Swim, bike, run through Strathmore

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Empowerment is what it’s all about, at least according to Deanne Jabs, race director for the Strathmore Women’s Triathlon. On August 15, 370 women gathered together to take part in the eighth annual triathlon. 

“Its not really a race, we call it more of an empowering event, because it’s really empowering to finish a triathlon,” said Jabs.   

“It’s to encourage women, because women are often intimidated by events that have a lot of men. It’s nice to have a women’s only environment, where they are not intimidated by competitive men.” 

The women’s triathlon is not a competitive event according to Jabs; the main goal is crossing the finish line. 

The women were mainly from Calgary and surrounding Towns, with one woman coming in from Winnipeg to take part. 

“We started it here because this is a beautiful location, a great biking area and its nice to have it in a small community,” said Jabs.  

The triathlon started with a 500m swim, then a 20-kilometre bike ride followed by a five-kilometre run. Some of the women walk the five kilometres instead of running.   

“You don’t want to have people swimming last just in case someone drowns after being tired from biking and running,” said Jabs. “No one has ever drowned, but you just look at something like a swim (first) and biking is the next highest risk of the three and then the run.”

Participants ranged from ages 16 to 63. This year a relay was introduced, which had a 10-year-old swimming in it. Jabs said the relay was exciting because all of the relay participants went head to head. For those doing the triathlon, there were different groups who went at different times. When one swimmer exited the pool another would jump in so that it was a continuous feed. The route changed a little this year to incorporate some of the new bike paths. 

“The reason I put this event on, is because my life has totally changed from triathlon and I want everybody to have that feeling. It’s very empowering and very gratifying,” said Jabs. She and her volunteers do not participate in the Strathmore triathlon, but she said she does take part in others.  

For over half of the participants, this was their first triathlon. Jabs said some women may train all year but many are at home with kids or busy with work, and they fit in workouts and training where they can. 

“We have yet to have someone who couldn’t finish. Most people finish and go ‘wow I did it’. Most people surprise themselves that they can actually do it,” said Jabs. 

Water and sports drinks were provided to participants to help keep them hydrated and after the last women crossed the line there was a banquet. In the past all the women who took part were given a flower finisher medal. This year Jabs provided all of the women with the medal in the form of a charm, so they can wear them instead of tucking a medal away into a drawer.