visit MobileBayKeeper.org.