Kids of Steel returns to Garrison July 8

Young people will be able to test their mettle at the upcoming 9th annual Kids of Steel.

On July 8, Garrison Petawawa will be the best place to be for these budding athletes. Youth aged six to 17 will get to swim, bike and run age-specific distances at the official triathlon while a duathlon will be available for kids ages three to five.

It has grown to be a highly successful event and maxed out at 150 participants last year.

“We are very fortunate,” said Kirsten Waymann, Race Director. “We have people coming from Perth on a regular basis, from Ottawa on a regular basis. We have a pretty good reputation for being well-rounded and well organized. People enjoy that.”

Though the Kids of Steel is primarily a triathlon, adding the duathlon ensures that the younger ones don’t feel left out.

“The younger kids see their older siblings running and they want to do something,” said Waymann. “But often ... they aren’t ready for the swimming portion so this way, they get to do two out of three of the events.”

To make sure that the kids are safe on the Garrison, large signs will be placed with the race routes and a veritable army of volunteers will be on location to give directions, help out with potential injuries and return to the starting line any children who are too tired to continue.

“And at the end line we have bagels and oranges and freezies and all sorts of goodies to munch on,” said Waymann. “Everybody gets a finisher medal to get that sense of accomplishment that they’ve done it.”

Six to seven-year-olds will swim 25 m, bike 1.5 km and run 500 m. The eight to nine-year-olds will swim 50 m, bike 4 km and run 1 km while the ten to 11-year-olds will do 100 m of swimming, 5 km of biking and will run 1.5 km. The 12 to 13 age group will swim 200 m, bike 8 km and run 2 km. The kids aged 14 to 15 will swim 300 m, bike 10 km and run 3 km while the 16 to 17 group will do much of the same, though they will cycle 12.5 km. Next year, organizers are planning on adding an extra category for those who are four to five.

The registration deadline is July 5. The entry fee is $40 and $10 for the duathlon.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit petawawakos.wixsite.com/2018.