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Photos of an earlier CassadagaMan event held in the village.
CASSADAGA – As summer comes indoors, Wilson Endurance Sports has a strong lineup of events scheduled for this month and into September.
On Saturday, the Frickin’ Hot 50K will return for another year, with proceeds from the event being donated to the Chautauqua County Fire Department. Mark Wilson, head of Wilson Endurance Sports, said he appreciates everything the organization does for them throughout the year during their events, and looks forward to giving back to them every year.
“They are good friends and they give us a lot of support,” Wilson said. “Every year we give them a good check.”
This coming Saturday will feature one of the best atmospheres you’ll find at a Wilson Endurance Sports event, in the form of the Cassadaga Kids Triathlon. Youth ages 4 to 14 can participate in the event, which includes a 100-yard swim, three-mile bike ride, and one-mile run. Wilson said they have kids coming from a tri-state area of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and kids from Ohio also come.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” Wilson said. “We have pancakes at the end for the kids and the local sponsors are giving out juice boxes.”
The event has grown from 15 children in the first year of the event to 100 children now as we enter the fourth edition.
For safety reasons, Wilson said, parents are allowed to participate with their children in any part of the event, and light clothing is provided to help with safety. any vehicle may arise. Wilson also wanted to thank the Chautauqua County Fire Department for their assistance in this event.
Finally, on Labor Day weekend, on September 3, the CassadagaMan half triathlon will be held for the third year. About 130 players from California and many states in between will participate in the event. Wilson said they have made a big push for national advertising, and it was also featured in USA Triathlons Magazine and Hammer Nutrition from Montana gave Wilson Endurance Sports a big boost.
“We hope to grow in the future,” Wilson said. “We’re not in a hurry but we’re going to do what we’re going to do.”
A half triathlon features a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Teams are welcome to compete in this event, as well as individuals.
CassadagaMan’s first year was 2020, which was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the fact that they were able to follow local and national guidelines, CassadagaMan was the only half triathlon that ran in 2020 in the United States.
While about 130 athletes will compete, Wilson said the event’s cap of 300 runners means there is still plenty of room for growth.
More information about Wilson Endurance Sports, including their full schedule, can be found at https://coachmarkwilson.com/.
