• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Athletes gear up for the Zephyrhills Spring Sprint Triathlon

March 24, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Athletes gear up for the Zephyrhills Spring Sprint Triathlon
By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
The city of Zephyrhills will be filled with local athletes for the East Pasco Family Branch YMCA Spring Sprint Triathlon March 27.
The YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills, will have a 300-yard swim, an 11-mile bike ride and a 5K run for the triathlon. Registration will be from 6 to 7:30 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m.
Registration for individual athletes is $55 by March 22 and $65 afterward. Registration for relay teams is $95 by March 22 and $105 afterward.
Jen Silvers, executive director for the East Pasco and Dade City YMCA, said she is happy to be organizing the event because she thinks it is something Zephyrhills needs.
“I think people in Zephyrhills are looking for things to do locally,” Silvers said. “This is an opportunity for local athletes to participate in their town. There aren’t really many races happening in Pasco.”
Last year the East Pasco YMCA took over running the triathlon from Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc.
“It was not their area of expertise and it was held at the YMCA anyway so it was natural for us to step in and do it,” Silvers said. “We like to do events throughout the year to build community. We like it because it brings in people from the Zephyrhills area and all over the state.”
There are about 50 people signed up for the race. Some are coming from as far as Colorado and Savannah, Georgia. Most are coming from local areas like Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills.
“This is a good time of year to have a race,” Silvers said. “It is a good introduction to start the season. A lot of experienced athletes use it as a warm up. It is also a good race for people who have never done it before.”
It is a sprint triathlon as opposed to an Olympic triathlon, which means distances are shorter. Since the swim will be in the pool, the race is better for novices.
“The swim will be in a pool which is a little less intimidating,” Silvers said. “It is better than an ocean swim because in a pool you don’t have to deal with the current. Also with a mass swim start, you get kicked or elbowed and that won’t happen in the pool.”
Rhonda Kieper of Wesley Chapel will be participating in her first triathlon.
“I have never been in a triathlon, but I thought it would be a good challenge,” Kieper said. “At first, I didn’t feel very confident, but I have done a few practice runs and now I feel better. They have been so encouraging at the Y. With their support, they have pushed me to the point where I feel like I can do it.”
Kieper spent the last three years working out at the YMCA in Zephyrhills. She has lost 70 pounds and the triathlon is her way of keeping motivated.
“It is good encouragement for me to keep on track for my training,” Silvers said. “I started working out so I could get healthier and lose weight. I have been going to spin classes because I like it and it is something I could do at my fitness level.”
Shane Burke of Land O’ Lakes will be running his first triathlon too. He said he has already been training for five months and is using this as a barometer of whether he would like to participate in more triathlons.
“I always played sports and was athletic until three years ago I wrecked my knee,” Burke said. “I have had two major knee surgeries and as a result I can’t play the sports I used to. Running doesn’t seem to bother me. I am using this as a gauge of whether or not I will want to do more or not. I am super excited, I have been training for a triathlon for five months.”
Since the bike race and 5K run will be on the city’s streets, Silvers said police will be helping to block off roads as participants pass but the streets will not just be blocked all day.
Every athlete who crosses the finish line will get a medal. The first, second and third place athletes in various categories will also get plaques and medals.
The YMCA is also currently raising money for the Building Strong Kids Campaign. Through the campaign, the YMCA provides financial assistance to children and families unable to pay for YMCA’s programs and services. The program gave out $250,000 to help kids and families in the Zephyrhills and Dade City area. All donations for the YMCA are tax deductible.
“We are a charity and we are in the middle of the Building Strong Kids Campaign,” Silvers said. “We need all the help we can get. We were only able to raise $76,000 last year and we had to subsidize the difference through operational costs. There is a big gap of what we give away and what we get. Our goal this year is $86,000.”
The YMCA offers summer camps based on sports like the soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, swim, flag football, cheerleading, strength and conditioning camps.
It also is currently offering programs like youth flag football, Pee Wee soccer, youth soccer, gymnastics, youth swim club and an adult spring basketball league. For information, visit www.tampaymca.org.
If you go:
What: Spring Sprint Triathlon
When: March 27
Where: 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills
Cost: Individual $55 until March 22, after $65
Relay $95 until March 22, after $105Athletes gear up for the Zephyrhills Spring Sprint Triathlon

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

The city of Zephyrhills will be filled with local athletes for the East Pasco Family Branch YMCA Spring Sprint Triathlon March 27.

The YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills, will have a 300-yard swim, an 11-mile bike ride and a 5K run for the triathlon. Registration will be from 6 to 7:30 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m.

Registration for individual athletes is $55 by March 22 and $65 afterward. Registration for relay teams is $95 by March 22 and $105 afterward.

Jen Silvers, executive director for the East Pasco and Dade City YMCA, said she is happy to be organizing the event because she thinks it is something Zephyrhills needs.

People line up at the starting line at the East Pasco Family Branch YMCA’s 5K run on Founder’s Day recently. The YMCA will have a Spring Sprint Triathlon March 27.
People line up at the starting line at the East Pasco Family Branch YMCA’s 5K run on Founder’s Day recently. The YMCA will have a Spring Sprint Triathlon March 27.

“I think people in Zephyrhills are looking for things to do locally,” Silvers said. “This is an opportunity for local athletes to participate in their town. There aren’t really many races happening in Pasco.”

Last year the East Pasco YMCA took over running the triathlon from Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc.

“It was not their area of expertise and it was held at the YMCA anyway so it was natural for us to step in and do it,” Silvers said. “We like to do events throughout the year to build community. We like it because it brings in people from the Zephyrhills area and all over the state.”

There are about 50 people signed up for the race. Some are coming from as far as Colorado and Savannah, Georgia. Most are coming from local areas like Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills.

“This is a good time of year to have a race,” Silvers said. “It is a good introduction to start the season. A lot of experienced athletes use it as a warm up. It is also a good race for people who have never done it before.”

It is a sprint triathlon as opposed to an Olympic triathlon, which means distances are shorter. Since the swim will be in the pool, the race is better for novices.

“The swim will be in a pool which is a little less intimidating,” Silvers said. “It is better than an ocean swim because in a pool you don’t have to deal with the current. Also with a mass swim start, you get kicked or elbowed and that won’t happen in the pool.”

Rhonda Kieper of Wesley Chapel will be participating in her first triathlon.

“I have never been in a triathlon, but I thought it would be a good challenge,” Kieper said. “At first, I didn’t feel very confident, but I have done a few practice runs and now I feel better. They have been so encouraging at the Y. With their support, they have pushed me to the point where I feel like I can do it.”

Kieper spent the last three years working out at the YMCA in Zephyrhills. She has lost 70 pounds and the triathlon is her way of keeping motivated.

“It is good encouragement for me to keep on track for my training,” Silvers said. “I started working out so I could get healthier and lose weight. I have been going to spin classes because I like it and it is something I could do at my fitness level.”

Shane Burke of Land O’ Lakes will be running his first triathlon too. He said he has already been training for five months and is using this as a barometer of whether he would like to participate in more triathlons.

“I always played sports and was athletic until three years ago I wrecked my knee,” Burke said. “I have had two major knee surgeries and as a result I can’t play the sports I used to. Running doesn’t seem to bother me. I am using this as a gauge of whether or not I will want to do more or not. I am super excited, I have been training for a triathlon for five months.”

Since the bike race and 5K run will be on the city’s streets, Silvers said police will be helping to block off roads as participants pass but the streets will not just be blocked all day.

Every athlete who crosses the finish line will get a medal. The first, second and third place athletes in various categories will also get plaques and medals.

The YMCA is also currently raising money for the Building Strong Kids Campaign. Through the campaign, the YMCA provides financial assistance to children and families unable to pay for YMCA’s programs and services. The program gave out $250,000 to help kids and families in the Zephyrhills and Dade City area. All donations for the YMCA are tax deductible.

“We are a charity and we are in the middle of the Building Strong Kids Campaign,” Silvers said. “We need all the help we can get. We were only able to raise $76,000 last year and we had to subsidize the difference through operational costs. There is a big gap of what we give away and what we get. Our goal this year is $86,000.”

The YMCA offers summer camps based on sports like the soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, swim, flag football, cheerleading, strength and conditioning camps.

It also is currently offering programs like youth flag football, Pee Wee soccer, youth soccer, gymnastics, youth swim club and an adult spring basketball league. For information, visit www.tampaymca.org.

If you go

What: Spring Sprint Triathlon

When: March 27

Where: 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills

Cost: Individual $55 until March 22, after $65

Relay $95 until March 22, after $105

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

March 7, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

One of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s main missions is being a champion for culture. “Celebrating culture is a vital … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

CMK Construction: Expertise Guaranteed

March 3, 2023 By Trevor Lloyd

When creativity strikes, it’s only natural to want to get the job done ourselves, and quickly, too. However, some … [Read More...] about CMK Construction: Expertise Guaranteed

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

03/21/2023 – Chess Club

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a Chess Club on March 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for all ages and abilities, in Adult Multipurpose Room C. Participants can use the chess sets provided or bring their own. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/21/2023 – Chess Club

03/21/2023 – Teen Advisory Board

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host the Teen Advisory Board on March 21 at 6 p.m., for teens who would like to discuss ideas and recommendations for programming at the library. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 03/21/2023 – Teen Advisory Board

03/22/2023 – Florida Landscaping

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host “Florida-Friendly Landscaping 101” on March 22 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn how to create a successful home landscape by following the nine Florida-Friendly program principles. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 03/22/2023 – Florida Landscaping

03/22/2023 to 03/24/2023 – Betmar Chorus

The Betmar Chorus will perform its annual Spring Concert on March 22 at 2 p.m., and on March 23 and March 24 at 7 p.m., at Betmar Acres, 37145 Lakewood Drive, Clubhouse 2, in Zephyrhills. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The choir will perform a variety of show tunes, hymns, spirituals and classics. Tickets will be available at the door for $5. For information, all 810-837-0520. … [Read More...] about 03/22/2023 to 03/24/2023 – Betmar Chorus

03/23/2023 – Free Food Distribution

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Farm Share, Veteran’s Memorial Park, the Gentlemen’s Course, Samaritan Corporation of Pasco County Inc., and the Pasco County NAACP will team up for a free community food distribution on March 23 at Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road in Hudson. The food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m., until the items run out. … [Read More...] about 03/23/2023 – Free Food Distribution

03/23/2023 – Paint with Puppies

B Creative Painting Studio, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 103, in Wesley Chapel will host “Paint with Puppies” on March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in support of the Mercy Full Project. Guests can get creative and cuddle with puppies. Only 50 spots available. An RSVP and $5 deposit is required online at tinyurl.com/PaintWithPuppy. Balance will be due at the event. The total cost of $50 includes a dog bowl, paint, glaze and fire of the bowl. … [Read More...] about 03/23/2023 – Paint with Puppies

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: