By Tom Rohrer
For the last two decades, one Puget Sound area event has pushed participants beyond their most extreme physical limits.
This summer, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord DFMWR-Sports Branch will hold the 20th annual Triple Threat Triathlon. Three events will be held, with one already taken place in June, and another scheduled for Saturday, August 18.
On Saturday, July 21, the series will continue starting at Shoreline Park, where competitors have the option of a ½ mile or 250 meter swim, followed by a 15 mile bike ride and concluding with a three mile run.
Kathleen Salcedo, the Intramurals Coordinator for the DFMWR Sports Branch, believes the high amount of military participation in the series makes it unique compared to other triathlon opportunities.
“I think what makes ours unique is that we are catering to our military population,” Salcedo said. “The event has gone pretty much full circle in that its 80 percent military participation and 20 percent civilian. That wasn’t always the case.”
Salcedo noted that in years past, the event drew close to 200 or more participants and now produces close to 100. She credits that decrease to a surplus of triathlons across the state, but believes the competition level remains high, if not higher than before.
“Over the years, the numbers have declined and I think that’s due to an increase in similar events across the state and the region,” Salcedo said. “There didn’t used to be a lot of triathlons in the Puget Sound. But with the smaller numbers, the competition level is extremely high and we have a lot of terrific and dedicated individuals and teams participating. So the luster hasn’t really gone away.”
Salcedo has the numbers to prove her theory to be correct.
“The bike times are phenomenal compared to what I remember years ago, and that’s just from people understanding the event more and what it takes in terms of preparation,” Salcedo said.
The athletes are provided with what Salcedo refers to as a consistent, flat course, and the option to undertake a shorter swimming distance. By providing the two swimming options, event organizers hope to cater to less experienced triathletes.
“We see a trickle of new participants each year, and we have some consistent people returning annually as well,” Salcedo said. “We have a very consistent, flat course and that caters to a lot of people. We added the 250 meter swim option last year to try to get those first timers out there and we are seeing that plan work.”
It may not be the excessive distance of the swim, but rather the temperature that makes that leg of the series so challenging.
“Water temperatures are low, especially in June and July and that makes it very challenging,” Salcedo said. “I always look forward to the August event because the water warms up a little bit.”
A team division for organizations, groups of friends and entire families will compete amongst each other, and Salcedo said that there are multiple families participating in this year’s series.
Along with providing racers with an ideal and scenic course, the Triple Threat Triathlon will be doling out some old fashioned hospitality for the weary participants throughout the event.
“What’s awesome is that we have a really great venue,” Salcedo said. “We have a closed park area at Shoreline, along with an all-encompassing beach house for showering, bike racks, and an area for free food and refreshments. In my experience, there aren’t a whole lot of triathlon events with these accommodations.
Entertainment will also be provided, and for the first time, the series will have a live band on site. Backlash, a group out of the Olympia and Tumwater area, will be playing all day Saturday. Door prizes, such as an iPod Shuffle, heart rate monitor and a 1,400, internet capable stationary bike, will be given out throughout the day.
“It’s cool to keep adding new things to the series, and that gives us a sense of accomplishment,” Salcedo said.
Salcedo, who says the event draws participants from Bremerton, Whidbey Island and the Portland area, is happy to be a part of such a patriotic event.
“It’s a sense of accomplishment and in a patriotic sense in my own mind,” she noted. “I think people really respond to that as well and we have a lot of support from fans for that reason.”
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