March 5, 2008

Indoor Triathlon Set for Saturday

A number of Delaware’s most ambitious athletes will have an opportunity to compete in not one, but three athletic activities on Saturday, March 8, in OWU’s Edwards gymnasium and Gordon Field House. An indoor triathlon, organized by Grady Memorial Hospital’s service board, a volunteer fund raising group, will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the morning. Bikers, runners, and swimmers will compete within various age and gender categories.

“This is a first-year project of our service board at Grady,” says Sue Bennington ’69, director of the Grady Memorial Hospital Foundation, explaining that the proceeds from the event will benefit health promotion at Grady.

“People have entered the competition individually or as members of relay teams,” says Bennington. Each of the three individual activities—swimming, running and biking—are scheduled in 15-minute segments and in nine waves, allowing time for clothing changes between each event. Participants also are asked to bring their own bicycles which will be set up on wireless trainers.

“Our athletes will try to see how far they can bicycle, run, and swim during each 15-minute section,” says Bennington. There are seven relay teams—some co-ed—as this edition of Connect2 OWU posts. And, although there are a limited number of available spots left in the competition, it is not too late to sign up.

“The entry fee is $50 per person or $75 per relay team,” she notes, thanking Ohio Wesleyan, Delaware’s Second Sole and Breakaway Cycling for their help and the triathlon’s major sponsor, LifeChange Fitness. Add a free event tee-shirt, the inherent fun of competition, and the event’s worthy cause, and everyone wins!

For more information about the triathlon, call (daytime) 740-368-5116.

– Pam Besel