Participation key for these Kids of Steel

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The Kids of Steel triathlon was a huge success this year with more children than expected showing up to splash, cycle and dash in a non-competitive race around Windsor Aug. 17.

Race director Kevin Walsh said, with over an anticipated 100 kids participating in the event, it was the biggest turnout for a Kids of Steel race in Nova Scotia ever.

“Having more than expected show up is a great thing,” Walsh said. “I love seeing this many people. The main aim is to interest kids in triathlon and get them active at an early age.”

This year marked the fourth annual Kids of Steel triathlon in Windsor. Those involved in the race received a KOS T-shirt, free hot dog, gift bag and participation medal.

Windsor Recreation programmer Jim Lambert says it takes a lot of organization to prepare for an event of this sort, but good marshals and volunteers make it work well.

Seeing the smiling faces of kids coming across the finish line makes the whole day worthwhile, Lambert said. “The kids become their own Olympian for a couple of hours.”

Sam Lake, 11, swam, biked and hiked through the Kids of Steel course in Windsor and was left tired but satisfied with her efforts by the end of the morning. “It was really fun,” she said.

Swimming was the first part of the race and definitely the best, Lake said. “Because, by the end, I wondered how much was left. I was tired from all the stuff in the beginning.”

Stacy Abriel of Kingston entered her three children because she wanted them to have exercise and to keep encouraged through a real sense of community.

“It was exciting and a lot of fun just cheering them on,” Abriel said. “I liked that it was not competitive because it took the stress off. That way, everyone’s a winner in the end.”