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Kids, adults invited to try a triathlon

Try a tri May 26

By Andrew Mitchell

The Whistler Triathlon Club is doing its part to promote their sport and fitness as they host a pair of events on May 26, the Whistler Try a Tri for adults, and the third annual Kids of Steel Triathlon.

Both events are short distance, starting with a pool swim at Meadow Park, followed by a cycle on Alta Lake Road, and a run on the Valley Trail. As well, both events are for people who are new to triathlons.

“We already had a kids’ version of a triathlon, and we decided it would be great to have a version of that for adults as well,” said Marie-Anne Prevost, a triathlete and co-organizer of both races. “There’s a lot of people in town who watch triathletes and are interested but don’t think they can do it. This is a real bite-size version of the real thing, and it’s totally doable for anyone who can swim a little, bike and run. Most people who are already active could do it without a lot of preparation. We want to inspire them to be more active and realize that it’s not impossible.”

The Adult Try a Tri is the first adult triathlon to take place in Whistler since a sprint distance race was cancelled after 2000. It’s open to anyone 19 years and older, and includes a 300-metre swim (12 laps of the pool), a 14 km bike, and a 4 km run. The bike section, which starts at Meadow Park and turns around at the entrance to Stonebridge, can be hilly in sections, the run follows the Valley Trail towards Rainbow Park. The start time is 9:30 a.m., after the start for the kids triathlon.

For the Kids of Steel Triathlon, participants are divided into three groups. Kids aged 8-11 swim 100 metres, bike 4.5 km, and run 1.5 km. Kids 12-13 swim 300 metres, bike 10 km and run 3 km. Kids 14 and Over swim 500 metres, bike 14 km and run 4 km.

Volunteers will be on course to turn kids around at the right markers.

If you are interested in volunteering for the races, contact Tracy Green at tgreen@direct.ca . More volunteers are needed on the course, and at the start and finish line.

Within a few years, the Whistler Triathlon Club would like to host a sprint distance triathlon in Whistler, using events like the Kids of Steel and Try a Tri to build capacity.

“The longer the course is the more approval we’ll need from the municipality to take over the roads, the more volunteers we need, the more equipment. We’re just building on our success at these races and adding a little on each time,” said Prevost. “This is the third year of the kids race, and we’ll see how it goes.”

For more information and registration for both races, visit www.whistlertriclub.ca . Online registration closes on Thursday, May 24, but racers can still sign on in person at Snowcovers on Main Street from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday. There will be no day of race registration.