Kids swim, bike & run in mini-triathalon at Sports Academy
July 26th, 2011 Posted in Arts and LifeLOGAN—The sun shone brightly as kids ran, biked and swam at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club (SARC) for the first Family Fun Triathlon of 2011.
Around 30 participants showed up to time their athletic skills and have some fun.
Natalie Battaglia, 22, is the activities coordinator at SARC and helped to plan and prepare for the day’s event. She said the idea was to get kids involved.
“All the little kids get to see their parents do triathlons all year long,” she said, “but they never actually get the opportunity to do one themselves because it’s too far of a distance even for a split triathlon.”
The Family Fun Triathlon is made for kids from ages 3 and up. The kids are split into three age groups.
Kids age 7 and under swim 50 yards, bike one mile and run half a mile. Kids between 8 and 11 swim 75 yards, bike 2.5 miles and run three-quarters of a mile. Kids ages 12 and up swim 150 yards, bike 2.5 miles and run 1.5 miles.
“They can still experience the triathlon events, just at a level they can actually accomplish,” she said, “they get the opportunity to still do what their parents do without running 5 miles and they get to say they did a triathlon.”
Calvin Grimes participated and won in the oldest age group.
“I thought it was really fun and pretty challenging,” he said. Grimes completed the triathlon in 27 minutes and 25 seconds.
Volunteers were spread out around the Sports Academy building to stop cars, keep participants safe and send the kids in the right direction.
“I love seeing all the little kids having so much fun,” volunteer Katelyn Sawyer said. Sawyer, 18, is a lifeguard at SARC and has volunteered for the past three years.
After the triathlon was over, kids were given certificates and a coupon for a free smoothie and the Sports Academy’s smoothie bar.
“We want the kids to enjoy it and have fun and not necessarily to get placed,” Battaglia said.
SARC has been hosting the Family Fun Triathlon two to three times a year for about eight years, Battaglia said. The next triathlon is scheduled for August 6.
TP
Tags: Sports Academy, triathalon
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