Valley Girl Triathlon adds Kids event
It’s not uncommon for kids to run, bike and swim all on a summer’s day. That’s what being a kid is all about.
So why not try a triathlon?
The first annual Kids Triathlon will be held Saturday at Liberty Lake, with the second annual Valley Girl Triathlon, for an older crowd, the following day.
Both events are designed for beginners and newcomers to the sport.
The Kids Triathlon is for youngsters between the ages of 6 and 11, with three different courses designed for the different age groups – kicking off at 9 a.m.
“The distances are age-appropriate,” explained Michael Emde, who along with his wife, Marla, organizes both events. “The 6- to 7-year-olds will do about a 50-yard swim, which is one small loop. Then they have a one-mile bike ride and a half-mile run up to Pavillion Park. The oldest children will have a 100-yard swim, a three-mile bike ride and a one-mile run.”
The idea, Emde said, is to introduce kids to the sport while allowing them to build confidence through competition.
“That’s why we made this age-appropriate,” he said. “There would be no sense in having a triathlon for kids if they couldn’t reasonably finish it. We want this to be fun, but it still has to be challenging. We’ve tried to make it challenging for the older kids yet still be doable for the younger ones.”
The swim courses are various sized loops on Liberty Lake, where the water temperature is expected to be a comfortable 70 degrees.
“The course is laid out in an area where just about all of the kids will be able to stand up in the water,” Emde said. “That way they can feel safe. Plus, we will have lifeguards positioned all around the course and kids are allowed to wear floatation devices if they want or need to feel safe.”
So far about 80 kids have signed up to compete in the event. The entry fee is $16, and registration is available online for both events at www.valleygirltri.com.
“A lot of those kids entered in the Kids Triathlon are the children of the women who did the Valley Girl Triathlon last year,” said Robin DeRuwe, who came up with the idea for the Valley Girl along with Marla Emde two years ago. “These are the kids who have been riding along on backpacks when mom goes for her bike ride or her run.”
The Valley Girl Triathlon, which starts at 8 a.m., already has a third more entrants than competed in the inaugural event a year ago – a number approaching 500 by midweek.
The women-only sprint distance triathlon features a one-third-mile swim, a 12-mile bike ride followed by a three-mile run.
“We’ve had a great turn-out already,” Emde said. “Last year we had quite a few mother-daughter entries. I know of several mothers and daughters that entered together and did the whole course together. It was really nice to see.
“I think there’s a need for a women-only event like this, especially when you’re looking for newcomers to the sport. When there are men involved, the atmosphere can get pretty competitive.”
DeRuwe calls the event the most satisfying thing she’s been involved with.
“I do a lot of triathlons and events like that,” she said. “But this is the best thing I’ve done. I had so many women come up and hug me after last year’s race.
“And the atmosphere is so supportive. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the start of a men’s triathlon swim, but with this one, the women are out there saying ‘excuse me,’ ‘pardon me.’ And they’re out there telling each other ‘You go girl!’ It’s incredibly satisfying.”
The Emdes specialize in training athletes for triathlons as well as promoting the events. Marla Emde holds a series of clinics on various facets of the sport through DeRuwe’s Fitness Fanatics, 12425 E. Trent Ave.(www.fitfanatics.com)
“The thing about triathlons is that they allow you to vary your training,” Michael Emde said. “You don’t always have to train for all three events, and that keeps things fresh.”
Once athletes get hooked on the sport at beginner events like this weekend, where do they go next?
“The next step up would be Olympic-distance triathlons,” Emde said. “You can find all kinds of events like that without having to drive too far. You don’t have to jump up to the Ironman. That is pretty intimidating.”