Kids get into act of doing a triathlon

8/12/05

By MARK PATTON
NEWS-PRESS SENIOR WRITER

They learn it's not about winning, it's about finishing

The Santa Barbara Kids Triathlon is getting longer, bigger -- and younger.

Although 12-year-old Parker Funk defended his championship in the second annual event, the race attracted a large of batch of 6-year-old newcomers -- 16 in the field of 58. The total number of entries was 20 more than last year.

"It was longer than last year, so it was harder, and there was more competition," said Funk, who edged 10-year-old Grant Schroeder at the finish line on the UCSB Track. The race capped a two-week triathlon camp sponsored by Momentum 4 Life.

It was held last year at Los Ba–os del Mar Pool and the Santa Barbara Harbor area, but began this time at UCSB's Campus Pool. It featured a 100-meter swim, two-mile bike ride and one-mile run.

Both Funk and Schroeder are from active triathlon families.

"We talk about it a lot at home," said Schroeder. "That makes it fun, because everybody in my family has done at least two triathlons now."

Race director Marcie Kjoller noted that many of the competitors were the children of adult triathletes.

"But it's also happening in reverse," said Kjoller, "where the kids are doing it and the parents are thinking, 'This looks interesting. If my 6-year-old can go out and do a triathlon, I might be able to do something, too.'"

Her own 10-year-old daughter, Alanna, was among the racers.

"You take away from your family to do something like this, and getting to look at it through her eyes was exciting," said Kjoller. "She was thrilled to be here.

"She didn't think she was a runner five days ago. She didn't think she could do a mile two days ago. And yesterday it was, 'I can do it, Mom. I'm ready to do it.' And it's just exciting to see."

Schroeder, the son of former UCSB swimmers Richard and Dawn Schroeder, led the pack out of the pool, but Funk passed him during the bike portion and held off Schroeder's late charge on the track.

Both are versatile athletes. Funk plays tennis, soccer, basketball and even golf, while Schroeder is also a multi-sport competitor. He recently completed a successful season as a centerfielder and first baseman with the Goleta Valley South Little League 10-and-under All-Stars.

"He pushed me a lot, and I like that," said Schroeder. "I had a good race, and so did he."

All 58 racers received awards.

"We talk at the beginning of the race that it's not about winning or losing, that it's about finishing," said Kjoller. "Adults know that when someone says, 'I did a triathlon,' adults don't ask, 'Did you win?' They just say, 'Wow!'

"And that's what we emphasized in this camp -- that to accomplish a triathlon is a 'Wow!' And they all did it."

ANA ELISA FUENTES/NEWS-PRESS
Competitors rush to put on their shoes before starting on the bicycle segment of the Santa Barbara Kids Triathon.