Fifteenth Element Women's Triathlon Coming Up
The 2009 Element Women's Triathlon is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever in the fifteen-year history of the race.

This year's race will be challenged by a record field of participants, many doing their first-ever triathlon. The Element Women's Triathlon started in 1994 and was the first triathlon in Alberta to be staged for women only. The idea was to create an event that would be less intimidating for women new to the sport to take their first step in this sport that is often called "gruelling" and is connected in the public mindset to ultra-endurance events like Ironman Hawaii. This race is much shorter than an Ironman, but participants will still have to master all three disciplines. The women in our race will swim 750 metres, bike twenty kilometres, and run five kilometres. This year's race will once again be held at the Black Gold Centre in Leduc on Sunday, September 6, starting at 8:00 a.m. Changes to the run and bike courses this year and last year will have the participants biking and running in close proximity to the Black Gold Centre, so friends and family who come out to watch and cheer them on will have plenty of opportunities to provide moral support.

The Element Women's Triathlon aims to provide all the participants with a great experience, which is made possible with the contribution of the Alberta Triathlon Association, corporate supporters like Speedo and Aquasphere Wetsuits, and local sponsors like Hammer Nutrition. After their race, participants will have the opportunity to try some ART, care of Back on Track Chiropractic, and some relaxing and restorative massage, care of David Hewko Chiropractic & Massage, followed by a pancake breakfast.

The race is one of the many races sanctioned annually by the Alberta Triathlon Association, the provincial governing body for the sport of triathlon. The Alberta Triathlon Association's goal is to encourage the growth of the sport and to ensure that races like the Element Women's Triathlon are conducted in a safe manor. Triathlon has recently been called the fastest-growing sport in North America and both the Alberta Triathlon Association and the women participating in this weekend's race are key parts of this growth. This weekend's race might not be the first for many of the women participating, but for many it will be the start of a venture into a quirky sport that appeals to more and more people every year.