For its fourth year running, there will be some changes in Barrhead’s annual Queen of Hearts Triathlon.
The event, which is specifically for women, will take place Saturday, Sept. 21. Last year about 76 ladies faced the triathlon challenge. This year however, the event has been expanded to allow a total of 100 participants.
“I think we maxed out about as much as we thought the pool could handle. So we sold out last year,” said Daren Toivonen, one of the event organizers. “We had to close it off last year, but we’re opening it this year to 100.”
The start time for the race has been delayed an hour this year, because in the past the beginning of the event has been a chilly one. Now the race will begin at 9 a.m., as opposed to 8 a.m. in the hopes of higher temperatures.
Because there is some construction happening on the original route, the course will also be slightly different than it was last year. The route will be the same as the Fun Run, which Toivonen said is an official sprint distance.
The entire triathlon will consist of 30 laps in the pool, about 26 km on the bike, and a five kilometer run. The new route can be seen on the Town of Barrhead website.
Toivonen said she hopes there will be first-time triathlon participants this year. Because of the high amount of work triathlons are, she said, seeing women try it for the first time is always encouraging.
“You need to have the stamina to do the swimming in the pool, then on your bike, then get off your bike and run. It’s a lot of work, and people train for months for this,” said Toivonen. “There are gals who have worked very hard and have developed a fitness level that they’ve never had before, and that’s exciting to see.”
As a woman who participated in the Queen of Hearts herself the first two years, Toivonen knows the exhilarating feeling a participant gets just from being a part of the event.
“There are gals that high five each other. When I participated you’re high-fiving gals to encourage them,” she said. “It was just very exciting, and people and children were out with signs. It’s really quite something to finish it.”
Participants can take part in the race either as an individual, or as a team. As part of three-person team, one woman swims, another bikes, and the last runs.
Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place participants with the overall fastest time, but there are also individual medals for each age category.
All ladies in the race can collect their participant pickup package Friday, Sept. 20 at the curling rink, between 6-8 p.m.
Volunteer recruitment is high on the list of priorities for the event. Toivonen said the triathlon needs around 50-60 volunteers, who will be spread out between the pool portion, bike course, and running course.
People are needed to help coordinate what will be happening in the transition area where participants come out of the water to their bike, said Toivonen. There are a lot of women coming and going, and it’s the volunteers who make the transitions go smoothly.
Volunteers will also be stationed at different places along the running and biking courses so participants know where they need to go.
“It’s the volunteers that are the strength of this triathlon,” said Toivonen. “It’s a commitment of only three hours. Without the volunteers we couldn’t run it.”
A volunteer information night will be held Sept. 19 at the curling rink, complete with coffee and donuts. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt and a volunteer package, and a chance to win an exciting prize.
“We have a draw for the volunteers. Barrhead Ford has so graciously donated a mountain bike, and we’re doing a draw for our volunteers,” said Toivonen. “Someone is going to win the mountain bike.”
Not only is the event dependent on volunteers, but support from local businesses as well. Toivonen said Barrhead businesses have shown their support year after year.
“The business community is very supportive, and we really appreciate it,” she said. “We are totally dependent on the businesses because that’s how we purchase our medals and the shirts, and they’re wonderful. We’re very fortunate.”
Toivonen said she believes the triathlon is a wonderful thing for the community as well. Because women need to work up to the event, pool usage is increased with ladies in training. The event also brings in people from out of town, even out of province.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Toivonen. “We get participants from BC and Saskatchewan and all over Alberta that come out for the race.”
In the future, Toivonen said she hopes the event can be expanded to allow youth and men to participate as well. In fact, next year the Queen of Hearts committee is considering the possibility of a kid’s triathlon.
“It would be great if we could do all three, women, kids and men,” she said. “So that’s something to look forward to, if we could manage that down the road.”
Anyone interested in participating or volunteering can contact Brandy at the recreation office, at 780-674-2532.
