Lazyman triathlon to encourage exercise, vary workouts

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

01.16.2018

Story by Halle Thornton 

50th Space Wing

Twenty-eight Schriever Airmen have signed up for the annual Lazyman Triathlon beginning Feb. 1.
This is the 16th consecutive year the Schriever Air Force Base Fitness Center has hosted this competition.
Participants must run 26.2 miles, swim 2.4 miles and ride a distance of 112 miles on a bicycle during the month of February, in no particular order.
The triathlon’s process is based on the honor system, and the fitness center provides a tracker that allows competitors to see how many miles or laps they have completed.
Due to the winter weather, participants are able to run or bicycle inside at the fitness center or their own gyms.
Seth Cannello, 50th Force Support Squadron fitness center director, said the event is difficult, and most registrants do not realize how hard it is until mid-month.
“At that time, a majority of the participants panic and either quit or buckle down,” he said. “Then they are forced to work out extremely hard the last couple weeks of the month. It's imperative to plan out your month to ensure you're giving yourself enough time. If you don't, you'll never finish.”
Registration ends Feb. 7, and you must turn in your tracking sheet before noon March 2.
If a participant completes the event, five Commander’s Cup points will be rewarded to their respective squadron.
If you do not finish or turn in your calculator by the deadline, five points will be deducted.
Participants earn T-shirts for competing.
Autumn Gray, 50th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, has participated in the triathlon since a coworker originally encouraged her five years ago.
“I also like the time of year they have it,” she said. “It’s a good mid-winter motivation and sets you up for the spring. It’s nice if you have time to fit it into your work day. You can do a little bit each day.”
Although she has never participated in a traditional Iron Man triathlon, she has competed in marathons and half-marathons, and enjoys the running portion the most.
“I also enjoy the swimming because on my own I feel like I don’t do that enough,” she added. “It’s such a good workout, and you realize you should be incorporating that into your weekly workouts.”
Cannello’s goal in offering this variation on a traditional Iron Man is to increase how often people are exercising and to show people they can vary their workouts by adding activities like swimming.
Gray appreciates the flexibility of the competition and said it works out for most people and their different work schedules.
“I enjoy talking to other people who are doing it too because of the tracking,” she added. “The accountability piece is really nice, and you get a T-shirt at the end.”
For more information or to sign up for the Lazyman Triathlon, contact the fitness center at 567-6628.

• Date Taken: 01.16.2018
• Date Posted: 01.18.2018 11:55
• Story ID: 262430
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US