There are so many cool events staged in downtown Lititz that sometimes it's hard to keep track of them all.

But most don't turn the area into a competitive course. Most don't gauge the mettle of highly motivated athletes. Most don't promote fitness in such an overt way.

The Lititz recCenter Triathlon is similar to other downtown Lititz events and unique at the same time.

"It's just for the area," said Simon Ababou, the Lititz recCenter's fitness director and the organizer of the triathlon. "It's good for the businesses. It's good for the coolest town in America. It helps keep people active. We have people coming here from different areas, spending the weekend and visiting the town. It's a nice place to visit."

The 10th edition of the annual Lititz recCenter Triathlon will be presented on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 301 Maple St., Lititz. The triathlon will begin around 7:45 a.m. and registrations will be accepted in person that day until before the start of the event or in advance by going to http://www.lititzrec.com/special-events/annual-triathlon.

Prizes and medals will be awarded for men and women, as individuals and as teams, in more than five age categories at the end of the competition. Goodie bags will be handed out to the competitors.

Competitors can find ample parking at Warwick High School and Warwick Middle School.

"It's a great atmosphere," said Ababou. "Sports bring people together. Everyone talks to everyone. I like it as a community event. Everyone comes together that day because it's a big event."

Competitors will start the triathlon by swimming 300 meters in the Lititz Springs Pool. From there, the athletes will jump on their bikes and ride 15.8 miles through scenic Penn Township to Manheim and back.

The final leg of the triathlon will consist of a 3.1-mile run through town and the shady developments that surround it. Both the biking and running courses are relatively flat and fast.

"The (competitors) who do well are the ones who are composed and prepared," said Ababou. "The big thing is the transition between events. You could have cramps, so you have to drink a lot of water. If an athlete is not prepared, they could feel fatigue in the run. You have to have a mental check when you start the run, and you want to move well when you're competing. At the end, everybody is tired, the winner and the last one."

Almost 300 athletes from Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Reading, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York are expected to compete. Organizers of the Lititz recCenter Triathlon are hoping to raise $27,000 for youth programs, summer camps and other fitness activities.

About 14 local businesses, organizations and individuals are sponsoring the event.

"We rely on this event to keep things going," said Ababou. "Fitness is fun. We need to get together. It's great to stay healthy. It's great to keep moving and feel good about yourself."

One of only a handful of triathlons staged in Lancaster County annually, the Lititz recCenter Triathlon takes a group of more than 40 staff members and volunteers to pull off. Since its inception, participation in the triathlon has steadily grown from its original number of 119 competitors.

"It's a team effort between the rec center staff and the community," said Ababou. "It's something different. The triathlon is very well organized and has great participation. We invest in it. We hear comments from the participants each year."

For additional information on the Lititz recCenter, go to http://www.lititzrec.com.