“Katy Triathlon at Firethorne athletes prepare to swim Lake Firethorne at sunrise. “Katy Triathlon at Firethorne athletes prepare to swim Lake Firethorne at sunrise.

Hats (or caps!) off to the Rotary Club of Katy and Firethorne for hosting the most successful Katy Triathlon in its 17-year history — raising $50,000 for the Katy Rotary Fund. This is a major volunteer effort on the part of the Rotary and they put on a stellar event. All the planning and logistics meetings paid off with a very organized, smoothly-run event for close to 1,000 athletes and 2,000 fans on hand to cheer friends and family members on to complete the rigorous race. Congrats to all and Firethorne looks forward to hosting again in 2010!

Katy Triathlon at Firethorne a Run-Away Success:
Record-Breaking $50,000 Raised

Katy/Fulshear, TX – Nov. 10, 2009. . . The Katy Triathlon at Firethorne was a runaway success with nearly 1,000 athletes running, swimming and cycling to raise the most funds ever — $50,000 — to benefit the Katy Rotary Fund. The Rotary Club of Katy, race sponsor, raises funds to support local charities for their work in providing essential health, recreation and educational services to children in the Katy Independent School District attendance area.

“We netted $50,000 — the most ever in the 17 years of the Katy Triathlon,” said Dr. Jim Jacobs, treasurer of the Rotary Club of Katy. The 2009 event attracted the greatest number of sponsors and in-kind donations ever, which will enable the Katy Rotarians to fund a minimum of 20 $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors from the district’s six high schools in 2010, up from 16 scholarships in 2009, as well as support other deserving charitable projects.

Triathletes — women, men, girls and boys — ranged in age from 10 to 72. Winners by category are available on the Katy Triathlon at Firethorne website, http://www.cincoranchtri.com.

According to Rotary Club of Katy President Graig Harrison, the consensus among athletes was that the Firethorne event was the best Katy Triathlon the club has ever coordinated. “We’ve already got people asking us when registration is for next year!” he said.

The USA Triathlon-sanctioned race was held in and around Firethorne, a 1,400-acre Katy/Fulshear residential community. Nearly 1,000 athletes and 2,000 spectators (including many out-of-towners) participated in the Houston City Triathlon Championship venue, the third largest co-ed triathlon in Texas.

Individual athletes as well as relay teams competed in a 1/3-mile swim around the 12-acre Lake Firethorne, as well as a 15-mile bike race and a three-mile run through Firethorne. The cycling route included sections of FM 1463, US Hwy. 90, Pederson Road, and the I-10 Frontage Road. Firethorne is located on FM 1463, near the crossroads of the I-10 West corridor, Westpark Tollway and Grand Parkway.

Cinco Ranch High School FBLA, Rotary Interact Club and Boy Scouts provided volunteer support for the race.

Firethorne, located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, blends the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. Served by the award-winning Katy I.S.D., Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. To tour Firethorne, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, call 281-395-1440 or visit www.firethorne.info.