Indoor Triathlon at YMCA Attracts Wide Variety

Thirty self-described “mini-triathletes” arrived early Sunday morning at the to keep their healthy starts to 2011 on track.

These were not small triathletes, mind you, but participants in an indoor triathlon featuring swimming, stationary biking and treadmill running in a competition to see who could travel the greatest distance in 60 minutes.

"We call it the 'Indoor Tri at the Y,' " said Health and Wellness Director Bonnie Hoerner. "It’s kind of a mini-triathlon, and we do about four of them a year at the YMCA."

The event began at 7 a.m. and consisted of four heats, each of which started with a 10-minute swim followed by 30 minutes of stationary biking and, finally, 20 minutes on the treadmill. Time was allotted for the competitors to dry off after finishing their time in the pool.

Top finishers were identified among male and female participants. The first-place finisher for the men was Jeff Ryder, with Luis Diaz taking second place followed by Ziv Yaa in third.

For the women, first place went to Pam Glanvill. Second place was taken by Debbie Cook and the third-place female finisher was Heidi Jackson.

About 10 YMCA volunteers assisted with everything from registration to organizing the individual sections of competition in the pool, biking and treadmill areas. As participants finished on the treadmill, there were plenty of smiles and a clear sense of accomplishment, especially for those who were involved in such an event for the first time.

“It has been fantastic; it’s a new year and we’ve had a lot of first-timers getting involved … we had one women who said she couldn’t really swim very well so she wanted to be in the inside lane so she could hug the wall in case she got into trouble. So we have a wide range of experience in terms of participants,” said Jan Sumner, a volunteer who helped at the registration desk.

The triathlon was available to individuals 16 years of age and older. The cost to participate was $25 and winners were given a discount toward participation in future events. Additionally, snacks and drinks were made available to competitors as they finished the event.

A handful of triathletes were involved with fellow friends, co-workers and family members, making it possible to support each other in preparation for the event and also during the competition itself.

“There are some drawbacks, such as not being able to see scenery while biking, but being able to set a pace on the treadmill and stick to it was actually nice, even a little more demanding than an outdoor triathlon,” said Jo Ann Lavrich, who was competing along with her fellow Ascension Early Childhood Center preschool teacher, Joanie Frank.

There were two married couples taking place in the event, as well as sisters Kathy Atwater and Marie Schmich.

“This is our second time doing an indoor triathlon and we do a lot of active things together socially like biking and running trails. So in addition to it helping to have support, it’s a fun way to spend time together,” said Atwater.

A volunteer from Logan Chiropractic College was on hand to assist with stretching if any of the triathletes tightened up while participating, and volunteers manned the circuit from station to station to provide encouragement and guidance.

“This is designed for beginners and I think it has been a success, and a lot of fun for everyone involved. We look forward to our next one in the spring,” Hoerner said.

Individuals interested in participating in the next triathlon event can e-mail Bonnie Hoerner at the West County Family YMCA or call (636) 532-3100.