Optimist Triathlon Experiences Growth Over Previous Year
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
“It’s very exciting to see our numbers grow,” Donkers said. The Warsaw Optimist Club originated the race and the number of races has grown in the Indiana region from five to 80 since then. “A lot of the other races spawned from this race,” he said, citing New Castle as one example.
He said at least 376 people signed up for the 23rd annual event in Winona Lake and plans are already underway for the 24th annual race. Over 100 volunteers helped with the event.
The adult race event provides a major source of funding for the Breakfast Optimist Club since all of the proceeds of the race are used to sponsor programs and activities that benefit local children in the Warsaw and Winona Lake area, according to a previous press release.
In the triathlon this year, competitors could either swim, bike and run or kayak, bike and run. Donkers said about 95 percent chose to swim, with the other 5 percent kayaking.
The swim portion of the triathlon is a quarter of a mile, while the bike race is 13.8 miles to Pierceton and back. The running portion is 3.4 miles. The triathlon for youth is shortened.
Instead of everyone taking off at once, competitors are broken up into waves at the start of the triathlon by age and gender. For the swim portion, each wave had a different colored skull cap, according to Mike Cusick, swim course leader. Going first were the men in the 15 to 24 years old group, followed by men 25-34 and so on, with youth going last.
The kayakers started at the same time as the second group of men to save time. Cusick said the Optimists added kayaks because not all participants feel comfortable with their swimming abilities, and it also opens up the triathlon to more people.
“It’s the most challenging, so you’d rather not have people tired when you do it,” Cusick said in explaining why the swimming portion was first.
There were about 13 or 14 paid lifeguards, as well as the Kosciusko County Dive Team, in the lake during the swimming. To make sure everyone who goes into the water comes out, Cusick said everyone gets a chip when they register and volunteers verify that they have returned.
Donkers said the big award for racers is the satisfaction they get from competing. The top competitors get some small prizes, but “mostly it’s the self-satisfaction,” he said. They also get a full body workout with training for the event.
Dustin and Katy Burgan, Warsaw, were watching the triathlon Saturday for the first year ever because a friend was competing.
“It’s awesome. It makes me want to do it. It’s nicely set up and well ran,” Dustin said.
Rob Thompson, Marion, was watching his wife compete. It was only her second triathlon in her life, and the first time competing in the Optimist event. He said his wife is a trainer so physical fitness is her lifestyle.
“It’s really nice,” Thompson said. “A lot more organized than the last one we were at.”
Tim Zumsteim, Fort Wayne, couldn’t compete this year because of a stress fracture in his right leg, but he was there supporting some friends from a Fort Wayne running group.
“Great turn out today,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve watched it. I’ve had friends in the past talk about it, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed it.”
Ann Shilling, Silver Lake, was with her children cheering on her husband. She said he’s done it for about the last six years.
“It’s a great place to watch it with the play area right there. We go to a lot of triathlons and this is a really nice one,” Shilling said.
Jake Rogers, 29, Winona Lake, has done numerous races in the past three years, but Saturday’s event was only the second time he competed in the Optimist event. He missed last year’s, but grew up watching the event, often playing music for the competitors.
After he was finished competing and waiting for his wife, Brooke, to finish, he said, “I think I did really well. I haven’t checked the leader board yet, but I think I did well. It’s a good race. It’s well taken care of. I love how the police and people block the roads so it’s safe for the racers. I love Winona.”
Matt Bentsen, Lake Zurich, Ill., was competing in the Optimist triathlon for the second time, having last done it in 2012. He first heard about it four years ago from his in-laws who live in Columbia City and decided to take part because it was a new race, new venue and close to family. He’s been running triathlons for 15 years.
This year, he’s competing again with his wife because his father-in-law was running his first-ever triathlon.
As for his own results, Bentsen said, “I did OK. I think I did pretty well. Top five or six in my age group, I hope.”
Jason Norris, Fort Wayne, has been doing triathlons for the last five years, but Saturday’s was his first year in the Optimist event.
“My friends said it was a good one so I thought I would try it out,” he said. “I liked it. It’s a nice course. Shaded.”
He placed sixth in his age group of men 35 to 44. “I’m good with that. I do Iron Man competitions mostly, so I’m still in training for that. This was a good workout for that,” he said.
Bob Trapp, USA Triathlon rules official, has worked the Optimist event for 10 years.
“This is like home to me,” he said. “What makes this triathlon so great is it’s a not-for-profit organization, loads and loads of volunteers. All the money goes back to the community so the community really steps up. It’s one of the safest courses there is because there are police all over the place and the fire department is out there. The volunteers are tripping all over each other to volunteer. It’s a very organized machine. Ron’s talking about retiring, and the guys eventually taking it over are here learning what’s going on. It’s a lot of fun to come here. It’s a great event.”
As the rules official, he said he just makes sure the rules are enforced, just like an official at a basketball or football game does.
“If anyone has any interest in becoming a triathlon official, contact Ron because we are in need of officials,” he said. “You’re not going to be rich, but it’s free to do. It’s a labor of love.”[[In-content Ad]]
“It’s very exciting to see our numbers grow,” Donkers said. The Warsaw Optimist Club originated the race and the number of races has grown in the Indiana region from five to 80 since then. “A lot of the other races spawned from this race,” he said, citing New Castle as one example.
He said at least 376 people signed up for the 23rd annual event in Winona Lake and plans are already underway for the 24th annual race. Over 100 volunteers helped with the event.
The adult race event provides a major source of funding for the Breakfast Optimist Club since all of the proceeds of the race are used to sponsor programs and activities that benefit local children in the Warsaw and Winona Lake area, according to a previous press release.
In the triathlon this year, competitors could either swim, bike and run or kayak, bike and run. Donkers said about 95 percent chose to swim, with the other 5 percent kayaking.
The swim portion of the triathlon is a quarter of a mile, while the bike race is 13.8 miles to Pierceton and back. The running portion is 3.4 miles. The triathlon for youth is shortened.
Instead of everyone taking off at once, competitors are broken up into waves at the start of the triathlon by age and gender. For the swim portion, each wave had a different colored skull cap, according to Mike Cusick, swim course leader. Going first were the men in the 15 to 24 years old group, followed by men 25-34 and so on, with youth going last.
The kayakers started at the same time as the second group of men to save time. Cusick said the Optimists added kayaks because not all participants feel comfortable with their swimming abilities, and it also opens up the triathlon to more people.
“It’s the most challenging, so you’d rather not have people tired when you do it,” Cusick said in explaining why the swimming portion was first.
There were about 13 or 14 paid lifeguards, as well as the Kosciusko County Dive Team, in the lake during the swimming. To make sure everyone who goes into the water comes out, Cusick said everyone gets a chip when they register and volunteers verify that they have returned.
Donkers said the big award for racers is the satisfaction they get from competing. The top competitors get some small prizes, but “mostly it’s the self-satisfaction,” he said. They also get a full body workout with training for the event.
Dustin and Katy Burgan, Warsaw, were watching the triathlon Saturday for the first year ever because a friend was competing.
“It’s awesome. It makes me want to do it. It’s nicely set up and well ran,” Dustin said.
Rob Thompson, Marion, was watching his wife compete. It was only her second triathlon in her life, and the first time competing in the Optimist event. He said his wife is a trainer so physical fitness is her lifestyle.
“It’s really nice,” Thompson said. “A lot more organized than the last one we were at.”
Tim Zumsteim, Fort Wayne, couldn’t compete this year because of a stress fracture in his right leg, but he was there supporting some friends from a Fort Wayne running group.
“Great turn out today,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve watched it. I’ve had friends in the past talk about it, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed it.”
Ann Shilling, Silver Lake, was with her children cheering on her husband. She said he’s done it for about the last six years.
“It’s a great place to watch it with the play area right there. We go to a lot of triathlons and this is a really nice one,” Shilling said.
Jake Rogers, 29, Winona Lake, has done numerous races in the past three years, but Saturday’s event was only the second time he competed in the Optimist event. He missed last year’s, but grew up watching the event, often playing music for the competitors.
After he was finished competing and waiting for his wife, Brooke, to finish, he said, “I think I did really well. I haven’t checked the leader board yet, but I think I did well. It’s a good race. It’s well taken care of. I love how the police and people block the roads so it’s safe for the racers. I love Winona.”
Matt Bentsen, Lake Zurich, Ill., was competing in the Optimist triathlon for the second time, having last done it in 2012. He first heard about it four years ago from his in-laws who live in Columbia City and decided to take part because it was a new race, new venue and close to family. He’s been running triathlons for 15 years.
This year, he’s competing again with his wife because his father-in-law was running his first-ever triathlon.
As for his own results, Bentsen said, “I did OK. I think I did pretty well. Top five or six in my age group, I hope.”
Jason Norris, Fort Wayne, has been doing triathlons for the last five years, but Saturday’s was his first year in the Optimist event.
“My friends said it was a good one so I thought I would try it out,” he said. “I liked it. It’s a nice course. Shaded.”
He placed sixth in his age group of men 35 to 44. “I’m good with that. I do Iron Man competitions mostly, so I’m still in training for that. This was a good workout for that,” he said.
Bob Trapp, USA Triathlon rules official, has worked the Optimist event for 10 years.
“This is like home to me,” he said. “What makes this triathlon so great is it’s a not-for-profit organization, loads and loads of volunteers. All the money goes back to the community so the community really steps up. It’s one of the safest courses there is because there are police all over the place and the fire department is out there. The volunteers are tripping all over each other to volunteer. It’s a very organized machine. Ron’s talking about retiring, and the guys eventually taking it over are here learning what’s going on. It’s a lot of fun to come here. It’s a great event.”
As the rules official, he said he just makes sure the rules are enforced, just like an official at a basketball or football game does.
“If anyone has any interest in becoming a triathlon official, contact Ron because we are in need of officials,” he said. “You’re not going to be rich, but it’s free to do. It’s a labor of love.”[[In-content Ad]]
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