West Prince sprint triathlon goes May 15
| Paul Dalton practises swimming laps for the West Prince sprint triathlon, which will be held on May 15. The swimming component will be held in the Mill River Aquaplex pool. Helping with the plans are, from left, Krista Locke-Ellis from the West Prince Sports Council and fellow organizer/competitor Jacquie Lidstone. The first 20 people to register will be accepted. Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer | ||
ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer
MILL RIVER - St. Edward's fitness enthusiast Paul Dalton wants West Prince residents to get hooked on cross training and he thinks he knows how to hook them.
Dalton is one of the organizers of the West Prince sprint triathlon, set for May 15.
"I know once this is done the interest will catch on," he said.
The sprint triathlon, which is half the distances covered in the Olympics triathlon, consists of a 750-metre swim in the Mill River Aquaplex pool, followed by a 20-kilometre bike race starting and ending at the aquaplex, followed by a five-kilometre run.
"It looks hard on paper," Dalton admits, but suggests it's not so difficult.
He's proof. He only took up running 10 years ago while his daughter,
Paulette, was on her high school's track team.
"I remember when two miles seemed like a long run," he said.
Eight years ago, Paul and Paulette ran in their first-ever sprint triathlon.
"We never looked back," he reflected.
Dalton is currently in training for his fifth Boston Marathon. In August, he will travel to Penticton, B.C., for his third Ironman race that entails a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike ride and a full marathon - a 42.2-kilometre run.
For the 52-year-old runner, times are secondary to completing an Ironman. He's hoping that will be the attitude participants take into the Mill River event. There are 10 participants confirmed so, and there's room for 10 more.
Instead of a mass start, participants will leave in groups of five. That's because only five people can swim laps at a time in the Mill River pool. For each group of five, the clock starts the second swimmers kick off, and stops as runners cross the finish line.
Jacquie Lidstone and Merna Boulter are helping Dalton in the hosting of the Mill River sprint triathlon. Lidstone shares his passion for growing the event. She's hopeful it becomes an annual event, and she would also like to see a summer one organized to include an ocean swim.
The West Prince Sport Council is helping with promotion, and has the Tignish and O'Leary Recreation Departments assisting with the actual running of the triathlon. More volunteers are needed to help time the participants and to assist with other race-day details.
Anyone interested in registering for the sprint triathlon, or willing to help out, should contact the West Prince Sport Council at 859-8856, the Mill River Aquaplex or one of the organizers.
wbureau@journalpioneer.com
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