Cold water doesn't dampen Triathlon

The News
MELMERBY?BEACH - It had been 11 years since Paul Butler had participated in a triathlon. On Sunday at Melmerby Beach, the local basketball coach and educator teamed up with Ryan MacDonald to tackle the Olympic distance portion of the YMCA Triathlon, held at Melmerby Beach.
One of 43 locals taking part, Butler did the Olympic Distance 1.5-kilometre swim, then took a break as MacDonald went for a 40K bike ride. Butler later finished up with a 10K run.
Asked what compelled him to enter, he replied with a smile: "I've been asking myself the same question for the last couple of weeks. - especially this morning.
"(But) training's gone well so I thought 'what the heck - it's good fun,'" he added, soon after his triathlon partner hit the road.
The Strait waters were chilly for mid-August - it was 16 degrees in the water as the swimmers hit the waves, with well over 100 onlookers cheering on the participants when they got back on dry land and got their pedals moving.
Butler said one of the biggest worries for the swim is the congestion near the start: getting hit with flailing arms and legs is part of the equation as the swimmers battle to separate themselves from the pack - or at least keep up.
"It was crowded around the first marker. It's fight, or sink."
Butler and MacDonald were the Top Team, with a time of 2:21.48.
Organizers were pleased with the turnout: they had 70 people sign up for the Olympic distance, 59 for the less-gruelling Sprint and 27 for the Try-a-Tri.
The 156 total surpassed their hopes for 150 participants. There were also 42 youngsters who took part in Saturday's non-competitive Kids of Steel. "It met all our expectations and went beyond them," Patsy Langille said.
There were another dozen or so who teamed up, as Butler and MacDonald did. "Teams are a great way to get into it if you don't want to do all three," portions of the Triathlon, Langille added.
Terry Curley said the Tri-a-Tri, a less-hectic event than the Olympic and Sprint events, seemed to attract some first-timers.
"There were a number of people in the Try-A-Tri that made their first crack at this kind of thing this weekend," said Curley, who helped organize the event and also braved the challenge.
One of the more interesting teams was John MacMillan and Craig Aucoin, both of Pictou. Aucoin is blind, but did the swim, rode a tandem bike with MacMillan for the 40 kilometres and also ran the 10K. Aucoin's efforts inspire many. "I think it's terrific," said Lloyd McLean, Lyons Brook.
The overall winner was Mathias Japeal of Halifax, who clocked in at 2:08.27. The top female finisher was Rayleen Hill, at 2:27.40.
Adrian Burrill won the Fred Lays Memorial Award (given in Fred's memory to inspire the growth of younger athletes to participate in triathlon), while Joe Breen took the Paul MacDonald Memorial Award (for an Olympic triathlon participant who competes for fitness and friendship).



OLYMPIC
Male: Mathias Japael 2:08.27
Female: Rayleen Hill 2:27.40
SPRINT
Female: Laura Keefe 1:15.27
Male: Graham Cobb 1:15.46
TRY-A-TRI
Male: Jacob Tucker
Female: Lea Raiche-Marsden

TOP?COUNTY?COMPETITORS
OLYMPIC
Male: Adrian Burrill 2:19:30
Female: Kathy Saulnier 2:54:55
SPRINT
Male: Nate Walsh 1:32:09
Female: Pat Craig 1:40:12
TRY-A-TRI
Male: Jacob Tucker 34:46
Female: Emily Morton 37:28