Fourth annual Tri-Lobster Triathlon pushes the limits of endurance for 240 athletes

SUMMERSIDE – Triathletes from across Canada flocked with anxious anticipation to the Summerside boardwalk early Sunday morning to see how far they can push their mind and body with endurance in the fourth annual Subaru Charlottetown Tri-Lobster Triathlon.
“Six of the races are qualifiers for the world championships next year, so it’s very exciting for those athletes who place first in their age group,” said race director Marian Grant while acknowledging that 70 Islanders participated in the event that included the oldest in the race at 75. A total of 240 athletes competed overall.
For sprint and standard, the Tri-Lobster Triathlon is an official age-group world championship qualifying event for the 2019 ITU world triathlon final in Lausanne, Switzerland. The event also paves the way for the winner in sprint duathlon, standard duathlon, aquabike and aquathon to attend the 2019 ITU multi-sport world championships festival in Spain.
Tatiana Kelly, aged 18, from Stratford P.E.I., said she’s constantly training for endurance races throughout the year.
“I started triathlon three years ago and entered last year the Canadian Games. A couple of weeks ago there was a race in Georgetown, P.E.I., and I participated, so I’m constantly training,” she chimed.
Kelly shared a tip for others planning to participate in gruelling endurance races.
“I use key words for motivation to keep going during the race, like a cadence to keep moving.”
There were several races on the go throughout the morning, but the main event consisted of a swim, cycle and sprint.
Athletes dove into Summerside’s harbour, where they navigated through a designated route. Once they made it back to shore, they made their way to a station adjacent to Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant. Bikes were laid aside for an intensive ride through the downtown, before one last sprint along the boardwalk to the finish line.
Janessa Klatt of Halifax, N.S., said the scenic, fast and flat course was ideal.
“This is my first time coming to P.E.I., and the race (Sunday) went great. We had the perfect weather, the water was calm with barely a ripple, so the swim felt good to me, and the bike and sprint is on a flat and fast course,” commented the 24-year-old.
She continued, “My Dad got me involved in sports when I was about five-years-old, so I have been doing this my entire life and it’s just a part of me. I love the comradery here and I want to say thank you to the volunteers and officials for putting on this great event today.”
The Atlantic championship races are the sprint non-draft and standard categories. There will be a prize for the top three overall male and female, first in the age groups.
For more information on the event and to see the results visit, www.tripei.com/trilobster.