DAN'S PAPERS, July 23, 2010 Page 86 www.danshamptons.com
First Ever Youth Triathlon July 25 The First Maidstone Park Youth Triathlon, sponsored by the East Hampton YMCA RECenter, will be held on Sunday, July 25, at Maidstone Park in Springs at 8 a.m. The race, which consists of a 300 yard open water swim, 7 mile bike and 1.5 mile run, is open to kids ages 10-17. A very special group of young women from Springs School have been training their bodies, minds and spirits for this race since March. Photo Theresa Roden
Do you consider yourself an athlete? Would you like to compete in a triathlon, but are a bit nervous that you are not strong enough to do it? These and other questions were posed to all of the 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls at Springs School in East Hampton this past February after a presentation on triathlons. Based upon their answers and with the help of the school’s social worker Maritza Santos, and physical education coach Nancy Olsen, a group of 11 “non-athletic” girls were ultimately selected for a brand new pilot program called i-tri. The program i-tri is a community based intervention program that fosters self-respect, personal empowerment, self-confidence, positive body image and healthy lifestyle choices for adolescent girls. Through the training and experience of a triathlon and a curriculum of physical fitness/nutrition activities, self-affirming lessons of respect, responsibility, teamwork and dedication, i-tri girls develop healthy habits and attitudes that last a lifetime. Triathlons are one of the fastest growing sports in the world today. Although it is competitive in nature, a triathlon is often more about the participants’ individual journey to the finish line. The race combines three different components, the swim, the bike and the run. Program developers Theresa Roden and Alyson
Follenius have experienced first hand, the power of this sport to transform you from someone who thinks “I can’t” to someone who “tri’s” is amazing. On your journey to the finish line (starting with that very first day of training) you discover things you never knew about yourself and skills you never knew you had. Somewhere along the line you become an athlete and you realize that an athlete is just a person who believes that they can and then they do the best they can. It’s not about being the first over the line–it’s about the journey. And what a journey it has been… On March 11, the girls started the journey. Each Wednesday they would meet in school and discuss topics ranging from the power of words (using affirmations and visualizing your goals), to discussions on anorexia and bulimia and why proper nutrition is so important. After school the girls hopped on the bus and each week went to a different fitness studio and experienced classes such as Spin at B-east, Yoga at
KamaDeva and Mandala, Pilates by Melissa and TRX at BodyTech. Their favorite by far was Belly Dancing! All of these experiences were generously donated by the instructors and studios. On Saturdays the girls would meet at the East Hampton YMCA RECenter (itri sponsor), for swim training. In June, with three months of base training under their belts, it was time to get serious. Personal Trainer and youth triathlon coach Sharon McCobb joined Roden and Follenius and the girls for twice a week training–swimming in the bay, cycling and running. The i-tri girls will compete in the first ever youth triathlon on the East End–The Maidstone Park Youth Triathlon. A limited number of spots are still available. (For more information or to sign up, contact the East Hampton YMCA at 631-329-6884.) With just over a week to go, the i-tri girls are training hard and looking forward to crossing the finish line. Recently, one of the girls, Hana Islami gave an emotional and very moving speech in front of the Springs School Board about the program. “We have all become a team and we realize that we can do anything that we set our mind to. We are strong and beautiful inside and out.” The generosity of the entire community has been tremendous, from private donations to cover the cost of uniforms and running shoes, the fitness studios and instructors donating their time and spaces, the YMCA RECenter for their faith and support of the program and Chris Pfund at Montauk Bike Shop who has made sure that each of the girls has a safe bicycle to ride. Itri is truly a community-based project and program developers Roden and Follenius hope to raise funds and secure grant monies in order to bring this very successful program to other area schools next year. For more information contact Theresa Roden 631902-3731 or visit the blog www.i-tri-girls.blogspot.com.
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