Sunday, June 28, 2009
Kids For Kids Triathlon
By Allison T, Triad Smarty Pants
This is one family event you will not want to miss! The 7th Annual Kids For Kids Triathlon is a great way to spend a Saturday morning with your entire family. While my kids are too young to race, we go every year to cheer on hundreds of children swimming, biking and running their way to a healthy lifestyle. The energy and excitement the kids display while participating in the race is contagious.
The triathlon takes place Saturday, July 25, beginning at 8 am in Reynolds Gym at Wake Forest University. The distances for age groups are as follows:
Ages 7 – 10
Swim 100 yd pool
Bike 3.1 mile
Run 0.6 mile
Ages 11 – 14
Swim 200 yd pool
Bike 6.2 mile
Run 1.2 mile
Many of my close friends have children that have participated in the Kids For Kids Triathlon the past several years and can’t say enough wonderful things about the race. Kim and Jeff Ickes have two daughters, (two girls pictured above), Ashley (age 11) and Lindsey (age 9) who have taken part the past 3 years.
Here’s what Kim has to say about her past experience, “The kids' race is a blast for the whole family! In fact, my sister and brother-in-law travel with their three girls (three girls pictured above) from Florida every year to compete. There is something for everyone to enjoy from the fun run to the race itself. Let’s not forget all the extras like the bounce house, crafts, ice cream and more! What a great way to encourage the kids to get out and do something active! It builds their confidence and gets them moving. They love the idea that it was designed just for them, but has the same feel as a race that “we”, the adults, would do. Even better is that all the proceeds go to help kids, hence the “Kids 4 Kids” title!”
The best part is that the Kids For Kids Triathlon is run by parents just like you. Over $50,000 has been given to local Kids’ charities the past six years! The goal is to create a positive and fun experience for the entire family. There will be a “Kids’ Corner” set up adjacent to the finish line that has many kid friendly activities including: inflatable bounce slide, face painting, clown, free ice cream, and arts & crafts, and a table for Triad Smarty Pants! There will be two DJ’s keeping the atmosphere lively and fun, and sometimes you might see a spontaneous group dancing (think “Macarena”).
There is also a ¼ mile “Fun Run” around the track for the participants’ siblings. These runners get to finish under the same finish line as their older siblings, and get the same finisher’s medal as big brother or big sister!
Registration and more information can be found at www.kidsforkidstriathlon.com.
We hope to see you – and your kids - out there!
7 comments:
This sounds like a blast! My children are not old enough to participate in the triathalon this year, but we will plan to come and join the fun!
Is the fun run only for siblings of participants, or for any children interested in running?
My kids absolutely loved the Kids for Kids triathlon last year!
They were 6 and 7 years old and were thrilled to see all the other children their age competing.
They were so proud to get their medals and pose for a picture with their Dad at the finish line!
My very competitive 6 year old son, was intent about telling us how many people he passed on the bike and the run, and how many passed him!
They are so excited about racing again this year!
Thanks for making exercise and healthy competition a part of their lives at an early age!
Salem Vest
Would you encourage children to have done some type of race before they try this? My son can swim, bike and run all fairly well, but has never done any of it competitively.
Angela
To Anonymous,
This event is for all children whether they are racing or not. I go every year and my 2 kids play in the Kids Corner and run the Fun Run - they are currently ages 4 and 6. Please come join the fun!
Allison T
To Angela,
This is the perfect place for your son to come have fun with his peers. There are children that come to this event with alot of talent, but there are also many more children that just love to swim, bike and run. The volunteers are amazing and will help him throughout the race. Everyone is patient, kind and encouraging. Most of the kids have never competed, so finishing is a huge accomplishment.
Allison T
This will be the 4th year that my 11 year old daughter and the 2nd year that my 8 year old son have participated in the the triathlon. They love it!!! It is very well organized and for a good cause. Both of our kids swim on a summer swim team and love to bike and run. They have done very little training for the event. I do have to say that the swimming may be the most difficult for kids that don't swim regularly. The first year that our kids did the race, we took them to WFU and rode the bike course the night before to familiarize them with the route. You can watch them swim and transition to the bikes as well as watch them finish on the bikes but it helps for them to be familiar with the race course as you will be out of their sight. Also, it is helpful to have the kids familiar with the process of getting out of the pool and putting on shoes and a bike helmet. Regardless of your child's level of competition, this is a fun event. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful! Please come out and have fun!
Jeanne
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