Warrnambool Tri Club to host Couch to Coast Family Triathlon

The club is hosting its Couch to Coast Family Triathlon day on Saturday and its Killarney Triathlon on Sunday.

President Ian Barnes said 35 people participated in the Warrnambool-based duathlon in October - nearly double the amount in 2018.

"We're going really well, at our duathlon last month we had the biggest ever participation (in that event)," he said.

READ MORE:

Barnes added the club had experienced higher-levels of participation at its training.

"Families are getting involved, some of the triathletes of the past are getting back involved," he said.

Barnes believes the club's strong calendar of events has helped bring past members back to the club.

The president said the club was hosting more training sessions to help increase participation.

That includes running training, open-water swims, pool swims and practice triathlon days.

He said he believed training sessions helped make the sport more accessible for newcomers.

"It has helped break down barriers for some people," he said.

Warrnambool's Renee Johnson has become involved with the club in recent years.

She agrees club training sessions make it easier to get involved with the sport.

Johnson said swimming with a group helped people overcome the anxiety associated with open-water swimming.

She will participate in the women's non-competitive triathlon on Saturday at Killarney Recreational Reserve.

Johnson took part in the inaugural women's non-competitive triathlon last year which had about 30 participants.

"It was good because it was a really supportive group and really encouraging for new people to triathlons," she said.

"It's heaps of fun so there's no pressure because it's non-competitive."

Barnes said there were plenty of women involved in last year's event who were doing their first triathlon.

Johnson said the 200 metre swim, eight kilometre bike ride and two km run was a great distance to get involved in the sport.

"I think it's a manageable distance," she said of the free of charge event.

She said the beauty of the 200m swim leg was that you don't have to swim.

"You can do a bit of a run through the water, I know lots of the girls did that last year," she said.

She added it was possible to do that given the short distance.

Johnson competed in her first triathlon three years ago, taking part in the Melbourne-based Australian Corporate Triathlon series with her work.

"Just through that I got involved and was keen to be a bit better at it," she said.

Johnson, who enjoys the variety of the sport, joined the Warrnambool Tri Club last year and is now on its committee.

She encouraged anyone interested in triathlon to come to Killarney and check it out.

"Just give it a go and I think you won't look back because it's a really good group and there are lots of events for all abilities through the season," she said.

"You certainly don't need a high-level of fitness to compete."

The Couch to Coast Family Triathlon day will also include a family-friendly 'Splash Dash and Dawdle' (50m swim, one km bike ride, 200m run) and juniors events.

The Killarney Triathlon, also at the Killarney Recreational Reserve, starts at 9am on Sunday and includes a 500m swim, 16km bike ride and 4km run.

There will also be a Come and Tri event which involves a 250m swim, eight km bike ride and two km run.

Barnes said he was grateful to everyone making the events possible.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.