Small Town Races

“It’s not whether people care – it’s about whether you care, whether you’re out

challenging yourself and want to have fun.”

                                                       Chris McCormack, 2 time Ironman World Champion

When I first decided upon races for my first triathlon season I didn’t look at the

name I looked at what was close and what worked with my calendar. Oregon

has many small town triathlons that usually benefit swim programs in their

communities. These races provide a wonderful introduction into the world of

triathlons.

The great thing about these small races has to do with their size. They’re small

and you get a chance to meet a wide variety of people. A lot of the time you may

see them at another race. During an early triathlon in Albany, Oregon I noticed a

group of people dressed in similar kits. They were called the Headhunters Tri

Club and they were from Camas, Washington. They seemed like a fun-loving

group of athletes. They competed hard but didn’t take themselves too seriously.

About a month after Albany I was competing at another race down the road from

Albany in Lebanon. Once again a large group of folks from the Headhunters

were in attendance. At the conclusion of the race I struck up a conversation with

Denise Croucher, the founder of the Headhunters. I mentioned that I was new to

the sport and that it was fun to see a group of people supporting the smaller

races, encouraging others, and having fun. In my conversation with her I

discovered she had done several Ironman competitions. She noted that a large

part of her group at Lebanon was training for the Kona half and that several of

them would be heading off on a post-ride bike ride. We talked about the race

and how fun these small community races were for the participants. So many

serious athletes, she noted, turned up their nose at the smaller events. She felt

that this was a shame because in her mind these races provided the opportunity

for competition, camaraderie, and fun. We discussed that even though these

races may lack the glitter and glitz of the premier races they were the foundation

of the sport. It was a fun afternoon and I left Lebanon with a greater appreciation

of the event and of the sport.

Small races hold a special place in my heart. They gave me my first racing

experience, my first competition, and my first age-group win. This year I have a

number of big races planned but I also plan on participating in some other small

races. Races that I didn’t get to experience last year that are in different places.

Though the location may change the distance will be the same and the

experiences will be equally unique as well as enthralling. As Chris McCormack

notes, “Events provide the canvas on which you can paint your own picture of

experience. All forms of racing in this sport are relevant, whether it’s Ironman or

not, every challenge is worthy and special. When you start to assess races not

on the challenge but on the logo and ‘what others will think’, you start to miss the

true spirit of the sport.”