Triathlon returns for 25th year
Cassandra McCarty
Issue date: 9/3/09 Section: TruLife
Martin said that he wanted to do something different in Kirksville and there was a suggestion to have a marathon. Martin decided that there was not a market for that kind of race in town, and he wanted an event that included swimming, biking and running.
"I lived here, and what we were trying to do was promote an active healthy lifestyle, whether it was with the Heart Association or any other races for charities, 5K, 5 - mile and 7 - mile running event," Martin said. "In the middle '80s time there was just kind of the beginning of cross training and multi - sports."
Martin said more than 200 volunteers turn up to the event on race day, and many times, the volunteers eventually become participants in the triathlon.
"The people who come around and help us, they end up liking it a lot," Martin said. "Usually next year they think about participating, so it's kind of infectious like that. I think everybody sees themselves, 'I can swim a little, and I am decent on the bike, and I thought about running a bit.' It becomes one of those life challenges, 'I want to do that before I die' type of thing."
When Martin first started organizing the triathlon he did not know it was going to grow as large as it is today. He said many people who competed in the race as Truman students graduated, had children and returned to swim, bike and run with their children.
Exercise Science professor Jana Arabas is also a returning competitor in the triathlon. Arabas said she enjoys competing in the race every year because of the familiarity it offers.
"So many times we do triathlons where you don't know anybody," Arabas said. "We [Gooch and Arabas] usually travel, the two of us, and then you don't know anybody else doing it, but in Kirksville you know a lot of people doing it."
"I lived here, and what we were trying to do was promote an active healthy lifestyle, whether it was with the Heart Association or any other races for charities, 5K, 5 - mile and 7 - mile running event," Martin said. "In the middle '80s time there was just kind of the beginning of cross training and multi - sports."
Martin said more than 200 volunteers turn up to the event on race day, and many times, the volunteers eventually become participants in the triathlon.
"The people who come around and help us, they end up liking it a lot," Martin said. "Usually next year they think about participating, so it's kind of infectious like that. I think everybody sees themselves, 'I can swim a little, and I am decent on the bike, and I thought about running a bit.' It becomes one of those life challenges, 'I want to do that before I die' type of thing."
When Martin first started organizing the triathlon he did not know it was going to grow as large as it is today. He said many people who competed in the race as Truman students graduated, had children and returned to swim, bike and run with their children.
Exercise Science professor Jana Arabas is also a returning competitor in the triathlon. Arabas said she enjoys competing in the race every year because of the familiarity it offers.
"So many times we do triathlons where you don't know anybody," Arabas said. "We [Gooch and Arabas] usually travel, the two of us, and then you don't know anybody else doing it, but in Kirksville you know a lot of people doing it."
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