Three Times the Sport, Three Times the Fun
by Zoe Kirsch with David Glidden
On Saturday, July 11th at 12:00 noon, Nantucket welcomes its first annual triathlon! Athletes, spectators, and volunteers will band together to make the race a success and raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nantucket.
The triathlon—which is of the Sprint-Distance variety—is the brainchild of Jaime Ranney and Bill Burnett, former classmates at Ohio Wesleyan University (Class of '91.) Ranney, Triathlon Director, grew up spending his summers on Nantucket and has lived here year-round since 1977. In a Message from the Founder displayed on the triathlon website, acktri.com, Ranney writes, “My goal in starting the Nantucket Triathlon [was] to bring back a true premiere multi-sport race to the island – an event worthy of the natural resources and facilities that Nantucket has to offer.”
The concept has proved a popular one. Ranney and Burnett deliberately planned a late start for the race to accommodate racers who want to stay on Nantucket just a day. Still, throngs of supportive fans from off-island have decided to stay on Nantucket for the whole triathlon weekend. Close to six hundred athletes will be competing on Saturday.
Among the athletes, Team Hoyt of Boston, a father-and-son team known as a crowd favorite at more than 25 Boston Marathons, will be one to watch. Dick Hoyt accompanies his physically challenged son Rick while pushing a special aerodynamic wheelchair (when running), moving Rick in a modified seat (while cycling), and pulling Rick in a small boat (when swimming.) At sixty-five and forty-seven respectively, Dick and Rick have a purport that they hope to share everywhere they race: “Everybody should be included in everyday life.” The Hoyts eagerly anticipate the Nantucket Triathlon.
One of the shortest breeds of triathlon, Sprint-Distance is not the grueling 26-mile run, 110-mile bike, and 1-mile swim of Ironman fame. Instead, it consists of 3.3-mile run, 14-mile cycling leg, and quarter-mile swim. The beauty of a Sprint-Distance triathlon is its manageability. Nantucket's own race is even family friendly, due to organizers allowing teams of three, as long as all teammates are age thirteen and older. So spectators, look out for the clans (who are sure to bring a fierce competitive edge to the table!)
In designing the course for the Nantucket Triathlon, Ranney and Burnett aimed to “challenge experienced athletes, yet appeal to first timers.” The route begins at Jetties Beach, travels through the Brant Point area, and heads to the west end of Madaket before turning back to the rolling hills of Cliff Road.
Participants in Saturday's Sprint-Distance race have focused their training more on adroitness and less on resilience. Triathlon Magazine explains, “The competition will be over fast – in less than a couple of hours. Going fast takes more than stamina. It also takes skill.” Mastery requires drill repetition. David Glidden of Glidden's Seafood recounts his training efforts: “I did some workouts at the local community pool. Jeff, a helpful lifeguard and trainer, gave me a drills to try.”
The athlete offers the following last-minute triathlon advice. “As a friend of mine said, 'Don't start the swimming leg fast; concentrate on use of your arms as opposed to your legs. You will conserve much-needed leg energy for the upcoming cycling and running.'” Glidden adds that due to the mid-day start, race-day conditions are bound to be hot. To prevent dehydration, he advises drinking plenty of water.
Missed the registration deadline? (It closed on July 8th) You don't have to race to participate! Why not volunteer? Hand out water, direct the racers at intersections, or help at transitions. Assistance is appreciated and necessary for the undertaking's success. Check out acktri.com for more information.
Any involvement in the triathlon is a valuable contribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Nantucket. An affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, “the oldest one-to-one mentoring agency in the country,” BBBS Nantucket's mission is, “to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, primarily through a professionally supported relationship with a caring adult; and to assist them in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent, and caring individuals, by providing committed volunteers, national leadership and standards of excellence.” As Ranney writes in his Message from the Founder, “BBBS has been a staunch supporter of athletic events as a means to instill confidence, independence, and personal growth in Littles (as well as Bigs!) and represents the perfect charity partner for the first Nantucket Triathlon.”
Glidden believes Ranney and Burnett should be highly commended for attracting athletes, their families, and their friends to Nantucket. We wholeheartedly agree and hope that whether you are young or old, athlete or couch potato, volunteer or onlooker, “Little” or “Big” or neither at all, you lend your support to the Island's inaugural Triathlon and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nantucket.
Nantucket Triathlon Schedule
Saturday, July 11
8:00 a.m. Bathing Beach Road closed. No car access to Jetties Beach. No drop-off's allowed – athletes must ride their bike to the race venue.
8:30 a.m. Transition Area opens. Registration opens. Body Marking opens.
11:30 a.m. Registration closes.
11:45 a.m. Mandatory pre-race meeting with head USAT Official
11:55 a.m. Final call for first wave. All athletes need to be out of the water and out of the Transition Area.
12:00 p.m. Race starts
2:00 p.m. Post-race party
