Wallingford Family YMCA Provides Free Triathlon Training to Area Youth

From Wallingford Family YMCA:

For the first time, the Wallingford Family YMCA is one of 14 across the state chosen to host the Race4Chase Youth Triathlon program, which culminates with a triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 6 at YMCA Camp Sloper (1000 East St, Southington) at 8 a.m. The Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski (CMAK) Foundation and YMCA partnership has provided 18 Wallingford children the opportunity to participate in this year’s youth triathlon training program free-of-charge through CMAK funding.

In its seventh year, the triathlon program is funded by Rebecca and Stephen Kowalski’s CMAK Foundation in honor of their son, Chase, who was a victim of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Chase was an enthusiastic, young triathlete, according to family members, and the Race4Chase program was developed to remember and celebrate his life and spirit through the athletic achievements and experiences of other young triathletes.

In Race4Chase, children ages 5-13 spend six weeks training to ultimately participate in a real, timed, U.S.A. Triathlon (USAT)-sanctioned short-course triathlon. Race4Chase helps kids master the fundamentals of swimming, cycling, running and triathlon racing as well as the essentials of proper nutrition, stretching, strength-training and flexibility. The program is entirely monitored by experienced and trained coaches, providing kids with safe and age-appropriate training over the six-week period.

Photo courtesy of Walingford Family YMCA