MELMERBY BEACH – If you thought triathlons were for the seasoned athlete, think again.
This weekend the YMCA is holding a host of activities that prove otherwise.
With swimming, biking and running combined in typical triathlon competition, children ranging from 7 and under through to 12 will be competing Saturday at Melmerby Beach.
The activites are part of the annual IronKids triathlon.
The YMCA took over holding the IronKids events three years ago.
"Beach guards did it for a few years before," says Patsy Langille, who is organizing it for the Y this year.
It's great to get children started young in this sport she said.
"Exercise is a habit forming activity," she said. "The more activities you get your kids involved in the more likely there's one they're going to do. Triathlons are kind of neat because it's getting kids involved in three different things."
The other nice thing about a triathlon is that it as competitive or uncompetitive as you want it to be.
"You're kind of racing against yourself," Langille said. "Not all children and adults like to be really competitive."
On team sports there is more pressure to live up to certain expectations, but with a triathlon, you can do it in whatever time you feel comfortable in.
Another thing is that it includes sports that people are more apt to do for their entire lifetime.
All youths who compete in the event are recognized for their accomplishments.
"Everybody's a winner," Langille said. "Everybody that comes in is treated the exact same."
With children as young as three years old competing, parents are frequently seen out in the water offering support.
"It's an encouraging event," Langille said. "It's a sense of accomplishment for a young person to do all three things."
Then Sunday it will be adults chance to compete.
An Olympic distance triathlon will be held for those 16 and older. It involves swimming 1500 metres, biking 40 km and running 10 km. A sprint triathlon will include a 750 metre swim, 20 km bike and five km run.
The super sprint will be held for those 13 and older. It is a 300 metre swim, eight km bike and 2 km run.
Also there's Try a Tri for the same age group which includes the same requirements as the super spring event.
About 40 locals have signed up for the Sunday's triathlon events.
"I think it is a growing sport," Langille said. "A lot of people don't think it's something they can do, that's why we have the Try a Tri. Once people do that event they realize, 'Hey I can move up.'"
As someone who has completed a full Ironman, Langille knows the satisfaction that finishing an event like this can bring.
"Hopefully, our local athletes will come out and participate," she said.
Race day registration for IronKids begins at 7 a.m. today with races starting at 8:30 a.m.
There will be no race day registration for Sunday's events. The Olympic Triathlon starts at 8:30 a.m., sprint at 9 a.m., super sprint at 9:20 a.m. abd Try a Tri at 9:40 a.m. For more information call 755-0202.
