By Isabel Ovalle
Doha’s first triathlon club, TriClubDoha, was founded this week with about 30 members. Two triathlon aficionados are behind the enterprise, which aims to officially kick off with its first race in October.
Triathlon includes swimming, cycling and running. Although triathlons vary in location, terrain and other features, according to the International Triathlon Union, the majority of triathlons generally commence with a swim in either open water (lakes, rivers, seas) or in a pool.
Following the swim, the athletes exit the water and take to their bikes. All the equipment is placed in a transition area. The cycling part of the triathlon is generally conducted on public roads, which are often closed to traffic.
The second transition is from cycling to running. In most triathlons, the athletes rack their bikes and change from cycling shoes to running shoes. The competition concludes after the run.
The Olympic or standard distance in triathlon is a 1,500-metre swim, 40 kilometres on the bike, and a 10-km run. There are also sprint-distance (750-metre swim, 20-km biking, 5-km run) and long-distance (3-km swim, 80-km biking, 20-km run) triathlons.
In Doha, there is no other club for triathlon enthusiasts. Nickel Nijman, from the Netherlands, and Emily Kelly, from Ireland, decided to establish the club a few months ago. “I started training one year ago and lost 34 kilos. After taking part in some triathlons in the UAE and other small events, I decided to put together the group,” said Nijman.
For Kelly, it was her experience in Saudi Arabia, where she lived for six years, that motivated her to open a club here. “There are good clubs all over the region and I know for a fact that many local people travel to neighbouring countries to take part in triathlons,” said the Irish national.
They did a survey and discovered that many people were interested. Over 170 people of 24 nationalities registered on their site, triclubdoha.com, to receive information, and around 50 signed up to attend the inaugural meeting at Al Jazi Gardens compound on Thursday.
The meeting enabled the members to get to know each other, elect the chairman and other office-bearers, set out the agenda and discuss various issues, such as the frequency of meetings and training sessions.
Nijman invited everyone to join the club, emphasising that it was not necessary to be in great shape. “People can take part as a team, not necessary as individuals,” he clarified. When deciding the tentative dates of its events, the club took into account the calendar of events of other groups, like Qatar Chain Reaction cycling club or Doha Bay Running Club, as well as Aspire Zone’s aquathlon. To spread the word about the association, the founder spent QR100 to advertise on Facebook, reaching over 44,000 residents who list running, swimming or cycling as their interests.
On her part, Kelly explained that the club will hold six annual races as well as activities for kids, starting in the second week of October. Members will have to sign a disclaimer form when taking part in the competition. The group counts on GMC as a sponsor and hopes to find more before the season starts.
The Irish mother trains five days a week. “Sometimes I wake up at 4.30am to go for a swim without my daughter noticing my absence,” she said, adding that she also cycles with Qatar Chain Reaction for up to two and a half hours, going all the way to Ceremonial Road, covering a distance of 75 km.
