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Oak Brook Park District hosts indoor spring triathlon
Janet Aleksiak will compete for the the third consecutive year in the Oak Brook Park District Indoor Sprint Triathlon. | Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 1, 2013 6:13AM
OAK BROOK — Suzanne Maicke is glad she listened to her daughter.
In 2011, the Western Springs resident took her daughter’s suggestion and participated in the Oak Brook Park District Indoor Spring Triathlon.
“My daughter started doing triathlons, and when I turned 50 she said I have to try it,” Maicke said. “I work out at the Oak Brook Park District and had done some other events, so I decided to give this a try.”
Maicke, now 52, enjoyed her first experience in the Oak Brook triathlon and returns for her third consecutive attempt when the park district hosts athletes March 3. This is the fourth year the Oak Brook Park District is hosting the event, which attracted 39 participants in 2012.
The Oak Brook Park District Indoor Sprint Triathlon is the final competition in the Midwest Indoor Sprint Triathlon Series which involved eight other suburban park districts.
The triathlon includes a 10-minute swim and 15 minutes each running on a treadmill and riding a spin bike.
Anyone who competes in four or more indoor triathlons in the series qualifies for a chance to win prizes. Prizes are given to the overall female and male winners for the entire series.
“I’m never on the podium, but I really have a good time,” Maicke said. “I do it mainly to keep in shape. I do try to challenge myself.”
Janet Aleksiak also will be competing in her third Oak Brook triathlon, despite breaking her wrist about a month ago.
“This is a good way to keep skills up during the winter, and it kind of keeps me in shape for outdoor events,” she said.
Jorge Cordova also finds the indoor triathlon good preparation for outdoor events later in the year.
“It gives you a bug when you do an indoor event like this,” he said. “You want to do an outdoor sprint triathlon after doing this.”
Heat start times for the Oak Brook competition are: 7 a.m., 7:20 a.m., 7:40 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9 a.m., and 9:20 a.m.
Up to six triathletes will compete per heat; the first 48 applicants will be able to participate.
The recorded distance traveled for each portion of the race measures scores. An awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of the last heat. Overall first-place winners for both men and women will receive plaques. First- and second-place winners in each age group will receive medals.
Full results will be posted online at http://www.obparks.org/triathlon/.
