ON THE RUN
Inaugural Triathlon on the Mira set for Sunday
Inaugural Triathlon on the Mira set for this Sunday.
Jarrett Gosbee still remembers that triumphant sense of accomplishment that came with the completion of his first triathlon when he crossed a finish line in Ingonish in 2012.
It was a feeling that was 11 years in the making and inspired by Canadian Olympian Simon Whitfield’s gold medal win at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia.
He’s hoping to help replicate those feeling for a host of first time triathletes and seasoned competitors when the inaugural Triathlon on the Mira takes to the waters and roads around the Mira Boat Club on Sunday.
“Out of all the sprint, Olympic and half-iron distances races I’ve done that first race was the most memorable,” said the race director for the triathlon.
“We have a lot of first time triathletes on Sunday so to be able to offer them the opportunity to race locally for their first triathlon and share in that memory is something I am really looking forward to.”
The inaugural event is said to be the first Triathlon Nova Scotia Sanction triathlon to be held in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. As a result, some 75 per cent of the estimated 150 competitors live within 100 kms of the race venue.
“It really shows the interest that people in Sydney want to try triathlon and see what it is all about.”
All triathlons consist of three events — swimming, biking and running. Sunday’s competitors will take on those endurance categories in varying lengths.
The try-a-tri/super sprint distance consists of a 400 m swim, a 9.5 km bike ride and three km run, while the sprint category has a 750metre swim, a 21 km bike and five km run.
The Olympic event will be a 1,500-metre swim, followed by a 42 km bike and then a 10 km run.
Gosbee said the location of the boat club makes it an ideal spot to host a triathlon thanks to its proximity to the water and Hillside Road.
“It makes our bike and run courses really easy, there’s no stop signs, no intersections we have to worry about,” he said.
“It’s all straight out and back for both the bike and runs.”
Having the registration, awards and the race start and finish in the same compact location also makes the triathlon spectator friendly.
Planning for Triathlon on the Mira began in September after competitors learned there would not be a triathlon in Ingonish or Guysborough this year.
The Mira Boat Club quickly jumped out as an idea location.
The race planning committee includes about six core organizers to help with everything from promotions, to insurance and sanctioning.
An estimated 30 volunteers will be on hand for race day on Sunday to cover security and safety issues and other essential duties.
The final budget has been estimated in the $10,000 range and will be covered by race entrance fees. Race planning began too late to apply for any government grants. However, a host of local businesses have signed on as sponsors.
If everything goes well on Sunday, organizers are hoping to host an even larger event on the Mira in 2019.
“There’s a little bit of room to grow,” said Gosbee. “Once the word gets out I think we are definitely going to bring in a lot more competitors for future years.”
“We have a lot of first time triathletes on Sunday so to be able to offer them the opportunity to race locally for their first triathlon and share in that memory is something I am really looking forward to.”
Jarrett Gosbee