Ready, Set, Crawl at Turtle Crawl Races!

Lace up those sneakers and get ready to run– it’s time again for the Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl races and Nest Fest! This annual, fun family event on Jekyll Island’s signature beachfront begins with a filling pasta dinner on May 17, is then followed on May 18 by a morning of races and is then rounded out with the eco-educational Nest Fest.

Start the race weekend with the signature Pre-Race Pasta Dinner, a hearty meal filled with several pasta dishes, salads and garlic rolls. The Pasta Dinner will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Meals are $10 per person, and children ages 4-years-old and under eat for free. Please note, reservations are required and no meal tickets will be sold at the door.

The next day, burn off those carbs at a morning of races and activity. On May 18, the Turtle Crawl Triathlon and Nest Fest will be held, celebrating athleticism and ecology on Jekyll Island. Known as one of the most scenic triathlons on the East Coast, this USAT-sanctioned event includes an Olympic Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon, and 5K Run. With so many race options, there is something for athletes of any skill level!

The Olympic Triathlon features a 1.5-mile swim, 28-mile bike ride and 10K race. Athletes in the Sprint Triathlon will tackle a 750-meter swim, 14.5-mile bike race and 5K race. Not up for biking and swimming? Then opt-in for the 5K race, which winds through island bike paths for a relaxed, scenic run. Any age can participate in the 5K race, but no strollers or pets please.

After the races have been run, stick around at the finish line for the annual Nest Fest celebration. Hosted by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, this yearly festival showcases our coastal ecosystem through a variety of educational exhibits and hands-on activities. Of course, the Center’s mascot, Scute, will be on hand to snap pictures and pose with runners to capture their big race day.

This triathlon is more than a morning of races, though. It’s also a chance to help a worthy cause, as $2 for every 5K entry and $5 for every triathlon entry goes to support the ongoing operations of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Races begin at 7 a.m. with the Olympic Triathlon, followed by the Sprint Triathlon, which starts at 7:30 a.m. The 5K race begins at 8:15 a.m., with Nest Fest to follow immediately at the finish line.

To register for the races, please visit gamultisports.com. Online registration is currently open and will close on May 11, 2013. For more information about Turtle Crawl races and Nest Fest, visit www.jekyllisland.com.