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PITTSBURG —
Area kids will compete in the Get Fit TRYathlon today, and on Saturday 86 of them took advantage of free swimming, biking and running clinics at Pittsburg State University’s Weede Physical Education Building to make sure they know what they’re doing.
The kids broke into three age groups, taking lessons on each event from professional instructors.
“We want to teach safety and assess their skill level,” said organizer and nurse Joanna Rhodes. “Some of those kids aren’t used to swimming for distance, they usually just play-swim. We want them to be relaxed, know what they’re doing and what to do if they get tired. And outside it’s hot, and we want them to know the signs and hand signals. Some of them know, but a lot of them don’t.”
The TRYathlon was conceived in 2009 as a way to help kids become more active and to give them something new to “TRY.” All proceeds benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters of Crawford County.
Rhodes is on the BBBS board and said she’s been with her “little” for seven years. She thought enlisting people who are active and have competed in triathlons in the past would be a good way to get the kids excited about being active.
“We also wanted a way to reach the kids we’re not serving,” Rhodes said, adding that Crawford County has one of the worst rates of childhood obesity in Kansas.
“Hopefully they will continue (the lessons they learned) in the future and that trend will change.
Pitt State was instrumental this year in providing a venue for the event.
“The biggest thing is having a facility for the event,” said Aquatics Director Shelly Grimes. “It’s community service, and the City of Pittsburg is really good about working together with community events.”
The kids are excited to compete in the event, too. Corey Julian, 6, races BMX bikes with his cousin and has an aunt and an uncle who compete in triathlons.
“We like the jumps,” Julian said. This is an extension of racing.”
There is a 5K race for adults starting at noon, and the TRYathlon starts at 1 p.m. After the event there will be a post race celebration complete with a bounce house and giant slide, the Jolly Trolley, PSU ROTC Gorilla Battalion, the DARE car and fire truck, Pittsburg Parks & Recreation, Via Christi Hospital, SEK Urgent Care, The Dance Pitt, and several others.
Sunday
11 a.m. — Registration.
Noon — Prep time.
1 p.m. — TRYathlon
Cost
TRYathlon — $25 for first 100 participants, $35 per child after May 17.
Adult 5K — $20 per adult with shirt, $17 per adult with no shirt.
Ages 5 to 8
Swim — 50 meters
Bike — 1 mile
Run — 1/2 mile
Ages 9 to 11
Swim — 100 meters
Bike — 2 miles
Run —1 mile
Ages 12 to 14
Swim — 200 meters
Bike — 3 miles
Run — 1.5 miles
Area kids will compete in the Get Fit TRYathlon today, and on Saturday 86 of them took advantage of free swimming, biking and running clinics at Pittsburg State University’s Weede Physical Education Building to make sure they know what they’re doing.
The kids broke into three age groups, taking lessons on each event from professional instructors.
“We want to teach safety and assess their skill level,” said organizer and nurse Joanna Rhodes. “Some of those kids aren’t used to swimming for distance, they usually just play-swim. We want them to be relaxed, know what they’re doing and what to do if they get tired. And outside it’s hot, and we want them to know the signs and hand signals. Some of them know, but a lot of them don’t.”
The TRYathlon was conceived in 2009 as a way to help kids become more active and to give them something new to “TRY.” All proceeds benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters of Crawford County.
Rhodes is on the BBBS board and said she’s been with her “little” for seven years. She thought enlisting people who are active and have competed in triathlons in the past would be a good way to get the kids excited about being active.
“We also wanted a way to reach the kids we’re not serving,” Rhodes said, adding that Crawford County has one of the worst rates of childhood obesity in Kansas.
“Hopefully they will continue (the lessons they learned) in the future and that trend will change.
Pitt State was instrumental this year in providing a venue for the event.
“The biggest thing is having a facility for the event,” said Aquatics Director Shelly Grimes. “It’s community service, and the City of Pittsburg is really good about working together with community events.”
The kids are excited to compete in the event, too. Corey Julian, 6, races BMX bikes with his cousin and has an aunt and an uncle who compete in triathlons.
“We like the jumps,” Julian said. This is an extension of racing.”
There is a 5K race for adults starting at noon, and the TRYathlon starts at 1 p.m. After the event there will be a post race celebration complete with a bounce house and giant slide, the Jolly Trolley, PSU ROTC Gorilla Battalion, the DARE car and fire truck, Pittsburg Parks & Recreation, Via Christi Hospital, SEK Urgent Care, The Dance Pitt, and several others.
Sunday
11 a.m. — Registration.
Noon — Prep time.
1 p.m. — TRYathlon
Cost
TRYathlon — $25 for first 100 participants, $35 per child after May 17.
Adult 5K — $20 per adult with shirt, $17 per adult with no shirt.
Ages 5 to 8
Swim — 50 meters
Bike — 1 mile
Run — 1/2 mile
Ages 9 to 11
Swim — 100 meters
Bike — 2 miles
Run —1 mile
Ages 12 to 14
Swim — 200 meters
Bike — 3 miles
Run — 1.5 miles
