Think you can’t do it? Just give it a TRI.
BY: RACHEL WUMKES
For years I have volunteered to help with TRI Clear Lake. One time on the bike course, and the rest working in transition. Every year when it’s over I think to myself ‘I can do that.’ Seeing the athletes at peak performance level sends quite a rush of adrenaline through your system.
This year, TRI Clear Lake has been selected by USA Triathlon to host the Iowa Age Group State Championships & Iowa High School State Championships!
What does this mean?
USA Triathlon State Championship races qualify the top 35% or top five (5) finishers in an age group (whichever is greater) for Age Group National Championships. You may only qualify for Olympic-distance Nationals by placing in the Olympic distance State Championship race or Sprint Nationals by placing in the Sprint distance State Championship race.
USAT’s Iowa High School State Championship race will be held as part of the TRI Clear Lake Triathlon, allowing young triathletes to showcase their talent against a competitive high-school field, while enjoying the support of the wider multisport community. All high school athletes who finish any of the State High School Championships will automatically qualify for Sprint-distance (pending they are at least age 15 as of December 31, 2023.)
Yeah, we’re kind of a big deal.
Plus, we’ve added a fun event for the kiddos on Friday, May 26th at 6:30pm.
The Youth Splash & Dash is a fun and fast-growing sport that combines swimming and running. The TRI Clear Lake Splash & Dash is a participatory event for kids ages 7-15 with an emphasis on creating a fun family weekend of multisport and fitness. Every participant will receive a finisher medal and a TRI Clear Lake hat.
Worried about your kiddo doing the swim? Never fear. While the course will be close to shore where most kids can touch, they are also allowed to wear a life jacket.
Overall, it’s going to be a phenomenal Memorial Day weekend at the Lake.
Are you motivated to get signed up yet? Would it help to tell you this will be MY first time doing a triathlon? Yup, you read that right. Last year when I had that whole ‘I can do this’ moment, I never let it dissipate.
Thus, when the registration opened in December, I bit the bullet and signed myself up for TRI Clear Lake.
You may think this isn’t much of a stretch for me, because I’m generally an active person. You would also be wrong. Active and athletic are two very different things.
To put my athleticism in a bit of context here, we need to take it back. Way back. ALL THE WAY BACK to my days in 7th grade track.
I say ‘days’ because I didn’t make it through the whole season.
You see… after all the athletic girls chose hurdles, or to run the 100 meter dash, or do the high jump, they gave the leftovers to girls like me. The slow, unathletic types. Therefore, I got stuck running the mile.
I didn’t like it. Not even a little. And I was horrible at it. I came in last place at every meet and usually thought I was going to die. I did, however, have a running buddy who came in last with me, which helped.
Until the one day she was sick and stayed home from school.
So here I am, running all by myself, wishing I was anywhere but on that track. And I was just over it. I’d hit my limit and decided running was not for me. Mid-race… I quit; grabbed my stuff, and told my parents to take me home.
I never lived it down, even to this day. Every time the old high school crew gets together, someone has to comment about ‘that one time’ I walked off the track in the middle of running the mile.
Fun times.
So now, fast forward about a thousand years, and I’m registered for TRI Clear Lake. Every now and then I have a moment of “I can’t do this” but it’s short-lived.
Because I CAN do this.
I might not come in first place, but I guarantee I won’t be last place either. In fact, it’s quite amazing what I’ve been able to get my middle-aged, peri-menopausal, non-athletic body to do these past few months. Things I never thought I’d be able to accomplish, that’s for sure!
So if you’re on the fence about signing up for TRI Clear Lake, it’s time to swing the other leg over and just give it a shot. One of the greatest things about this race is the support of the volunteers, crew, and fellow athletes.
Is it scary? A little. But I suppose that will just make me swim, bike and run a little bit faster. Plus, knowing the awesome finish line party is waiting with beer on ice is a bit of incentive to keep going.
Now is the time. Not tomorrow. Definitely not next week. NOW. Get signed up now and just give it a TRI. You only have until Sunday, April 9th to guarantee this amazing, long-sleeved shirt with your registration.
So, what are you waiting for? Registration is already on Tier 3 and the clock is ticking.
Clickety-click. You know you want to à https://runsignup.com/triclearlake
See you on race day, friends!!