NEWS RELEASE
HEART OF GOLD TRIATHLON
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Under new leadership and with a new purpose, the Timmins Heart of Gold Triathlon will be back this summer for its 16th year. Set for July 7, 2019 at Gillies Lake, the event is being hosted this year by the Timmins Running Club and members of the Timmins triathlon community.
Organizers Jeremie Lamothe and Marc Rodrigue from the Running Club said the theme for this year’s race is 'What's your tri?'
“We want to make sure that regardless of the bike you own, or whether you swim in a swimsuit or a wetsuit, that everyone feels welcome to participate,” said Lamothe. “Maybe you will swim part of the swim on your back, walk your bike up a hill, or even walk the whole run. Everyone’s tri can be different, but as long as you do it, it is an amazing accomplishment.”
Marc Rodrigue said triathlon as a sport can have the reputation for being only for hardcore athletes who train for hours and own expensive equipment.
“We have quite a few serious triathletes in town,” he said, “But talk to any of them and many will tell you they did their first race on a mountain bike and their love of the sport grew from that.”
And for many of those triathletes, that first race was the Timmins Heart of Gold Triathlon.
“We want this to be the kind of race where newcomers discover the sport,” said Rodrigue.
"Every finisher will be recognized for their efforts," added Lamothe. “We want this event to be a celebration of the time and effort participants put into training and not about the bike you ride.”
People can participate in the triathlon on a team or do it as a solo event. The distance for the sprint race is 750 m swim, a 20 km bike ride, and a 5 km run. There will also be a try-a-tri event at half that distance: 375 m swim, 10 km bike and a 2.5 km run. A separate race for youth will also be held.
Now is the time to start training, said Marc Rodrigue. Preparing for a sprint triathlon or try-a-tri event doesn’t take a lot of training, but it does require some preparation.
“Now is the time to head to the pool to practise your swimming and to start walking and building up to that 5 km run,” he added. Anyone with questions about the event can join the Heart of Gold Triathlon group facebook page.
At this point in the planning, organizers are looking for volunteers and sponsors. Those interested in helping in any way can email [email protected] or message us through our facebook page Timmins Heart Of Gold Triathlon.
More details will follow as the organizers plan the race, said Lamothe and Rodrigue.
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