The inaugural Active Southern West Virginia Family Triathlon, in support of ActiveSWV Kids Run Clubs, was a great success! Held on Saturday, August 20, 2016, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Summersville Dam celebration, a field of 50 participants, including kids, parents and grandparents, ran, biked and paddled a course set up adjacent to the Summersville Lake beach. This family-friendly, beginner event included a 4.4-mile course, divided into a 1.2-mile run, 2.2-mile bicycle ride, and a 1-mile paddle using kayaks, paddleboards and anything else that floated.
Participants trickled in from 8:00AM-9:00AM, socializing, staging their bikes and paddle crafts, and warming up for the event. At 9:15AM, everyone gathered together for a pre-race meeting. Active SWV Executive Director, Melanie Seiler, outlined the course, provided triathlon safety information, and wished participants good luck and a good time! The race began shortly after the meeting at 9:30AM.
The race started with the running portion, complete with a wonderful view of Summersville Lake. Many friends and family members stuck together to cheer one another on!
After the running segment of the race, participants mounted their bikes and started up a very challenging hill for the first section of the bike portion. Teammates demonstrated great motivation and determination as they worked their way up the hill.
For the final portion of the course, participants used a variety of paddle crafts, ranging from stand up paddle boards to kayaks.
After finishing the race, everyone stayed to cheer on those finishing behind them. After all participants had made their way through the finish line, the awards ceremony took place, when each racer was announced and received a medal.
From this event, Active SWV has raised $1,500 to support Kids Run Clubs in Nicholas County. Active SWV Kids Run Clubs provide kids the opportunity to be physically active in a fun and safe environment. Active SWV Kids Run Clubs in Nicholas County will provide social support and stress relief to the youth of Nicholas County who have been affected by the flood. Learn more about ActiveSWV Kids Run Clubs.
Thank you to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and supporting organizations for making this event a success!
Nicholas County Health Department, Summersville Dam’s Golden Jubilee Celebration, Huntington District Army Corps of Engineers, Fat Eddies, Nicholas County Community Foundation, Adventures On The Gorge, Flat Top Fridays, Adkins & Young Pllc, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Mountain Surf Paddle Sports LLC, Summersville Rotary, Summersville CVB, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Read more in the Charleston Gazette article about the entire 50th Anniversary Celebration here.
