The Triathlon:
A New Athletic Event For Park Districts

Champaign and Schaumburg report great success with "Hawaiian Ironman" Event held in 1980 and 1983.

By Gerard J. Byrne and Janet Frantzreb

A new form of athletic competition is attracting attention throughout the country. This event is so new it's not yet listed in Webster's dictionary. It's called the triathlon, and it may very well take off as the athletic event of the '80's.

What is a triathlon? It is an athletic contest consisting of any three events, usually swimming, cycling, and running. Sometimes swimming is substituted by kayaking, canoeing, or cross country skiing. Two types are offered: relay or iron.

In the relay division, three people form a team — one swimming, one cycling, and one running. In the iron division, one person competes in all three events. The latter is more popular because of its endurance challenge and the variety of events offered.

The most popular and widely publicized triathlon in the United States is the Hawaiian Ironman, where physical fitness fanatics take part in an ultra-endurance test. The course is 140.6 miles long, consisting of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run. Since the inception of the Ironman Triathlon in 1978, scaled-down versions of these triple-event contests have been popping up all over the country.

In Illinois, the Schaumburg and Champaign park districts have each held their own version of the "Hawaiian Ironman" with great success.

The Schaumburg Park District held its first triple-event in 1980 called the "Splash Pedal Dash Triathlon", attracting 50 entrants. Since that time, the event has tripled in size, now allowing 150 participants, with many still on the waiting list. The event consists of a 500-meter swim (50-meter pool), and 18-mile bike ride and a 10-kilometer run.

Jerry Handlon, director of the Schaumburg Park Distirct, said, "I wanted to see a triathlon offered because it shows the current trend of physical fitness, it is a special athletic event which has added to our repertoire of special summer events.

"The caliber of the participants causes the Splash Pedal Dash Triathlon to be a competitive event. In the future, I would like to see a mini-triathlon offered, one that could be a recreational event. As far as the future of triathlons, I feel that they are not a faddish event — they are here to stay," Handlon said.

This past September, the Champaign Park District hosted a mini-triathlon in conjunction with the "Life. Be in it" theme. The course included a 400-meter swim (50-meter pool), a six-mile bike ride, and a two-mile run. The course was designed to attract the recreational-minded participant who valued physical fitness.

According to Terry Schwartz, the former director of recreation at Champaign, now with Arlington Heights Park District, "The mini-triathlon concept parallels our participatory philosophy ... it encourages participation from those athletes that are unwilling or unable to compete in triathlons of a larger size."

Bob McGrew, the winner of the men's division in Champaign's mini-triathlon, has competed in many road races over the years. He said he views

Helpful Hints for Organizing a Triathlon The organization of a special event involves a great deal of time and putting together a triathlon is no exception. A myriad of details need to be covered and the recruitment of help is crucial. It is recommended that volunteer help be recruited to offset operating costs. Numerous workers are needed on the day of the race and they need to be informed in advance of their specific duties. If your agency plans to host a triathlon, following are a few helpful hints to get you off to a good start: 1. Form an advisory committee at least four months in advance to prepare for the event. People who are affiliated with swimming, cycling, or running clubs can provide you with constructive input. Also, you may want to invite someone from the local police department, amateur radio club, and medical corps. 2. Determine the length of the triple-event course. There are no set distances established for triathlon; longer courses will attract the higher-level athlete. The number of attendants needed will be determined by the length of the course. Also, ask permission from the police department to use the course and discuss any details concerning the safety of people along the course and its intersections. 3. Secure potential sponsors. Businesses and corporations are usually interested in sponsoring special events. This can help lower operating costs. 4. Develop a budget. 5. Determine race rules and a starting time. It is important to establish rules to provide participants with a fair and safe race. It is encouraged during the summer months that the race be held during the morning to minimize potential heat exhaustion. 6. Determine the number of workers needed for the race and their responsibilities. Examples are: lead and trail vehicle drivers, race attendants, lifeguards, registration workers, scorekeepers, finish line crew, water stations crew, medical staff, and security staff. 7. Design an entry form. This form should include the participant's name, address, age, birthdate, phone number, race category entering, liability waiver, shin size (if giving out t-shirts), and parent or guardian's signature if under 18. 8. Develop a communication system for the race. It is important that communication be open throughout the course in the event of an emergency and to assist the finish line crew. 9. Promote the special event. Decide whether the race will be for local participants only or will be open to contestants throughout the state or across the nation. Depending on how many you want to attract, put up posters, contact local newspapers, radio stations, sports clubs and magazines.

January/February 34 Illinois Parks and Recreation

the triathlon as an alternative to road running. "Mini-triathlons are a lot of fun and allow a variety of activities while training. Running every day can get monotonous and it is nice to break it up by swimming and cycling."

The triathlons at the Champaign and Schaumburg park districts have been well received and other leisure service agencies may want to consider hosting events such as these.

There are no set distances for triathlons and the length of the course usually dictates the type of participant. Obviously, the longer the course the more conditioned the athlete must be. Shorter distances usually attract more participants.

For the swimming portion of a triathlon, a lake or ocean would be the most aesthetically appealing. However, since many communities may not have access to a lake, a pool (preferably 50 meters) can be used for the swimming contest.

When using a pool for this special event, an individually staggered start should be used to avoid overcrowding. It is also recommended to use race lanes with swimmers zig-zagging across the pool by switching lanes after each length. This allows the slower swimmers to swim on the right, and swimmers to pass on their left. Overall, the organization of this event is similar to a road race, but more people will be needed to help coordinate it. The accompanying article provides important information on hosting a triathlon. Good luck!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Gerard J. Byrne, Athletic Program Coordinator for the Champaign Park District, is a gradute of Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. degree in Parks and Recreation received in 1978 and an M.S. degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, University of Illinois, 1982. He formerly was Recreation Supervisor for the Mundelein Park and Recreation District, Mundelein.

Janet Frantzreb, Coordinator of Neighborhood Centers, Schaumburg Park District, received a B.S. degree in Parks and Recreation from Eastern Illinois University in 1978, and an M.S. degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Western Illinois University in 1980.