What a time to tri..or du…a race…lol!!! On the high of 2022, the rise of Omicron precipitated lots of people to return in isolation, amenities to take elevated cautionary protocols, and occasions in some instances to pause. That, along with our typical midwest gritty climate of decrease temperatures and the heightened snow this month, it was this weekend’s sunshine that ushered in a glimmer of Spring coming and the racing season, as effectively.

So, this Sunday’s FitRec Indoor Triathlon & Duathlon was a welcome race occasion to get members out of the hibernation season of winter and again within the groove of being lively, together with myself.  The occasion kicked off on the Well being, Health and Recreation Heart on the campus of Moraine Valley Group Faculty in Palos Hill, Illinois.

The power structure is nice with every little thing from a reserved part within the locker rooms for members of the occasion, to detailed explanations prior to begin of the swim, a number of timers within the health club to separate the bikers from the runners to know the way a lot time they’ve left, and superior volunteers which are useful for these new to racing.

The primary wave at 8am included a mixture of racers within the pool doing the triathlon, in addition to some operating the lane outlined within the health club to race the duathlon.  First time duathlete, Felicia Houston, dared to strive one thing new and did it with a smile whereas on the bike. This occasion has slowly grown in recognition, with a rise of individuals new to racing a duathlon or triathlon.

Having raced this occasion beforehand, it has turn into one I undoubtedly would advocate with highlights together with a pleasant swag bag of goodies, nice water temperature within the pool, the bike spacing with the runners racing laps on the outer lane of the health club (I personally detest occasions with treadmill runs).

Ellen Papan, who serves as lead for this race expressed how nice it’s to see the rising variety of curiosity and participation within the occasion and hopes for extra to come back. Evidently, as director of an occasion, so much goes into the logistics, and the continuation of this race was a particular success. In between checking on varied particulars, you noticed her checking on members and cheering them on.

Together with seeing newbies to the game, it’s refreshing to additionally see seasoned athletes which have completed this race and different occasions up to now.  I usually run into triathlete, Julie Mescher, who I jokingly instructed her makes it look straightforward, and likewise took 1st place feminine within the Triathlon Masters Division. Go Julie! A couple of of the others who hook high honors embody:

David Maher: 1st Place Male – Triathlon Masters Division;

Joelle Beranek: 1st Place Feminine – Triathlon Open Division;

Gerardo Valencia-Trujillo: 1st Place Male – Duathlon Masters Division;

Ahlam Al-Kodmany: 1st Place Feminine – Duathlon Masters Division;

Tom Gilmartin: 1st Place Male – Duathlon Open Division;