A triathlon for the whole family

Times Reporter

 

Have you ever wanted to run a triathlon but they seem too daunting, the distance too long? Or maybe you wanted to bring the kids out, but it’s an adult event? One Strathmore woman has questioned why Strathmore hasn’t had a triatholon the whole family could participate. This year marks the inaugural year for the Tri-Smore, Strathmore’s new triathlon. 

“We want anybody to be able to do this. The three-year-old who can swim a length in their life jacket and hop on training wheels are more than welcome to participate,” said Niki Johnson, organizer. 

There are four different distances in the Tri-Smore; the full Smore which is sprint distance, equaling a 500 metre swim, a 20k bike and a 5 kilometre run. The half Smore is half the distance of the full, the quarter Smore is half the distance of the half Smore, and the Two Bit Smore, which is for kids eight-years-old and younger. 

She said her kids have so much fun when they go with her and feel so  good about it when they are done. She said as a mother it’s one of her driving forces behind it.  

Those who do the full Smore will get a Tec shirt. The quarter and half Smore participants will get T-shirts and medals, and the Two Bits will also get medals. Johnson said there will be more items in the race packages, and door prizes for all participants. There will also be a couple of exclusive prizes the volunteers will be entered into a draw for. 

“It’s meant to be fun. We’re celebrating participation and in just a really non-threatening, fun race environment. Some people come and they compete in these things as practice for their bigger races, and people are really serious about it,” said Johnson.

“But some people are happy just to finish, and we’re just trying to promote people just getting active. Truly that’s where the winning comes, is just in participating.” 

Johnson said she has a really good committee of about 10 people but they still need volunteers to count laps, or stand at turnarounds or water stations, and help serve the food. Potential volunteers can go to the website to email the volunteer coordinator, who will want their names and ages. The only reason the coordinator would like to know a persons age is to make sure they don’t put a teenage volunteer where an adult should be.

“We’d love to see families participating together, because there is an opportunity for the children to be active, and it’s a great opportunity for the parents to be an example in active living,” said Johnson. 

There won’t be any training clinics this year, though there is potential for them in the future. 

“I would just start training, get in the pool and see how long it takes you to swim 10 or 20 lengths. Just start doing it, it’s still three months away, you can work up to that point by then,” said Johnson.

People can use any bike they want but there will be a bike check to make sure the bikes are safe. She said it is the same for the kids; if the child only knows how to use a tricycle, they can. Training wheels are also allowed. Parents are also allowed to help the kids in transition. There will be water stations, and emergency personal will be available for safety reasons. 

Johnson said they would like to see about 500 people sign up, but she said if they get 550, they would allow that too. 

The run takes place June 25, and people can register online at www.tri-smore.com, until June 1. Johnson said if someone decides last minute to participate, they would still take him or her. Registration fees for Two Bits’ are $15, youth are $20, and adults are $60. People can also register as a team.