HARLINGEN — Kid power.
The best time to get in the fitness habit is in your youth, and that’s why Bicycle World RGV is holding its third annual Power Kids Triathlon.
“The city has really embraced the triathlon,” said Ana Adame, director of operations at Bicycle World.
She’s super excited because in previous years the event was held at the Harlingen Country Club. This year it’ll be at the more kid-friendly Lon C. Hill Park on July 21.
“This is the first year it’s been in the city limits,” she said of the event, which includes swimming, bike riding and running.
She said she’s met with Adam Diaz, aquatics youth supervisor for Harlingen, who’s been very supportive.
“We met with him at the Lon C. Hill Pool,” she said. “He showed us exactly what we could do, offering as much as he could to make our event very successful and safe for the children.”
Kids participating in the triathlon were looking forward to it.
“I’m excited about it,” said Isabella Boreaux, 8, a veteran triathlete.
“I don’t know why,” she said. “I just like doing it. I like to swim.
Parents are pretty jazzed about it, too.
“I’m totally excited,” said Isabella’s father Jeremy Bergeaux.
“It gives them something to look forward to,” he said. “It shows them that hard work pays off, and I love that they get out there and they’re active.”
Karis Pena said she’s delighted her 7-year-old daughter Victoria is getting so involved in triathlons. In the past two years she’s participated in two kids’ triathlons in Harlingen and another two in Brownsville.
“She really loves triathlons,” Pena said. “I’m a triathlete myself.”
Ah, so that’s where it comes from. Parents getting their kids involved in sports they love. Leading by example. More and more, that seems to be the way of things in the move toward fitness.
“It helps with her confidence,” she said. “She loves to run, running is her strength. We want our kids to be healthy and fit and not have issues.”
Adame said Bicycle world has designed a route that will take riders around the area of Lon C. Hill Pool which lies across L Street from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlingen.
“Around the pool we’re going to do the run,” she said. “We’re going to swim first, then we have a bike rout, and then we’re going to run around the pool.”
She said Bicycle World has already coordinated the route with the Harlingen Police Department.
“We’re going to be closing off some areas, barricades,” she said. “Harlingen PD has been very supportive. We took them on the route with us, and we addressed areas of concern, key intersections, because it’s going through a neighborhood.”
The triathletes will compete in divisions by age and gender. Adame said the young triathletes would have timing chips to ensure there’s no disagreement about who comes in first, second, and third places in each division.
“I’m getting lots of adult volunteers,” she said. “The city is giving me four lifeguards for the pool. I’m bringing in people to be in the water with the children.”
Getting kids involved early in exercise activities, such as learning to swim, is very “empowering,” Adame said.
If You Go
WHAT: Bicycle World RGV Powerkids Triathlon
WHEN: July 21
TIME: 7 a.m.
WHERE: Lon C. Hill Park
AGES: For boys and girls ages 7 to 13 years old.
REGISTRATION FEE: $45
REGISTER: www.athleteguild.com
