Power in three

The News
MELMERBY BEACH - The Merb will be abuzz with high-energy athletes this weekend when the YMCA Triathlon hits one of Pictou County's favourite summertime hot spots.
Organizers hope to pull in 150 participants for Sunday's Triathlon, Try-a-Tri and Sprint Triathlon. In 2007, about 120 took part and "we want to equal or better that," said co-organizer Patsy Langille.
On Saturday, the Kids of Steel Triathlon will take place.
The Try-A-Tri is for those who are relatively new to the Triathlon, which is comprised of swimming, cycling and running.
The Sprint portion on Sunday is more challenging, but not as demanding as the Olympic Distance event.
"The Spring seems to be the one that's growing around here," said Langille.
Ray MacLean, New Glasgow, was testing the un-seasonably cool Northumberland Strait waters on Wednesday night. He wasn't sure whether he would be doing the Olympic Distance on Sunday, or the Sprint.
"It all depends on tonight," he said, as a handful of people swam about 40 yards offshore.
"If I can swim for 50 minutes tonight, I'll do the full (Triathlon)."
MacLean's 12-year-old son Keegan will be taking part in the Kids of Steel event.
The swimming portion of the event is the toughest test for most triatheltes, which explains why triathlons start out with the swim, "when they're still fresh."
MacLean said the fact that there's no turning back once in the water, is one of the reasons many triathletes look upon it with trepidation.
"It's very intimidating in the water. Most people you talk to, that's the fear. Anybody can stop (cycling) or slow down jogging, but you can't do that when you're swimming."


Olympic Distance
Swim: 1.5K
Bike: 40K
Run: 10K

Sprint
Swim: 750M
Bike: 20K
Run: 5KM

Try-A-Tri
Swim: 300 metres
Bike: 8K
Run: 2K