Race preparations continue in North Carolina as the 2009 ITU Duathlon World Championships are just one month away.

Multisport athletes from around the world will be traveling Concord, N.C., September 24-27 for the event hosted by the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau and directed by USA Triathlon.

The weekend will feature more than 750 age group competitors and 150 elites racing on a 10k run, 40k bike, 5k run course in and around Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The location offers a one-of-a-kind venue for the World Championship, presenting a challenging course that will take the athletes around the same track where NASCAR’s greatest drivers have raced for the finish line.

Transition will be located on the speedway infield adjacent to the car garages. Portions of the bike course will take place on the speedway track, but the majority of the run and bike will be on the neighboring roads outside the speedway.

The track itself is a smoothly paved, 1.5-mile loop that will provide a unique technical aspect to the race unparalleled by any road course in the country. The race will finish along pit row.

Course maps, as well as event schedules and registration information, are now available at the event website: www.duathlonworldconcord.com

This marks the second time in the last three years that the United States has hosted an International Triathlon Union World Championship. The ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championship was held in Richmond, Va., in 2007.