THE FUNDY EXTREME TRIATHLON CLUB
THE FUNDY EXTREME Triathlon Club (FETC) is based out of the greater Saint John area in New Brunswick. The club has grown from a dozen members back in 2002 when it formed to about 130 members currently, all of whom, according to president Doug Barrett, come with an amazing story.
“I was overweight and out of shape in my early forties and stumbled into the sport by meeting some folks after I had competed in a local 5 km race,” Barrett says. “I was talked into coming out to a run, bought a bike and eventually learned to swim. Seven years later, I just completed my first Ironman at Mont-tremblant this past August. My story is not unlike many of our members.”
The membership demographic ranges from those looking to make a life change, seeking to meet new people, become active, challenge themselves and expand on other sporting successes, all the way up to a couple of Ironman World Championship, world-class competitors.
“Almost nobody seems to come to FETC seeking to race triathlon. Like me, they seem to stumble into this sport due to friends that have been infected by the positivity that this club offers,” explains Barrett.
The executive has strived to make the club a welcoming, non-intimidating, supportive, socially integrated place to come and improve.
“In any given season we see those trying a duathlon, dipping their feet in open water for the first time, jittering over their first sprint, conquering their first Olympic distance and facing the challenges that half- or full-distances draw them to. It’s remarkably uplifting.”
Daryl Steeves, the head coach, is an exercise physiologist and wellknown advocate for local sports in the area. After a winter of Steeves coaching early Saturday morning swimming at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, in addition to a weekly evening hill and interval run, the executive liaises with him each spring to plot the calendar for the
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remainder of the season. This typically includes longer rides encompassing local scenic locales, outdoor swims at Rockwood Park and the Lakewood Reservoir and long weekly runs.
“Many smaller groups tend to develop based on friendships, goals and work schedules,” describes Barrett.
The FETC has also incorporated club partners into their events calendar; Consolvo Bikes facilitates a long weekly ride, KV Road Runners has a Sunday morning long, slow distance (LSD) run and Fundy Sports and Tourism hosts monthly time trials and tri-related events. The club also facilitates “Tech Talks” each spring, which cover topics such as bike maintenance, nutrition, individual season planning, intro to triathlon and sports psychology.
FETC also owns and hosts the Rockwood by the Bay Triathlon in Saint John. Based in the largest municipal park in Canada, the super sprint, duathlon, aquabike and sprint were part of the East Coast Games on June 25 this year. One hundred and fifty competitors were part of the over 2,000 athletes who were in town for a variety of other summer sports including the Human Performance Centre Kids of Steel event held on the same weekend. This race has been winding its way through the streets of Saint John since 2003. Social networks, says Barrett, are the glue that binds the club together. “Not only is our Facebook page active with impromptu swims and rides popping up, but our members seem to feed on being part of the fitness community in our area. If they aren’t competing, they are volunteering at a variety of events and encouraging others in their journey to fitness and fulfillment.”
The Fundy Extreme Triathlon Club can be found on facebook.com/ fundyextremetriathlonclub. Visit their website at fundyextreme.com.