Canyon Lake Triathlon Club holds Olympic distance event

BY Ariana Shah

The Canyon Lake Triathlon & Fitness Club held its first Olympic distance triathlon of the year on Saturday with 16 athletes participating.

The “Splash and Dash” event, which took place entirely within the City of Canyon Lake, consisted of a 1500 yard swim, followed by a 25-mile bike ride and a 6.3 mile run. Participants completed their swim in the lake and biked from gate to gate. They ran alongside the golf course to finish the triathlon.

Canyon Lake Triathlon and Fitness Club members participated in an Olympic-distance triathlon throughout Canyon Lake Saturday. 

“Participants were not required to do the full Olympic,” Maria Kivrizis, president of the club, said. “We wanted everyone to join. We were open to what participants wanted.”

Of the 16 triathletes who participated in the event, three-fourths completed the entire Olympic-distance triathlon events.

“This event is purely for fun,” Maria said. “Some of us, including myself, use this event as practice as we’re training to enter the Iron Man soon.”

The volunteers also were responsible for putting on the event.

Photos show some of the 16 athletes participating in the three parts of the triathlon: running, biking and swimming.

“We’re so grateful for our volunteers,” Maria said. “We couldn’t have done it without them. The volunteers managed the water stations and checked on cyclists and swimmers.”

The club’s goal is to have one event per month. July’s event will be a club-hosted Super Sprint Family Triathlon on July 17. The event will consist of a ¼ swim, 10K bike and 1.5 mile run and is open to the community. Medals will be awarded to the kids.