Scantic Valley Y gears up for fourth annual triathalon

Date: 3/23/2009

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



WILBRAHAM -- Oil up the bike chain, lace up those trainers and try on that Speedo, it's time to get in shape for the Scantic Valley YMCA's fourth annual triathlon.

"The triathlon will be June 28, pending town approval," Bill Proulx, health and wellness director for the Scantic Valley YMCA, recently told Reminder Publications. "Applications are already out."

A popular event, this offers both kids and adults the opportunity to compete in three events -- swimming, biking and a road race.

"The swimming happens in Spec Pond for adults; for the kids it's at the YMCA pool," Proulx said.

For the biking portion, adults cover a 15-mile route that takes them over Stony Hill Road to Soule Road and back.

"It's not too hilly and on a Sunday morning there's not too much traffic out, usually," Proulx said.

Younger competitors bike different distances according to their ages, with none over a mile and a half, he said.

The road race portion clocks in at a three mile distance for adults, and varying distances for the children, with none measuring over a mile.

This year, Proulx said the Y would also be adding a special Splash and Dash section of the triathlon for their youngest competitors.

"They will swim across the Y pool, put on their sneakers and run to the finish line," he said.

This year's triathlon begins at 7 a.m. for adults and 10 a.m. for children. Registration fees to enter this year's triathlon are $45 for YMCA members, $59 for non-members, and $60 for teams, including family teams. Applications are available at the Springfield and Scantic Valley YMCAs, and at Competitive Edge in East Longmeadow. There is a cutoff of 150 participants.

"Each year we gain about 15 to 20 people. Last year we had about 120," Proulx said, adding that he expects more participants for this year's event because a competing triathlon has been scheduled on a different weekend this year.



Train for the tri with the Y

If you've been thinking about trying out a triathlon, but aren't quite sure how to train, the Y is ready to help.

Proulx said that the Y will be offering a triathlon training class on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. beginning April 25.

"It will go right up to the race," he said.

The cost for the seven-week triathlon class is $55 for Y members and $85 for non-members.

"Even if someone has never done a triathlon they can sign up and we'll teach them how to do it," Proulx said.

For more information or to register for the triathlon class, call Proulx at 596-2749 ext. 107.