The Marshall Recreation Center offers a variety of activities for its members, and for those wanting a true challenge, it hosts an annual event meant to test speed, skill and grit.

The Marshall Indoor Triathlon combines running, biking and swimming into a unique race for those willing to try it Saturday, March 7.  

Competitors begin in the pool, swimming 300 yards in groups of six and then change into dry clothes. They transition to the spin bikes and are timed for an eight mile spin on a base resistance level. Finally, competitors finish the race with a two mile  run on a treadmill. Each segment of the race is timed and added together to find a competitor’s official time. 

Michele Muth, the director of Campus Recreation, described the process of timing between each station.

“The volunteers are crucial at each stop to record the times correctly,” Muth said. “We have stop watches in the pool, but the bike and the treadmill take the time at the other stops; the volunteers merely record. It’s all hands on deck to be sure it all comes together correctly.”

Besides running the timing and transitions, volunteers also create a positive environment for the competitors, especially for an indoor event.

“We have music playing and volunteers watching the times and distances for each competitor,” Muth said. “There are always a lot of volunteers up there cheering people on.”

The Marshall Indoor Triathlon was first held in 2011, modeled off the outdoor triathlon by St. Mary’s Hospital. Since its inception, participation has grown to over 100 competitors some years. Angela Smith, the owner of Graphic Solutions in Huntington and dedicated participant in the triathlon, has witnessed the growth of the event firsthand.

“I have been both a participant and a volunteer for all the years that the triathlon has happened, … and I’ve enjoyed doing both,” Smith said. 

Smith was previously an outdoor triathlete and found the springtime competition a great way to stay in shape outside the regular period of triathlons. 

“It’s good training, and I think the indoor triathlon specifically at Marshall is good because it’s a great venue, first of all, for spectators and for participants,” Smith said, “and it’s a good safe environment, so you can do all the things that you need to do to get ready for your next triathlons.” 

Smith relishes her time as an athlete in the competition, but she thinks most highly of her experiences as a volunteer. For such a complex race, it can be difficult for participants to handle the physical and mental stress. Smith finds  volunteering after competing provides her unique insight into the needs of the competitors.

“I really think my volunteerism is what I’ve gotten the most out of because I know what it takes to do a triathlon,” Smith said, “and so I’m so happy to encourage, especially new people, coming into the sport.”

Smith has now handed the flame to newcomers, including Alexis Wolgemuth, former Marshall Women’s Soccer goalie. This year will be Wolgemuth’s second time participating in the event.

“Signing up last year was a last-minute decision,” Wolgemuth said. “I am always looking for new ways to challenge myself, and participating in an introductory triathlon seemed like a fantastic opportunity.”

Wolgemuth says the triathlon has exposed her to different facets of training she hadn’t been involved with before. Swimming, specifically, was a weak spot for her.

“Within a week, I attempted to learn the fundamentals of freestyle swimming from a soccer teammate. I enjoyed the process and began swimming semi-regularly even after the competition,” Wolgemuth said. 

Since last year’s competition, Wolgemuth has focused on widening the scope of her training while focusing on the overall theme of speed.

“I try to balance a regimen of swimming, biking and running while incorporating sufficient strength training,” Wolgemuth said. “The indoor triathlon is a short-distance race, so I try to incorporate faster intervals for speed, especially on the treadmill.”

Registration is open until race day for participants 13 and up on the Marshall Rec Center’s website. There will also be a Splash and Dash for ages 5-12.

Claire Johnson can be contacted at [email protected].