From www.triathlonireland.com Despite some very wet conditions, some of the triathletes of the future turned up in the Pheonix Park on Wednesday to train and enjoy our sport.
Please read on for more…
The driving rain on Wednesday wasn’t enough to deter some very enthusiastic children from attending the first of a series of training sessions in the Pheonix Park. Nothing was going to dampen the spirits of this enthuastic gang ranging in age from 5 years to 12 years, rightly set for the weather in waterproofs.
First up was a run session, with some running drills, and games, finished off by a short relay race.
The second session was a bike skills session with Stephen, with practice of handling skills, negotiating cones. The session was finished off with a game of ‘bike limbo’. Hats off to this gang who easily passed under the ever lowering limbo stick, semi dismounted, and perfectly balanced.
Despite being rained on for the last hour, the children were keen to have some sort of race, and we went ahead with our plan of a mini-duathlon, with a staggered start. With no regard for pacing off they went at breakneck speed, and never slowed. In true team spirit the last two came in across the line together but not without first giving one another a run for their money.
If enthusiasm and enjoyment are a measure of success then this session was one of the most successful of the year. A great time was had by all.
The sessions are designed to give children an introduction to the sport. The variety of triathlon training is good fun and gives children a lot of sporting options as they get older. The sessions will run over the summer, with at least one every two weeks. The format of the sessions is to have skills based activity with a fun race at the end.
Future sessions will include:
A pool session, with an aquathon;
A mini-triathlon.
The next session will be in the Park next Wednesday (meet at the Papal Cross Car Park at 6:30). Please email [email protected] if you’d like to attend or if you have any queries.
A big thanks to Noel, Stephen, Rachel, all the parents, and children for their help and participation.
