Oceanside, CA, Announces Three Athletic Events for Fall

For those seeking a getaway with some heart pumping fun, Oceanside, San Diego's North Shore, is the place to escape. Whether joining as participants or spectators, visitors can choose from three exciting athletic events this fall that welcome athletes of all ages and showcase Oceanside's natural draw as a premier destination for sporting events.

"Many people who visit Oceanside are looking for a vacation that is active, motivates them or offers a new event or competition to push their limits," says Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside. "Our city has responded by offering an amazing line up of year-round events to satisfy these desires and make Oceanside a hotspot for athletic tourism."

New! Life Time Tri Oceanside: New to the line-up this fall is the inaugural 2013 Life Time Tri Oceanside on Sunday, October 20, 2013. The championship event for the internationally renowned Life Time Tri Series, Life Time Tri Oceanside will host more than 1,500 professional and amateur athletes and countless more spectators. The triathlon is the final event of the 2013 Life Time Tri series-and the championship of 12 Life Time Tri events across the country-as well as and the Toyota Triple Crown Series finale.

Produced and presented by Life Time, the event offers an International and Sprint distance, as well as relay options, to allow athletes of all abilities to participate. Athletes interested in participating can register at OceansideTri.com. Registration will also be available on site at the Life Time Tri Oceanside Expo at Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 19. For more information and updates on the Life Time Tri series, visit lifetimetri.com or follow @lifetimetri on Twitter.

Bike the Coast-Taste the Coast: Following on the heels of the Life Time Tri is Oceanside's 4th annual Bike the Coast-Taste the Coast presented by Tri-City Medical Center on Saturday, November 2, 2013. This popular event promotes Oceanside's bike-friendly nature and raises money for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition - www.sdcbc.org -- a non-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling better in greater San Diego.

Beginners, experienced cyclists, kids and families are welcome to participate in the event, which offers five out-and-back routes ranging from 7 miles to 100 miles. The relatively flat, 7 and 15 mile routes along the San Luis Rey Bike Trail is the most family-friendly ride and can accommodate visitors with beach cruisers as well as riders with mountain bikes, road bikes and BMX bikes. The 25, 50 and 100-mile routes take cyclists along the scenic north county coastline. All routes finish back at the Oceanside Pier, where the "Taste the Coast" portion of the event takes place and features food booths, a beer garden and fun activities for the family. Nearly 2,000 people are expected to participate in this year's event. For more information visit www.bike-the-coast.com

O'side Turkey Trot: Finally, on Thursday, November 28, 2013, nearly 10,000 people will move their feet before they eat Thanksgiving dinner. Oceanside's popular Pacific Marine Credit Union O'side Turkey Trot has grown into a north county Thanksgiving tradition and includes a 5 mile, 5K and kids courses on one of the most scenic, oceanfront courses in America. In the spirit of giving, five dollars from each entry fee may be designated to Oceanside schools or a non-profit of the participant's choice, or to the Move Your Feet Before You Eat Foundation. The entire family can participate in the event, which also includes a costume contest, largest team competition, live entertainment and finisher medals for all participants. www.osideturkeytrot.com

125 Years of Oceanside: Founded on July 3, 1888, Oceanside is located along the beautiful Southern California coastline and considered the gateway city between metropolitan San Diego and Los Angeles. A classic Southern California beach town, Oceanside enjoys a rich history as an ideal place to stay and experience California's casual spirit. The city boasts a number of important historical and cultural attractions such as Mission San Luis Rey (The King of Missions), California's longest wooden pier, vintage 101 Café, 1920's era Robert's Cottages, Top Gun House, California Surf Museum and the Oceanside Museum of Art. The city has served as a film location for dozens of Hollywood productions and was once the preferred getaway of many of Hollywood's elite. Bordering Camp Pendleton, Oceanside has long enjoyed a strong relationship with the U.S. military and a deep commitment to the men and women serving the nation. Today, with 3.5 miles of sandy beach, a quaint New England-style harbor and a stellar year-round climate, Oceanside is a highly sought after location for enjoying active pursuits including surfing, kayaking, boating, fishing, bike-riding, skydiving and more.

About Visit Oceanside: Visit Oceanside Conference and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing organization in Oceanside, Calif; promoting travel to the city for both leisure and group visitors. Visit Oceanside also operates one of the state's official California Welcome Centers. With just one stop, visitors can find local, regional and state maps, purchase discount tickets to major Southern California attractions, make hotel reservations or shop for the perfect California keepsake. The Visit Oceanside CVB and California Welcome Center- Oceanside are conveniently located just off Interstate 5 at 928 North Coast Highway.  For more information, please call (800)350-7873 or visit www.visitoceanside.org.