PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The organizations of past Aroostook Youth Triathlons in Presque Isle are changing things up a bit with a “Splash and Dash” that involves swimming and running, but no biking.
The Star City Splash and Dash will take place at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturday, June 16, with additional events planned in Mapleton and Fort Fairfield.
“A Splash and Dash is a fun and fast-growing sport that combines running and swimming, with the focus on participation rather than competition,” explained Jamie Guerrette, TAMC’s community health specialist. “This seemed like a better fit to us. The biking component of the triathlon brought particular challenges. It was hard for some to transport their bikes to campus, bikes might not pass the required safety check, and it wasn’t ideal to having less experienced riders on wet pavement when it was rainy.
“With swimming and running, we avoid those complications and make the event more accessible to all who want to take part,” she added.
TAMC and UMPI will offer the Star City Splash and Dash in partnership with SAD 1 Adult and Community Education and a business sponsor. All children who will be between 8 and 12 by December 31 of this year are invited to take part. Athletes will swim 50 yards and run one mile.
TAMC will offer a Splash and Dash in Mapleton on Saturday, June 30, and in Fort Fairfield on Friday, July 20. Participants at each of the three activities will earn an event T-shirt and a medal; those who take part in all three events will earn the “Triple Crown” title and a trophy.
To help children train for any or all of these events, a Star City Splash and Dash Club will get underway on Friday, April 27, at UMPI. Participants will train for six weeks with coaches, both in the pool and running, along with fun conditioning activities iled by staffers from the Northern Lighthouse.
The course runs on Fridays through June 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. The cost of the club, offered through SAD 1 Adult and Community Education, is $30 and includes registration for the Star City Splash & Dash, a club T-shirt and an event T-shirt. Participants from SAD 1 will be bused to the campus after school; children from other communities must arrange transportation.
“We are always looking for fun, educational and healthy programs for SAD 1 students to participate in after school. Partnering with both TAMC and UMPI to offer the Star City Splash and Dash Club does just that,” said LeRae Kinney, director of Adult and Community Education. “The Tri-Club was a huge success last year and we are excited to be working with the same partners again this year on a similar event.”
“We are so pleased to have partnered with TAMC since 2012 to co-present the Youth Triathlon and now the Star City Splash and Dash as special events for our local youth,” said UMPI President Ray Rice. “We are happy to be the host of events like this that showcase so well the work our organizations do to get kids excited about physical activity and healthy lifestyles.”
To register for the Star City Splash and Dash, visit msad1.coursestorm.com. Details are forthcoming on registration for the Mapleton and Fort Fairfield events. The cost to register for each event is $15, with reduced rates for participating in multiple events.
For the Star City event, there will be a final preparation day Friday, June 15, that will include a question and answer session, race packet pick-up, and a chance for kids to run through the course.
“Because we want every child who wants to take part to be able to do so, we are also offering scholarships for those who need it,” Guerrette said.
For more information, contact Guerrette at 768-4008 or jguerrette@emhs.org.
