Athletes Happy With First Try at Triathlon

Trying something for the first time can be a little intimidating, especially something as physically and mentally demanding as a triathlon.

However, organizers eased the intimidation factor in Linden Saturday.

The course, designed for first-time and beginner triathletes of all ages, offered a great learning experience paired with a wide range of good competition, competitors said.

Out of the 205 registered competitors in Saturday’s FirstTry Triathlon in Linden, 181 participants braved the chilly June morning for the race.

“I’ve been wanting to do a triathlon since I was 17 or 18, and I’m 41 now so I had to try it,” Richard Lee, who took second in his age group with a time of 1:04:27, said. “I absolutely loved it; the water was fantastically warm, it was really great.”

Racers lined up for the 8 a.m. start clad in everything from shorts and t-shirts to wetsuits, ready to take on the 300-yard swim through Byram Lake at Linden County Park.  Then, after a short sprint up the beach, competitors transitioned onto their bikes for a 9.1 mile ride around Loon Lake and back.

“The bike was good, there were some hills, just enough to get you out of the saddle,” Tim Van Horn, who took second overall in his first triathlon with a time of 53:35, said. “It’s a great tri, I recommend anyone who wants to try it to definitely sign up for next year.  It’s not very intimidating and gives you a feel for what it’s all about.”

After the ride, competitors hit the pavement for a two-mile run along Linden County Park’s trails, ending with the spectator-lined finish chute.

“I really liked it; it’s always been a goal of mine to do a triathlon, so I’m happy that I got to do it here,” Karla Ruzicka, the second-place finisher in the 20-24 age group with a time of 1:04:36, said. “I used to run cross country here, and it’s a lot different than it used to be, so it was nice to come back and run the trails.”

Linden native Michael Skinner, who is a student manager for the cross country and track teams at Grand Valley State University, was the day’s winner with a final time of 51:36. It was Skinner's second triathlon.

“It felt good. My swim somehow was extremely strong, which is usually my weakest part, and then I had a good transition time which helped,” Skinner said. “The path is really nice, hilly, but you get to go through the woods and it’s just fun.”

 You can view full results here.