SPORTS TRAVEL:THE TRIATHLON SEASON has begun, with training already under way for Wicklow Triathlon Club's Beast of the East event, on Sunday, July 26th – and its organisers are appealing for more women to take part.
Triathlon tourism is a niche market but attracts participants from all over the world to Ireland. Irish competitors also travel widely abroad to participate in rival events.
Five athletes from the Wicklow club, whose July event is sponsored by 53 Degrees North, are in Lisbon today to take part in a Half Ironman triathlon: a swim of 1,900m, a cycle of 90km and a run of 21.1km.
The club also has athletes travelling to Barcelona, in Spain, on May 24th for a Half Ironman and to Lanzarote on May 23rd to compete in a full Ironman event – a 3,800m swim, a 180km cycle and a 42.2km run.
Club members will be travelling all over Ireland almost every weekend this summer to participate in events.
The club is looking for more female members, as the current ratio is about three men to each woman. If you need encouragement, the club runs coaching sessions several times a week.
See www.wicklowtri.com