Forty is fine.
When the first group of about 40 intrepid athletes dipped their feet into Elk Lake 40 years ago, in what is now sa国际传媒鈥檚 oldest triathlon, they couldn鈥檛 have imagined the sporting revolution they would help to create.
No one in the inaugural Sri Chinmoy Triathlon could have imagined the new hybrid sport on which they were embarking, would one day produce, out of Victoria, an Olympic gold and silver medallist in Simon Whitfield, and multiple-time Ironman Hawaii world champions in Peter Reid and Lori Bowden.
It was, after all, only the third triathlon held in North America. Six years later, Chinmoy came from New York to attend his namesake race in 1985.
It later became the Self-Transcendence Triathlon, still in honour of the late spiritual leader with the worldwide following, who believed that world and inner peace could be attained through music, art and long-distance endurance sports.
A modest cairn at Hamsterly Beach at Elk Lake commemorates the historical significance of the race as sa国际传媒鈥檚 first triathlon.
The 40th edition of the event, now known as the Elk Lake Triathlon, takes place this morning in the lake, on the trails around it and on the roads of the Saanich Peninsula.
The cosy nature of the race hasn鈥檛 changed. It is limited to 450 participants and is not as glitzy or big as the annual Victoria Ironman 70.3, held in the same lake, and on the same trails and roads, earlier each summer.
But its homespun charm, including the post-race pancake breakfast, is integral to its appeal.
The main race is Olympic distance (1,500-metre swim, 40-kilometre bike and 10K run). There is also the sprint-distance (750-metre swim, 20K bike and 5K run), duathlon (5K run, 40K cycle, 10K run), aquabike (1,500-metre swim and 40K bike) and relay.
Former pro racer Janet Nielsen of Victoria, who was a regular podium placer on triathlons throughout Western sa国际传媒 with two wins and eight career second-place finishes, will be among the racers to watch today.
鈥淪o many national team athletes have used this as a preparatory event in the past. But the historical nature, especially on this anniversary year, is the fun part of this race,鈥� said Nielsen, whose aunt, Karen Rainey, is a former women鈥檚 winner of the event.
Nielsen retired from pro racing in 2014, but stays involved in the sport. 鈥淚t鈥檚 to stay in a healthy lifestyle, and it provides a nice goal through the summer,鈥� Nielsen said. And you can鈥檛 beat the pancakes at the end, she added.
