TOMORROW'S North Shore triathlon may feel more like a reunion for one North Vancouver family with racers small and tall set to cycle, swim and run together for the very first time.
Paul Rogers, 44, said he agreed to do the May 21 triathlon with his seven-yearold son, Ben. Paul's wife Lynette, 35, was the next one to get on board. She was swiftly followed by Ben's aunt Cheryl Chatterton, 37, and cousin Anna, 7, who will coming over from Campbell River to take part in the race.
"We would rather be an active family than a sit-on-the couch-and-play-computergames family," said Rogers.
The only family member who won't be joining in is Ben's little brother, Sam, but that's only because the five-year-old is too young to participate.
Paul realized Ben might be up to the challenge when the second grader ran a five kilometre Fun Run in just 30 minutes. When Ben swam 50 metres without stopping at a local pool, which is the swimming distance for Ben's age category in the triathlon, Rogers realized his son was up for the challenge.
"I've seen the North Shore Triathlon before . . . and I remember seeing all kinds," said Paul. "Like a little old lady on her mountain bike with a basket on the handlebars . . . it's an all-levels kind of thing."
Paul, who teaches at Collingwood School in West Vancouver, and Lynette, a nurse who works at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver, find it difficult to fit exercise into their busy family life. That's why it's great to have a goal like the triathlon to work towards, said Paul.
"We needed to find something to spur us on, and this worked," he said.
This year 600 people will take part in the North Shore Triathlon. Since the swimming and cycling distances are slightly shorter than a standard triathlon, it's a great beginner's race, said Nick Lyne, president of the North Shore Triathlon Club.
"It's great for your first triathlon experience," said Lyne. "It's also good for more seasoned athletes that are looking to just test their fitness as they get ready for bigger events later in the season."
Kids are welcomed in the triathlon, and do a modified version of the race based on their age. The race starts at Ron Andrews rec centre with youth participants the first to hit the pool at 7: 30 a.m. The bike course consists of laps on Mount Seymour Parkway while the run also hits the Parkway along with several trails in the area.
Some road closures will be in effect and Mount Seymour Parkway will be reduced to one lane each way from approximately 6 a.m. to noon on Monday. For more information visit northshoretriathlon.ca.
