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Regions
MID-ATLANTIC
In 2010, the Cadence Cycling Foundation, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit cycling organization with a mission of “helping kids create opportunities through cycling,” created a one-of-a-kind youth triathlon program in urban Philadelphia.


The program culled many of CCF’s most talented and dedicated children out of the existing 140-plus member cycling program. With generous backing from the Philadelphia Insurance Company, CCF initiated two independent triathlon teams that ran in association with two of Philadelphia’s charter schools.


Led by professional triathlete and locally-based triathlon coach Holden Comeau, the two teams began triathlon practice on a weekly basis. Comeau had the foresight to structure the practices with a swimming focus, and though confident in the ability to create success, he was admittedly a little tentative after the first few practices. But fear of the water turned into splashing in the shallow end, then one lap and then another.


In just three short months, the kids of the CCF Triathlon Teams lined up at the start of the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon. Their nervousness was visible, but they had practiced with dedication and were ready to go. When the dust settled at the finish line, CCF came home with not only some newly committed triathletes, but some podium champions as well.


Success throughout the remainder of the summer grew exponentially. The USA Triathlon Mid-Atlantic regional council recognized the program’s success and provided a generous grant toward race travel. Zoot Sports signed on as an equipment sponsor, and Advanced Sports donated many of the Fuji bicycles. A community began to develop around the program, and the kids grew more sophisticated as athletes — open water swims, transition workshops, technique clinics. Most importantly, as the kids’ confidence and abilities grew as triathletes, so too did their confidence as young men and women.


To find out more please visit www.CadenceFoundation.org.


 


NORTHEAST
Aquabike is just triathlon minus the running, right? Well, yes, but it is so much more.


Aquabike events were first sanctioned by USA Triathlon in 2008 as a way for aging athletes and athletes training around injuries to compete in the swimming and biking portions of races without having to run. But when did multisport athletes ever take competition lightly? These subset events quickly became highly contested in their own right.


Aquabike has gained popularity since its inception, increasing from 30 events in 2008 to 93 in 2011. In 2010, aquabike was awarded its own division in the USA Triathlon ranking system and 2011 will bring the first three regional aquabike championships: the Eagleman 70.3 in the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Pumpkinman in the Northeast Region and Half-Vineman in the Southwest Region. Ideally, aquabike will include a national championship in the not too distant future and possibly even an international championship. While you can find aquabike divisions at all triathlon distances, the distance gaining popularity — and targeted for national competition — is the half-iron distance, which includes a 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike.


Once seen as the discipline of the injured reserve, aquabike, appearing more accessible than a full triathlon, is also drawing first time athletes who are new to multisport. A huge benefit is that the discipline allows race directors to offer new, challenging divisions to their participants at existing events for very little extra cost.


The Northeast Championship is experiencing higher than expected registration and some of the athletes already registered include such accomplished athletes as Lisbeth Kenyon (2009 Ironman women’s 40-44 age group world champion) and elite Fitwerx athlete Dean Phillips. Will you be there? Why not turn in your running shoes for a race and change swim-bike-run to swim-bike-done?


98 USA TRIATHLON SUMMER 2011

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