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Chattanooga: Youth track events help lure children to fitness

By: Kathy Gilbert
(Contact)

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A lifetime habit of fitness is sometimes sparked by short, but memorable, events.

The Flagstone Community Association’s Communitywide Youth Triathlon, held Labor Day, in Ooltewah, lasted less than an hour.

But parents and Community Association board members believe it might introduce or inspire children to start a pickup basketball group, ride their bikes more often or show up for swim practice.

“This event is something special for the kids. And I think it gets them motivated — maybe they’ll try out for the track team,” said Sherri Pratt, a Flagstone Community Association board member.

In 1999, USA Triathlon, the governing body for more than 2,000 races nationwide, had 19,060 members. Today, the organization has 110,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents and fans.

Web sites such as Beginner Triathlete (www.beginnertriathlete.com) have become common, offering advice for triathletes of all ages.

The Chattanooga area also has boosted track events for young people, including the Hamilton County elementary cross-country series running downtown this month for third, fourth and fifth graders. The Chattanooga Track Club’s Junior Marathon program, which began in May, continues through the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon and Half Marathon on Nov. 8.

Last month, the Sports Barn hosted its annual Sprint Triathlon downtown. Children as young as nine years old were invited to participate.

The Labor Day Youth Triathlon at the Flagstone Community was less formal than these serious sporting events.

“We’re trying to get the kids active, show them how starting a sport at an early age can be effective, and that exercise is something you can do together,” said Flagstone Community Association President Keith Moreland, owner of Little Gym in East Brainerd.

The Sprint Triathlon featured a one-quarter mile swim, an 8.2-mile bike ride and a 2-mile run. The Flagstone event was scaled down to a 1-mile run, a 2-mile bike ride and a 60-100 yard swim. Children under six ran a mile, biked a mile and swam 3 laps.

The youngest competitor, Mill Creek Day School pre-K student Nicholas Sullivan, was 4. Grayson Sutherland, a 13-year-old home-school student, was the grand-prize winner.

“I like doing it because it’s good for community, it’s very healthy and it gives kids an inspiration to work out, and it’s just fun,” Grayson said.

Buck Grider, an engineer and part of the pool leadership for the community association, said he was proud of the students he’s seen swimming all summer.

“It helps promote fitness and I love to see children out in the afternoons running, biking and training for this event,” he said.

Though he didn’t score a first-place medal, Jack Moreland, an 11-year-old at Hunter Middle School and Mr. Moreland’s sons, said he liked the triathlon.

“It’s really fun. It’s really good exercise for everybody and it’s a way for kids to get fit and run and get healthy,” he said.

Elizabeth Simmons, a 9-year-old fourth grader at Wallace A. Smith Elementary, said she was excited to win first place in the girls division.

“I’m happy and excited, really excited,” she said.

Her mother, Larissa Simmons, a gymnastics coach at Jill’s Gymnastics, said she was pleased with her daughter’s first triathlon.

“I’m so glad all the work she put in worked out for her,” Mrs. Simmons said. “This is good for their health, their general well-being and just brings community together and helps kids make friends.”

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