If you have spent any time in PB Beach in the past few days you may have noticed all the joggers and cyclists. That's because the 26th Gulf Coast Triathlon is taking place Saturday. Friday another day of registration, and shopping, as athletes gear up at the GCT Expo at the Boardwalk Beach Resort!

Shelley Bramblett, GCT race director, said, "Well, we have right now 1,650 individuals and about 60 relay teams from all over the United States, and also ten countries are represented here. This is an age group race. Obviously we have pro athletes, we have about twenty of them, but we really attract all the age group athletes, who love to come, have a great race, have a weekend, a great party, and just enjoy themselves and their families here."

Among those in town for the GCT is 28-year-old Katie Bietenholz. She's a 1998 graduate of Rutherford who now lives and works in Jacksonville. She's come back to her hometown to race in her second GCT!

Katie said, "Yeah, um, and Mother's Day. But, you know, growing up in Panama City, it's a big deal here in town. Both my brother and I are back to do it, and we're looking forward to it.”

What do you like about this event?

“Swimming in the Gulf. Now that I live on the Atlantic, I miss it. So it's just a beautiful race and it's well supported.”

Lance Steed, a race entrant, said, “It's just a great race, a lot of good volunteers. The swim is great, pretty beaches, clear water. The roads are nice and flat and fast. The run is pretty hot, not a lot of shade, but very doable. Nice and flat, not a lot of hills, it's a good race."

The Gulf Coast Triathlon is a 1-2 mile swim which starts at 6:15 just behind the boardwalk, which again is race headquarters. The bike is 56 miles, and first goes east on South Thomas towards the state park, then loops back and runs west on Front Beach to 79 to 20 and then back.

The run is 13.1 miles, goes east through the South Lagoon area, into the park and back to the finish line at the boardwalk. So avoid those areas if you want to avoid the congested traffic!