The Thompson triathlon is just over a month away, and will offer individual and team competitions in three events, as well as the Try-a-Tri, open to racers 12 and older who are new to the sport of triathlon.
All the events take place August 30, starting at the Norplex Pool - which is also the transition area between stages - with the biking portion done along Highway 6 and the running stage to be held in the Westwood area.
The Olympic distance event includes a 1,500-metre swim, 40-kilometre cycle and 10-kilometre run, while the sprint distance event is half as long at each stage, with a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre cycle and five-kilometre swim.
The Try-a-Tri features a 400-metre swim, 15-kilometre cycle and three-kilometre run.
For those who don't like the water, there will also be a duathlon consisting of a five-kilometre run, 20-kilometre cycle and a second five-kilometre run.
"All but the Try-a-Tri can be done individually or as a team," says organizer Heather Todoschuk, the City of Thompson's aquatic supervisor. "The Try-a-Tri is only individual. We would like to offer a corporate challenge as well. This would include businesses signing up as teams to do the sprint distance of the triathlon."
Angela Bakos and Craig Finlay were the overall women's and men's division winners of the 2008 Thompson triathlon. Bakos completed the course in 1:12.38, nearly 12 minutes faster than Rachelle MacDonald (1:24.57), who took gold in the female 30-34 division, ahead of Jenny Krentz (1:24.57) and Jen Thackeray (1:31.39). The women's overall winner's time was the fifth-fastest of all the competitors, and she was also awarded the gold medal in the female 40 to 44-year-old division. Finlay had the fastest time overall and the only sub-60 minute circuit of the course, finishing in 59.51 minutes to win the men's overall and 30-39 division titles.
Team Cleveland competed in the mixed team division, finishing in 1:07.26, with Kim Moors completing the swim, Robert Cleveland the cyling portion and Cheryl Broderick the run. Team Tentative won the female team gold with a time of 1:25.52 on the combined efforts of Michelle Hall (swim), Becki Conock (cycle) and Gwenn Bodie (run.)
This year's race organizers are looking for volunteers to help out at registration, the water stations and the transition area, as well as to act as official timekeepers.
The races will begin at 8 a.m.
Entry fees are $25 for individuals and $20 each for team members until Aug. 19, when they go up to $30 and $25. Racers will receive a $2.50 rebate on their entry fees for every volunteer they sign up before Aug. 19.
For more information or to volunteer, phone Cory Sparkes at the recreation office at 677-7956 or Heather Todoschuk at the Norplex Pool at 677-7965.
