In total 230 people are ready to make a splash Saturday morning — right into the pool. The Innisfail Triathlon is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre and people from all over — Cranbrook, Salmon Arm, Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton are participating.
“This year, I’m doing it for me,” said Cathy Ouellette of Innisfail. She began training for triathlons about three years ago after undergoing heart surgery for the implantation of a stent.
“I was 48 and I had a stent put in. That was a wake-up call,” said Ouellete of her journey after that to start eating healthily and working out.
“I decided to wake up and take charge,” she explained. “Now I’m 51 and I feel great. Medical tests are coming back great. The triathlon was just the start of my journey.” Ouellette said completing the triathlon three years ago was a huge accomplishment, proving to herself she was off the “unhealthy trail.” This year, when she crosses the finish line, it’s for a different reason.
“It’s something I’ve set in my mind that I’m going to do. I don’t expect to win, or beat it — it’s for myself.” She said running is her biggest challenge but at the end of the race, the adrenalin picks up and pushes her to the end.
The Innisfail Triathlon requires a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bike ride and a five-kilometre run.
There’s also the tri-it triathlon that asks for a 300-metre swim, five-kilometre bike ride and two-kilometre run.
The tri-it triathlon, meant for families, allows youngsters to get involved. For the Armstrong family, this means dad and sons can get the best out of their hobby.
“I train and they run with me,” said dad Glen Armstrong of his sons, Andrew, 13, and Keelan, 11. “We also do a lot of bike riding together and this is something they’ve wanted to try.”
Armstrong’s been competing in triathlons for the last 10 years. His kids, who are active in sports, have tried the “kids of steel” triathlon offered at Woody’s triathlon in Red Deer. This will be their first time competing in Innisfail.
“I’m excited,” said Andrew, who said he’ll be starting the competition with his younger brother, but doesn’t promise to finish with him. “I’ll probably try to beat him if I can,” he said. Armstrong admits the family is a little competitive. They’ll all be competing Saturday.
He said the triathlon is a great sport to become involved in and recommends anyone wanting to get into it to check out triathlon clubs.
“There’s a lot of clinics people can take,” he said, explaining some will focus on one aspect of the triathlon such as the running or the swimming. Others focus on the transition from one event to the other.
“They’ll give you a good idea of how to train, how much to do; it’s worth it,” he advises.
This is the first year the triathlon has been sanctioned by the Alberta Triathlon Association. Organizers say they are still striving to maintain the event as a first-timer-friendly triathlon. They’re also looking for volunteers from 7 a.m to noon. If anyone’s interested, e-mail [email protected].
