Canadian Triathlon and Run stresses inclusivity and challenges
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Thousands of runners took a scenic route on Saturday at the Canadian Triathlon and Run, one of the country oldest, with its first event in 1982.
Race director Adam Kourakis was pumped not only about the numbers, but the overall “inclusivity” of the event.
“It’s so cool to see 1,200 athletes, (approximately) 3,000 spectators and almost 200 volunteers and staff,” he said.
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“We have some people that have done it since the (event began) in the 80s” but there were also more than “30 per cent” of our athletes have never done a race ever before.”
He noted the sold-out event also offered swim-cycles, duathlons and other challenging events.
In all, there were 16 races scheduled Saturday, “depending on your ability and the sports you’re interested in, or just what you’re kind of up for.”
His hope was that newcomers would find the events “completely accessible.”
He noted the event had “athletes from Peru, Colombia, France and Australia today.”
The scenic route went along Colonel By Drive and through Mooney’s Bay Park, culminating at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility on Riverside Drive.
The Ottawa event, dubbed The Canadian, is the premier event of the Somersault Tri/Du Series.
-With files from Ashley Fraser
Photos from the Canadian Triathlon and Run
From youngsters to long-term competitors int their 80’s, there was an event for everyone Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Adam Kourakis, race director with Somersault, said there were “16 races today, depending on your ability and the sports you’re interested in, or just what you’re up for.”Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Saturday’s events finished on the Terry Fox Track, which is a venue that has hosted the Canadian Track & Field Championships and has been run on by countless Olympians.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Charlie McHardy was ready on the start line for the Youth Try a Tri Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The Youth Try a Tri had swimmers do a 200m swim Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia When competitors finished their race pizza, freezies, and non-alcoholic beers were available for the athletes to enjoy.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The Youth Try a Tri had competitors did a 200m swim through buoys in the Rideau River at Mooney’s Bay Beach.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Naismith McLean took part in the Youth Try a Tri, pictured leaving the swim, making his way to the 10K bike ride.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The youth taking part in the Youth Try a Tri for participants 15 years and younger, hit the water for their 200m swim Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The cycling course on Colonel By Drive, gave riders views of the Rideau Canal, Carleton University, Dows Lake, and Lansdowne.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Sara Souza makes her way out of the Rideau River after completing a 200m swim, part of the Try a Tri event.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia “I hope the takeaway for anybody who’s new to triathlon, or hasn’t tried it before, or is curious about it is that it’s completely accessible,” said Adam Kourakis, race director with Somersault.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Lee Nevitte, left, made his way back to the transition area after finishing his 20K ride.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Adam Kourakis, race director with Somersault cheered on Vivian Stang as she made her way out of the water Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The Canadian Triathlon and Run was a sold out event that had runners, swimmers and cyclists pushing to finish their races as Ottawa was blanket with a layer of humidity Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Competitor 1021, Ian Kwon, crossed the finish line after taking part in the Surf N Turf event, a 50m swim and a 400m run.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Competitors who took part in triathlons Saturday ranged in distances from 10K all the way up to a 90K ride for the Iron 113 Triathlon.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Keara Ramirez was all smiles on the finish line of the 5K run, after finishing the Sprint Triathlon Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Alexandra Larabie leaves the swim portion during the Try a Tri event Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Marion Lajoie makes her way to the finish line as she wraps up the last leg of her triathlon, the 5K run.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Naismith McLean was all smiles at the start line before starting his race into the Rideau River at Mooney’s Bay Beach.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia “I hope the takeaway for anybody who’s new to triathlon, or hasn’t tried it before, or is curious about it is that it’s completely accessible,” said Adam Kourakis, race director with Somersault.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia “I hope the takeaway for anybody who’s new to triathlon, or hasn’t tried it before, or is curious about it is that it’s completely accessible,” said Adam Kourakis, race director with Somersault. “This year, over 30 per cent of our athletes have never done a race ever before.”Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The Youth Try a Tri competitors make their way out of the Rideau River after a 200m swim Saturday morning.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Sam Metz paused for a moment during his sprint triathlon for a photograph with his family Hana Alazem, eight-year-old Ava Hetz, and three-year-old Alex Hetz.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia For the swimming portion of the events bib numbers are written on competitors skin and a tracking device is around each persons ankle.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Gabriella Hawes-Cote was transitioning from the swim to her 90K bike ride Saturday morning when she was taking part in the Iron Triathlon.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Katryna Hawes-Cote, middle, during the 40K bike ride.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia
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