Lake Padden Triathlon participants lined themselves up at the edge of Lake Padden in anticipation of the start of the race early Saturday morning.
A triathlon features three different sports in one event: swimming, running and biking.
Catherine Townsend, front left, of Olympia, gets a helping hand while stepping down the bank onto the lake shore as she, and the rest of her heart, move into the water to wait for the start of the Lake Padden Triathlon on June 28. photo by Kathryn Bachen
With 642 people registered, not including relay teams, Lake Padden was peppered with triathlon participants as well as many local supporters.
Lance Romo, recreational coordinator for Bellingham Parks and Recreation, said the goal of the Lake Padden Triathlon is to benefit the community of Bellingham and to get people active by participating in outdoor activities.
Bellingham Parks and Recreation does not make a profit off the triathlon, it is simply meant to bring the community closer together, Romo said.
The triathlon originally took place in Blaine and was moved to Lake Padden several years ago, Romo said.
The Lake Padden Triathlon has gone through several different courses since 1991, when Romo became the coordinator.
The Lake Padden Triathlon has two different racing categories: competitive and recreational.
While the competitive category is meant for athletes who have intensely trained, the recreational category features a lot of first-time participants.
Approximately 85 to 90 percent of recreational triathlon participants in the past have been first-time participants, Romo said.
Western senior and triathlon participant Alex Stowe placed first in his age division of 18- to 24-years-old and ranked 33rd place overall.
Stowe said this is one of his favorite races because it is a local event.
“Local support makes a big difference when competing, especially in a tight knit community like Bellingham,” Stowe said.
Stowe used the Lake Padden Triathlon as a preparation race for the upcoming Lake Stevens Half-Ironman.
Stowe has been training for months for both races.
The hardest part of the triathlon was pushing himself to the limit and doing his very best, Stowe said.
In addition to individual participants, three people could also form a relay team, and each team member can participate in one section.
Western head supervisor for Academic Custodial Services (ACS) Heather Dodd took part in the running portion of the race while her sister Sarah Richardson and her husband did the swimming and biking, respectively.
Dodd said she decided to do the running portion because she did not think she would be able to complete a whole triathlon.
“This is my first triathlon and I’m excited for the adrenaline, the energy and just finishing the race,” Dodd said.
Richardson did the swimming portion and was the first woman out of the water.
She said the best and worst part of a triathlon is training for three different sports.
“You don’t get sick of just training for one sport. You can swim one day, bike one day, and never get in a rut,” Richardson said. “It is hard though getting enough time in the day to train for three different sports with a full-time job.”
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training raised money and participated for a cause while all other participants were unattached.
There were approximately 40 to 50 people participating in Team in Training on Saturday.
John Morgan, a participant of Team in Training, said that in addition to helping a cause, participants also benefit personally and gain good social connections by training with other teammates.
Morgan suffered a biking accident five weeks before the race that prevented him from competing, but he looks forward to signing up next year.
Morgan said the Bellingham community is very close-knit which makes a big difference when it comes to events like this.
“The community feeling is so special to our area,” Morgan said. “It adds something that unless you experience it, you can’t really appreciate.”
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