Training times three

Hundreds of athletes from across the region hope to make a splash April 25 at the 26th annual Steamboat Classic Triathlon.

Patrick Watson, aquatic supervisor for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said he expects more than 200 competitors will participate in this year's event.

"We have been doing this for over a quarter-century, and that is pretty exciting," he said. "Our numbers have dipped a little in recent years due to the recession, but they are going back up. I think we will have 225 to 250 athletes this year."

He said many people travel to Cape Girardeau for the event; last year, participants came from as far away as Texas.

Watson said the triathlon consists of three parts: a serpentine swim, a bike race and a run.

In the serpentine swim, which is at Central Municipal Pool, an athlete swims to the end of one lane, goes under the lane line and starts swimming the next lane. This process is repeated several times until the entire 450 meters is completed. Watson said a serpentine-style swim allows more athletes in the pool at once.

"Before we did this, it would take about four hours to get all of the swimmers in and out of the pool," he said. The serpentine swim allows the swimming leg of the race to be completed in a little more than an hour.

The second stage of the race, the bike ride, will cover more than 15 miles. Riders will travel the length of the Cape Girardeau Bike Trail twice.

Competitors will then run for the remainder of the race. The five-mile run will take place through downtown Cape Girardeau and end at the pool. While there are a few rolling hills in the course, Watson said the Steamboat Classic is a "family-friendly course."

Watson said there is also an unofficial fourth part to any triathlon: the transitions between the segments. Athletes must learn to quickly and efficiently go from swimming to biking and from biking to running. He said athletes have to train for these transitions.

Steamboat Classic competitor Mike Higgins said the transitions can be a little tricky.

"Transitions were a little nerve wracking for me at first, but you learn what works," he said. "Experience will take care of a lot of that."

Higgins started competing in triathlons several years ago to improve his fitness.

"It started as a New Year's resolution and became a hobby," he said.

The Steamboat Classic marks the start of his triathlon season, during which he will compete in four to seven races.

"It's fun," Higgins said. "It is a growing sport, and you are with a good community of people. You see a lot of the same people."

Higgins said while he competes in triathlons across the region, he looks forward to racing in Cape Girardeau.

"It is nice and comfortable to be in your own backyard," he said.

As a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School, competitor Lauren Castleman said it can be difficult to find time for triathlon training, but she tries to focus on two aspects of the event every day.

The Steamboat Classic is Castleman's only triathlon, but she has competed in it for the past several years.

She said triathlons are strenuous, but the feeling of crossing that finish line is worth the hard work.

"It feels amazing," Castleman said. "You feel like passing out and it is really hard on the body, but it feels so good when you complete it."

The Steamboat Classic Triathlon offers athletes the choice to compete as an individual or part of a team. Participants compete in categories based on their age and gender. There is also a youth division for athletes 19 and younger. Trophies will be awarded to the winners of each division, and all competitors will receive lunch and an event T-shirt.

For more information, or to register online, visit www.cityofcapegirardeau.org.