Clark, Tanton top inaugural West Prince triathlon

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Participants pleased with sprint triathlon

	Dave Clark cruises across the finish line with the best overall time in Saturday's first-ever West Prince Sprint triathlon. Clark finished a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike race and 5K run in a combined time of 1.12:07, a full 2:40 ahead of the second-place finisher. Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer

MILL RIVER
ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer

MILL RIVER - One thing that seems very certain after the inaugural West Prince Sprint triathlon is that there will be a second annual event.

Saturday's race, which consisted of a 750-metre swim in the Mill River Aquaplex pool, followed immediately by a 20-kilometre bike race and a 5-kilometre run, attracted 19 participants. The run and bike race each started and finished at the Aquaplex.

Several admitted to being first-time participants in a triathlon, and many of them indicated the experience left them wanting more.

"Good to participate," remarked Gary Knox. "Excellent to finish."

The 54-year-old from Howlan has been in some foot races and has been doing a lot of biking in recent years, but he was concerned about the swim.

"I was not a very good swimmer," he related. "Still not, but I got through it."

Knox said he enjoyed training with a group of other race participants, and indicated he hopes to get better at swimming before the next triathlon.

Experience did win out in the end, though. Dave Clark and Cheryl Tanton, the top men's and women's finishers, are experienced triathletes.

Tanton predicted the sport is going to grow and grow.

Clark said practising biking and running in quick succession are important in preparing for a triathlon. Tanton noted athletes have to practise their transition times.

Although times for each of the legs of the race are recorded, the clock starts ticking the moment a racer kicks off in the pool and doesn't stop until the end of the foot race.

Because of space restrictions for the swim, Saturday's race was run in four heats.

Two of the men's participants, Dave Gallant and organizer Paul Dalton, used the sprint triathlon as preparation for the Ironman race they're registered for in British Columbia in July. Dalton will also be running an Ultraman in August.

Cindy Howard from Miningegash entered her first triathlon since she was a teenager. She said she was pleased with her results, especially her swim time.

Tanton said the swimming is what she finds most difficult, and felt it is an element that most athletes fear.

"I think I'd do this again," said avid runner Jen Perry. "I think I'd need a lot more practice on the bike and in the pool."

Perry said combining swimming and biking with running works different muscle groups.

"It's something different and I really enjoyed the different experience," she said.

The sprint triathlon was a new experience for race organizer Jacquie Lidstone, too. Like most, she was concerned about her swimming but found that to be the easiest leg.

Along with thinking ahead to next year's sprint triathlon, Lidstone is considering organizing a summer triathlon and incorporating an open-water swim into it.

Both Dalton and Lidstone acknowledged the role volunteers played in the success of the inaugural event.

West Prince sprint triathlon goes May 15

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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