'Just Tri-it!' Youth Triathlon Is April 10

In a “past life”—college—Lori Duran played soccer, basketball and softball, and coached college soccer. Meghan Patrissi played soccer in college.

Put the two, now both mothers, together and what do you get?

A “Just Tri-it!” triathlon for youths age 5 through 12.

As one of the first “Be Well Woburn” events to be offered to the city to promote community wellness through activities and classes, the local swim-bike-run gives youths an opportunity to get moving and have fun, according to Patrissi and Duran, who are organizing the event.

“Our idea was to do something different and fun,” Patrissi said, and family-oriented and community-supported as well.

Duran’s daughter, Kayla, 11, participated in a triathlon last year.

From a child’s perspective, that triathlon gave participants a great sense of accomplishment, according to Duran. The kids were happy to be there, she said. It was challenging, but not head-to-head competitive, because participants set off with a staggered start.

The Woburn triathlon is April 10, a Sunday.

The course starts with a swim at the on Charles Gardner Lane. Then participants bike to on Wyman Street. In the last leg, they run from Spence Farm back to the Boys and Girls Club.  Distances depend on youths’ ages.

Part of the goal of the triathlon and “Be Well” activities in general is to get families up and away from the “boob tube,” Patrissi said. Parents can’t just drop their child off for the triathlon; a parent must be present at the race.

Both Patrissi and Duran know whereof they speak about health and wellness.

Patrissi is a wellness coordinator at .  She has taught physical education there for 16 years.

Duran teaches WMHS students life skills, particularly how food and nutrition can promote wellness. Outside the high school, she is a holistic health counselor.

Both Duran and Patrissi say their own children regularly spend time outside. When Duran’s children got bikes, “We ran alongside,” she said, until they could ride them. At Christmas they got kayaks.

The children in Patrissi’s neighborhood spend a lot of time outside, she said. Her motto:  “If it’s not snowin’, you’re goin’” out.

People who swim, bike and run should be able to continue those activities, Patrissi said, for life.

A young Woburn resident is learning to ride a bike specifically to participate in the triathlon, Patrissi said she read on Facebook.

Registration forms for the triathlon are available on line through the Recreation Department website, and on paper at the city’s elementary schools, Boys and Girls Club and library, Patrissi said.

Complete the entry form, make out a check payable to “Be Well Woburn” and return the form and check to the Woburn Recreation Department at .

The fee is $10 per youth, up to a maximum of $30 per family.

The brochure containing the entry form includes details, such as the starting time —bike drop-off is between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m.; where to park (Spence Farm); and a list of more than a dozen sponsors.

Questions? Call 781-897-5805, the Recreation Department.

The triathlon piggybacks on another first:  Earth Day activities hosted by the , Duran said, at the city’s Spence Farm property, the same day.

Beyond the triathlon, Patrissi and Duran are developing plans for a “Be Well Woburn” Mother’s Day activity: “Pilates with your Mom” at the .

For Father’s Day, they’re working on “letterboxing,” an outdoor treasure hunt where participants look for boxes containing a log book and rubber stamp. They stamp the logbook in the letterbox and their own personal logbook with the stamp.

Duran is offering a number of food-focused family education classes on Tuesday nights free or for $25 or less:  “” on April 5; “” on May 3 and “” on May 17. Registration is required at the Recreation Department or on line.

Patrissi focuses more on the activity side of the equation.

The idea for “Be Well Woburn” germinated after Mayor Scott Galvin arranged for a group of city employees to attend a conference on child obesity this past summer at Tufts University, according to Duran.

The group included Duran, Patrissi and Garry Reese, school assistant superintendent of curriculum and assessment; Board of Health nurse Karen De Campo; Recreation Director Rory Lindstrom; Woburn public school nurse leader Marcia Skeffington; health inspector Meghan Doherty; and Galvin, Duran said.

Patrissi and Duran are coordinating the triathlon and “Be Well” nutrition classes with group support, Patrissi said.

“My goal,” in working on “Be Well Woburn” programs, Duran concluded, “is to create a healthier, happier community. Healthier is happier.”