
On Saturday May 31st the 7th annual Center Beginner Triathlon took place at the Sand Dunes Recreation pool in Hooper, during which 24 athletes, many local but some from far away, completed the sprint length triathlon as individuals or in relay teams.
The Center Beginner Triathlon, conceptualized by Center residents George Welsh and Becky Reed, first took place in May 2008 with only 15 participants attempting and completing the challenging course. As advertised by its name, eleven of the first fifteen competitors were triathlon first timers. The second annual event in 2009 saw the inclusion of a relay category and the handing out of more than 40 participant bibs. Once again, a majority of the triathletes completed their very first race at the event. As many as 60 participants per year have taken part in the race since 2010.
A triathlon is an endurance event in which a person first swims a specified length, rides a bike for a set distance, and ends the race by completing a run. Triathlons come in all shapes and sizes. The shortest ones are called sprint triathlons, consisting of a 500-meter swim, a 13-mile bike ride and a 3.2-mile run. Welsh, a local resident, completed an iron distance triathlon last September: a 2.4-mile swim with a 112-mile bike ride and a full-length marathon (26.2-mile run) at the end. His wife Rebecca Reed is training for such an event this fall.
The Center Beginner Triathlon, conceptualized by Center residents George Welsh and Becky Reed, first took place in May 2008 with only 15 participants attempting and completing the challenging course. As advertised by its name, eleven of the first fifteen competitors were triathlon first timers. The second annual event in 2009 saw the inclusion of a relay category and the handing out of more than 40 participant bibs. Once again, a majority of the triathletes completed their very first race at the event. As many as 60 participants per year have taken part in the race since 2010.
A triathlon is an endurance event in which a person first swims a specified length, rides a bike for a set distance, and ends the race by completing a run. Triathlons come in all shapes and sizes. The shortest ones are called sprint triathlons, consisting of a 500-meter swim, a 13-mile bike ride and a 3.2-mile run. Welsh, a local resident, completed an iron distance triathlon last September: a 2.4-mile swim with a 112-mile bike ride and a full-length marathon (26.2-mile run) at the end. His wife Rebecca Reed is training for such an event this fall.

The main purpose of this local event is to encourage area residents to prepare to complete a sprint triathlon. Welsh and Reed share a personal belief that when people set goals, even goals that appear at first glance to be physically impossible, and then achieve them, they grow personally and professionally in immeasurable ways.
The Center Beginner Triathlon takes place at the Sand Dunes Recreation Pool with the help of local volunteers and Americorps CCC workers. The event kicks off with a 25 meter swim in the pool, an out and back 12 mile bike ride along Highway 17 and Highway 112, and a 5 kilometer run on paved and dirt roads North of the pool.
Full distance completers of this year’s event included Sam Selters, Travis Paine, Brooke Paine, Rachael Schell, Beth Streeter, Anne Welsh, Cynthia Surface, Linda Medina, Kaylene Van Horn, John Noriega, David Holland, Nash Uebelhart, Phillipa Conrad, Maggie Frey, Linda Relyea, Stacie Hogue, Glenna Clayton, Debbie Westra, Rebecca Reed, Marcia Heckard, George Welsh, Alison Artaechvarria, Kim Brooks, Luke Yoder, and David Jackson.
Relay completes included Rae Jean Maestas-Nita McAuliffe-Kathy Mortensen, Damon Cook-Blaine Cook-Ian Carpenter, and Linda Medina-Chris Medina-Josh Medina.
The Center Beginner Triathlon takes place at the Sand Dunes Recreation Pool with the help of local volunteers and Americorps CCC workers. The event kicks off with a 25 meter swim in the pool, an out and back 12 mile bike ride along Highway 17 and Highway 112, and a 5 kilometer run on paved and dirt roads North of the pool.
Full distance completers of this year’s event included Sam Selters, Travis Paine, Brooke Paine, Rachael Schell, Beth Streeter, Anne Welsh, Cynthia Surface, Linda Medina, Kaylene Van Horn, John Noriega, David Holland, Nash Uebelhart, Phillipa Conrad, Maggie Frey, Linda Relyea, Stacie Hogue, Glenna Clayton, Debbie Westra, Rebecca Reed, Marcia Heckard, George Welsh, Alison Artaechvarria, Kim Brooks, Luke Yoder, and David Jackson.
Relay completes included Rae Jean Maestas-Nita McAuliffe-Kathy Mortensen, Damon Cook-Blaine Cook-Ian Carpenter, and Linda Medina-Chris Medina-Josh Medina.