Steamboat Springs — Registration has been capped for the 16th annual Steamboat Pentathlon, Susan Petersen, recreation supervisor for Steamboat Springs Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services, announced Thursday afternoon. Petersen said 260 athletes already have signed up for the popular multi-sport event March 3 at Howelsen Hill.

"We've been doing more out-of-town marketing and, in its 16th year, I think the event has a great reputation," said Kit Rice, sports coordinator for Parks and Recreation. "We've got a lot more youth teams and a lot more participants from the Front Range, Boulder-Fort Collins area."

The five-stage event starts with a 400 vertical foot slog up Howelsen Hill and a ski race back down to the main transition area for all stages at Vanatta Field. Participants then race on a winding 3-mile snowshoe course on Howelsen, followed by a 4-mile cross-country ski, a 12-mile mountain bike ride and a final 5-mile run.

The event includes individual, pair and team categories for male, female, co-ed and youth divisions on the regular and the shorter course.

"You need to stay active, the hardest part is the running," said Barkley Robinson, last year's third-place overall individual finisher. "It's about half running, so getting out and doing some running, getting some miles in before the event (is key) - that's the biggest shock : but it's a neat event and really unique. I've done it four years in a row and learn things every year with strategies in the transitions."

Rice said neither the out-and-back mountain bike course nor running courses, which will run along River Road and the Yampa River Core Trail, respectively, will result in road closures.

Rice said Parks and Rec-

reation is still looking for volunteers on the day of the race from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers get a T-shirt and lunch and can help raise funds for Horizons Specialized Services (Starbucks makes a monetary donation to Horizons through its Make Your Mark program for each volunteer listed).

Those interested should contact Parks and Recreation at 879-4300. Visit www.steamboatpentathlon.com for course maps and full event details.