January 2, 2015
1971
If you think the Kincardine Women's Triathlon is fast, you should see registration for the event!
Race director Melanie Fisher says 50 more spots were added this year, for a total of 450 entries for the 2015 triathlon, and registration was full in less than an hour on New Year's Day.
"What an amazing day," she says. "We sold 450 spots in 56 minutes - that’s a record! Last year, we sold out in two hours and 59 minutes.
"The race has to be closed manually since there are different categories and we don’t know what people will want to race, for example triathlon, duathlon or relay, and there are also sub categories for people who are Triathlon Ontario members."
Fisher says race organizers knew registration would be faster this year.
"We were doing our best to let people know, through our newsletter, all types of social media and the press," she says. "Monday (Dec 29), I received an E-mail from the Holiday Inn Express that people were already booking rooms. At that point, I knew we were going to be selling fast."
She says that Active.com is a big company and is able to handle lots of registrations, but Jan. 1, it had a hard time keeping up. "One person said on our Facebook page that it took her seven tries."
One thing Fisher says people should know is that the Kincardine Women's Triathlon does not make money.
"The money we receive from registration covers the cost of the race, insurance, and race kits," she says. "Any extra, we donate to the community."
Seldom discussed, she says, are the things that make this race so popular: the friendships, the selflessness of the volunteers.
"It's the participants that we see all over town, come spring, in the rain and the hot sun," she says. "Our community and surrounding communities help us out by volunteering their time and equipment, the OPP, paramedics, Blue Water Rescue, Saugeen Shores Life Saving Team, Kincardine Triathlon Club members, one of our local doctors, local businesses that go beyond what we expect.
"And it's the residents along our race route, who have supported us for the past 15 years, and welcome the race. They cheer everyone on - it's great!
"And it's the volunteers on race day. I can’t say enough how thankful I am for these people!"
The 15th annual event is slated to run Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 9 a.m., at Station Beach.
The triathlon includes a 350-metre swim, a 12-kilometre bike ride, and a three-kilometre run. Athletes can also compete in the duathlon which is a three-kilometre run, followed by a 12-kilometre bike ride, and another three-kilometre run.
The event requires numerous sponsors and volunteers. If you would like to help out, contact Fisher by E-mail at racedirector@kincardinetriathlon.com
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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