USA Triathlon, the governing body for triathlon sports in the United States, has provided a $1,000 grant to fund a pilot program for a high school triathlon team in the Fort Collins area. The Northern Colorado High School Triathlon Team is a 6 week pilot program open to all area high school students, regardless of experience or ability to pay. The program is the first of its kind in the United States.

The program will be run by Wendy Mader of t2coaching, amateur champion in the 2008 Kona Ironman World Championships. “Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States,” said Mader. “It is a lifetime sport that will allow athletes to compete at all ages, and at different distances,” she said.

The program kicks off during the first week of April, and continues with three workouts a week, including biking, swimming and running, and finishes with the Fort Collins Sprint Triathlon to be held at Edora Park on May 16^th.

“The goal of the team is to give local high school athletes the opportunity to compete in a multisport program that stresses conditioning, achieving personal goals and competing in a Sprint triathlon,” says Mader, who is also the swim coach for boys and girls swimming at Rocky Mountain High School. The May Triathlon, sponsored by the Fort  Collins Club consists of a 450 yard swim, a 13 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile (5 K) run.

In its third week of training 8 of 17 Northern Colorado High School triathletes competed in their first triathlon Sunday April 25th. 15 minute swim, 15 minute bike, 15 minute run. Thanks to everyone that participated and all volunteers. Next up for the kids is the Fort Collins Sprint Triathlon May 16th followed by the Pelican Fest Sprint Triathlon May 29th. I hope to compete soon.