Drumheller has hit the fitness map with the introduction of the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon and the construction of the Badlands Community Facility. One man wants to add another event to the list.
Morgan Syvertsen, science camp coordinator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and fitness buff, is organizing the Valley’s first triathlon, which combines running, swimming, and cycling into one race.
Syvertsen is a regular face at the Aquaplex and has participated in the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon. Syvertsen has also done triathlons in the past and found quite a few people here in Drumheller who participate as well.
“It started with people talking. I’ve met several people who have done triathlons and are planning on doing more. Having done them myself, I thought it would be cool to do our own,” said Syvertsen.
The large number of physically active residents and the facilities that are here add to the appeal of a Drumheller triathlon.
“From what I’ve been able to determine, there’s a lot of runners in town, a lot of swimmers, and a lot of people out biking. Why not bring everybody together?” said Syvertsen. “We’ve got a great pool and fantastic places to ride and run.”
Training for a triathlon is intense, but help is available. Training clinics and days are an option to help less experienced triathletes. Also, one of the ideas being tossed around is bringing coaches in from Calgary to run clinics.
The addition of the triathlon could help bring more people to the Valley, helping the local economy, and could help put Drumheller more firmly on the physical activity map.
Looking ahead, Syversten hopes the triathlon could become larger. This year the swim will take place in the Aquaplex, but in subsequent years be moved to a nearby lake should the race take off.
At the moment, the triathlon needs volunteers and participants. Residents can either race individually or as a team and do either sprint or Olympic distances. June 2 has been scheduled for the triathlon.
Anyone interested can contact Syvertsen at meistermogie@gmail.com.
“The reason I do triathlons is that it’s so much fun to cross train like this, you don’t get stuck in a rut,” said Syvertsen. “It’s a good way to balance your overall fitness,”