Breakfast Optimist Club Triathlon this Month in Winona Lake
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE – Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club triathlon is June 23 in Winona Lake.
“Participants will start arriving at the park before 6 a.m., and the pump ’em up music starts playing in order to help the contestants get in the mood for a fun but exhilarating battle against the clock,” according to Ron Donkers, race director.
Although some are not able to sleep in that day, in exchange, they get no-charge front row seats to all the action, which starts at 8 a.m.
For people who have never been to a triathlon, the swim is the first event.
The swimmers will be released in waves of about 50 to 60 people per wave.
Generally, the youngest and fastest will go first, followed by the next group 3 minutes later, until all the regular distance 1/4-mile swimmers have been launched.
This year the Optimists are trying out something new.
They will allow a final group of swimmers to participate, but only require this group to swim half the normal distance, 1/8 mile or 660 feet of the regular swim group.
Additionally, the participants in this group can elect to wear a floatation device if they feel less than comfortable with their swimming ability.
“We hope to use this new kinder and gentler swim event in order to open up the triathlon to more people that feel good about the bike and run, but are either beginners or perhaps, are more chronologically challenged, but still want to participate in the fun,” Donkers said.
After the swimmer comes back to the beach, they immediately return to the transition area (the parking lot at Winona Lake Park), where they put on their bike helmet and depart for a 13.1-mile bike ride to Pierceton by weaving through Winona Lake, using Pierceton Road and returning back to the transition area of the park.
Lastly, they immediately put on their running shoes and again depart for a 3.5-mile run using the Greenway path to Southtown Estates and return.
The final leg of the run uses 9th street, down the hill past Rodeheaver Auditorium and then back to the finish line at the park entrance. Water, electrolyte replacement energy drinks and fruit are ready and waiting at the finish line.
Prior to the race, each participant straps an electronic timing chip around their ankle that will measure their start and completed times as they moved across the timing mats at the start and finish of each event.
Later, a printout will be used to declare the fastest times and for the participants to see how they rated with others in their 5-year age group.
Plaques and prizes are awarded at the end of the event thanks to the support of local merchants and race sponsors.
Between the end of the event and immediately before the awards ceremony begins, the Optimist volunteers serve a meal of chicken, prorogues, pizza and fresh fruit.
“We are known in the triathlete racing community for our food and running a first rate event thanks to the more than 100 Optimists Club and other volunteers and local sponsors that are the real backbone of this event,” Donkers said.
“This race would not be possible without the patience of all those people in Winona Lake, Southtown and Pierceton Road for allowing our race to take over their lives for a few hours on a Saturday morning and their cooperation in staying off the roads is vital to the safety of the race,” he said.
Winona Lake, Pierceton and Warsaw police and fire departments help to provide race security, traffic control and safety supervision.
All of the proceeds of the race are used by the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club to fund youth events and opportunities for area children.
The race can handle up to 700 participants, but only about 300 are currently registered.
This race also offers a free one-hour first-timers class June 22 before the event to help newcomers understand the rules of the triathlon and the details of using the transition area.
There is plenty of room for anyone who wants to try out the multi-sport event for the first time. There are several categories of participation, including racing as an individual or forming a team of two or three people that can each take one event.
People who want more information about the Optimist Triathlon or to volunteer can visit the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist home page, warsawoptimist.org or for questions about the race contact Donkers at 574-267-7226.
The race will stop accepting applications when all slots are filled or on June 19.
