It is 6 a.m. on a cold, dark October morning, but Keith McQuarrie is one of several people sacrificing sleep to compete for the SIUC triathlon team.

McQuarrie, SIUC’s academic adviser for the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, knows the feeling of being tired. But every time he competes in the three-course event, which consists of running, biking, and swimming, he quickly gets over the tough conditions.

It is cold, dark, your stomach is hurting and I’m thinking, Why am I doing this to myself?’ McQuarrie said. And then the race starts, and all those feelings go away.

Advertisement

Karen Tabor, SIUC Triathlon Club president, said finishing a triathlon always has the same effect on her.

Every time I finish one, I just feel so good, Tabor said. It is just a really rewarding feeling.

The club takes part in competitions from March through October, but the triathlon is an all-year sport. The club trains during the off-season by doing lighter workouts.

We still do all of our sports, but at a lower intensity, Tabor said. During the off-season, you try to build your base that’s where you try to get a good mileage base in all your events. We also do weightlifting and other workouts.

The triathlon club was established in 1987, and members competed Saturday at the Union County Colorfest Bi-Athlon in Anna-Jonesboro, which featured 5 kilometers of running and 18 miles of biking.

The races are set up in both male and female age groups with an average of five-year increments in each age group. There also was an overall male and female champion at the contest.

The club had three age group winners. Kristen Bradley won the 22-25 age group, Stacey Riseborough won the 26-34 age group, and Andrew Otto won the 26-29 age group.

Advertisement*

Riseborough, a 28-year-old nuclear medicine technologist at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, said joining the club offers benefits other than getting in shape.

It’s good for people wanting to start training, Riseborough said. If nothing else, it’s a good way to meet nice people. That’s the way I met my husband.

Riseborough joined the club three years ago to get a well-rounded approach to her training.

I started as a runner, but I kept getting injured, Riseborough said. I started training with the club and began cycling and swimming.

The club is open to anyone at all levels of racing experience, and no tryout is required. Anybody in the community and in the University can join.

We have people in the club who have never done a triathlon, and we have people who have done the Ironman (the world’s most popular triathlon race) before, Tabor said.

The club meets every first and third Wednesday of the month and teaches a lot of techniques to help members train.

The club works on transitions at the meetings, which is the interval between each event.

The cars in (the) Indianapolis (500) are all very similar they are very restricted as far as design, but they win their race in the pit, McQuarrie said. Transition is the same way in the triathlon.

Tabor said the variety of events and workouts keep each member busy and keep the body in shape.

Triathlon contestants are in shape from their legs, stomach and up, Tabor said. There is a lot to choose from to do so you won’t get bored.

There will be a triathlon on campus in April, and Tabor said now is the perfect time to start training.

It is a great beginner’s triathlon for people to do, Tabor said, and now is a good time to start coming to the club and getting ready.

FACTOID:The SIUC triathlon club meets the first and third Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be at 7 tonight at the Recreation Center in the Alumni Lounge, and newcomers are welcome. For more information call Keith McQuarrie at 453-7270.