Kids of Steel Triathlon July 10

2022 Kids of Steel Triathlon Race Director Kirsten Waymann is excited to welcome young triathletes back to the 11th iteration of this beloved race on July 10.

Kids of Steel combines swimming, cycling and running, and will be held at Dundonald Hall at Garrison Petawawa as the facilities are well maintained and ideal for this type of race, she said.

“It is just so nice to see the event running again,” said Waymann. “… I know it must have been so tough for kids with their school. They hadn’t had any sport events for so long.”

The triathlon has become a staple for young Ontario athletes, and people from all over the province typically attend this event.

The triathlon is split into age groups to ensure fairness, and participants range from ages four to 17.

Four to five year olds will swim 25 m, bike 750 m and run 250 m. Ages six to seven will swim 25 m, bike 1.5 km and run 500 m. The eight to nine category will see kids swim 50 m, bike four km and run one km. For the 10 to 11-year-olds, there will be a 100 m swim, a five km bike ride and a 1. 5 km run.

The 12 to 13 age group will swim 200 m, bike eight km and run two km. Those 14 to 15 will do a 300 m swim, a 10 km bike ride, and a three km run. And to cap it off, the 16 to 17-year-olds will swim 300 m, bike 12.5 km and run three km.

Kids three to five years old can also choose to run a duathlon, including a bike lap of 350 m and a run of 100 m.

“The little duathlon is for those up-and-coming athletes,” Waymann said, noting it is one of the cutest events in the Ottawa Valley.

Though the race is designed to maximize fun, it also keeps track of the athletes’ speed and many of the participants have a very positive attitude.

It will be the first time for some participants, while others have come back year after year.

And Kids of Steel wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers. Waymann is still looking for people willing to help out.

“We are encouraging the high school students that still need their community hours to help out,” she said.

The first race begins at 8:45 a.m., and the starting time for each age category will be confirmed at a later date.

Spots are filling up quickly and numbers are capped at 150 racers. It costs $34 for existing Triathlon Ontario members and $40 for non-members.

Duathlon athletes have a $10 entry fee. The top three athletes in each age group will receive an award presented at the end of the event.

Triathletes who sign up early are guaranteed to receive a shirt, and registrations can be made online at petawawakos.wixsite.com/2022.

People who wish to volunteer can reach out to Kirsten Waymann at kirsten.waymann@gmail.com.