Triathlons in the South Hills promote fitness for life
Cari Lackner (center) leads runners during a training session for a triathlon. The Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center is again conducting preparation classes for its Youth Triathlon to be held July 22 at the Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center. Sessions offered from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays will guide participants through the portions of the event, including a practice run on the course in Boyce Mayview Park. For details, call 412-221-1099.
Cari Lackner congratulates a participant in a youth triathlon after she completes the running segment. Lackner says that the beauty of these type of competitions is that you do not have to be the best at any or all of the events to fell successful. There is value in finishing and knowing you have accomplished your goal.
While growing up in Bethel Park, Cari Lackner played football, baseball, ultimate Frisbee and kick the can with the boys in the neighborhood. She also climbed trees, played basketball and rode her bike.
“Anything that kept us outside all day and night,” she said. “We’d ride our bikes to get ice cream or snowcones every day.”
Lackner added that she would have loved the opportunity to ride her bike for another purpose. The competitor in her would have embraced a triathlon, an event that features cycling along with swimming and running.
”We would have loved the chance to do something like that,” she said.
Triathlons are the rage these days, particularly among youths ages 7 and older. Lackner’s oldest daughter, Sam, now 22, competed in such a race when she was 9. Sam had played soccer and tennis.
“While I did not, unfortunately, have the chance to participate in a triathlon as a child, she did,” Lackner said. “She never really experienced a race-type competition, so it was wonderful for her because while it was hard and challenging, especially the swimming part, the look of triumph on her face when she finished was priceless. That is the beauty of these types of competitions: You do not have to be the best at any or all of the events to feel successful and proud of yourself.”
These days, Lackner is proud of the fact that Sam, a junior, is playing soccer at Robert Morris University. Another daughter, Tommie, will be a senior at Upper St. Clair High School this fall. She plays lacrosse. Her son, Joe, is a 15-year-old sophomore who plays football and baseball for the Panthers.
While her children are all beyond the age to compete in a youth triathlon, Lackner remains a promoter of such competitions as a way to maintain fitness among young athletes during the summer as well as into their golden years. In addition to running sports and conditioning camps called DAP, for ages 12 and older, she is the group exercise coordinator/instructor and personal trainer at the Community and Recreation Center in Upper St. Clair. She schedules and develops all of the 100-plus classes.
She also is conducting a training program for triathletes preparing for events such as the Youth Triathlon to be held July 22 at Boyce Mayview Park. Sessions are held Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the center. Cycling will be covered June 27, running is tackled July 11 and mini-triathlon, where the competitors will be able to run through the course, is set for July 18.
Practice, Lackner said, is extremely important because participants gain endurance to run, swim and bike so they are “physically ready” to race. She added the C&CR training is useful for those anticipating competing on July 22 because the kids get to actually practice the running, swimming and biking on the actual course.
“We teach the kids how to transition between each part of the race and where those transitions happen on the course,” she said. “They then do not have to worry or get anxious about not knowing where to go on race day because they have already practiced it.”
Practice certainly benefited Lackner in her life. She played soccer, basketball and softball at Bethel Park High School. She continued playing hoops at John Carroll University.
Her father, Vince Del Greco, set the example for Lackner as he was a physical education teacher and football coach. Hence, she and her brothers were always involved in sports throughout their childhood.
“As a parent, the best way to get kids started in a healthy regime is to be a good role model,” she said. “If they see you being active, they are more likely to want to do it themselves. Exercising together is even better.”
To instill good habits and to inspire youth to be and stay fit, Lackner suggested finding something the kids enjoy: any organized sport, such as soccer, basketball, baseball, or biking, swimming, running, hiking on trails, dance classes, yoga classes, roller blading, kickball or Wiffle ball in the backyard.
“Whatever it takes to get them having fun while they are moving. Once they find what they like, encourage them to do it as much as they can during a week.”
Because the three components of a triathlon are running, swimming and cycling, those are activities that promote fitness forever. They all can be done throughout life at any age, Lackner said.
“Getting kids to enjoy all three or even one or two of these activities would help set a child up for a lifetime of healthy living,” she said.
Parents should always stress that it is not about winning but enjoying the “ride” added Lackner.
“If they are running or swimming because they are told they have to, then they will hate every minute and fight doing it every time,” she said. “If they learn early on to run the trails and enjoy the scenery around them or swim because the water feels good, or just enjoy how they feel after the workout. The reason to exercise should be because they want to, not have to. This needs to be taught early on.”
Additionally, a youth triathlon not only gives the participant a head start on fitness for a lifetime but it also presents a way for kids to challenge themselves physically and mentally in a positive way.
“It’s wonderful,” Lackner said. “I think it is so important for any child trying to do a triathlon to realize that is definitely does not matter if you win the race but that you actually finish it. That is a huge accomplishment on its own.”
Whether or not a child participates in a triathlon, being active is critical for development. Being active and getting daily exercise on the physical level helps promote growth, maintains a healthy weight, builds strong bones and muscles, and improves balance, coordination, flexibility and strength, says Lackner.
“On the mental side, daily exercise improves concentration, confidence, self esteem and sleep. Exercise enables the body to produce endorphins that help you feel happier, thus relieves stress, promotes relaxation and decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“Plus,” she added, “active children are more likely to become active healthy adults.”
For information on the training sessions for the youth triathlon, call 412-221-1099.