Bayou Black is site of Houma’s first triathlon

In Houma, football rules the sports landscape. Baseball, softball, basketball, golf and tennis are all popular recreational activities.

Now another sport is making its way onto the scene: the triathlon, a multi-sport endurance competition consisting of swimming, cycling, and running.

The city’s first race, the Tarpon Triathlon, will be held this Saturday at the Bayou Black Recreation Center, 3688 Southdown Mandalay Drive.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Bayou Black Tarpons swim team.

Race organizer Michelle Matta, a swim team coach, along with her sister Amy Williams, came up with the idea last summer from one of her teenage swimmers who competes in triathlons specifically for children.

“There is nothing like that in this area,” she noted. “People from here who do triathlons have to travel to compete. We figured this would be a great way to introduce triathlons to the Houma area, provide something new and also raise some money for the swim team.”

Matta joined forces with triathlon enthusiasts Yvette Carroll and Ashley Fontenot, who also organizes the annual Super Cooper Fun Run, to put on the event.

Fontenot has competed in five triathlons since last summer, including the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 in New Orleans in April with her husband John.

“For me it was just to see if I could do it,” she said. “My first triathlon was Rocketchix in Baton Rouge last year. I loved it. It was so different from just running or working out in a gym. I love the outdoors and finishing just made me want to do it again.”

The Workout Company instructor said the key to competing in the sport is not only proper training but also choosing triathlons where the distances are such that participants can complete each event.

“It’s not the easiest thing to do,” Fontenot admitted. “You have Jell-O legs after you get off the bike. You have to figure out how to make your legs move in a running motion instead of a peddling motion. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s doable.”

Beginners are advised to start with smaller events and work their way up to longer courses.

The Tarpon Triathlon is considered a mini-triathlon because the distances are shorter than an Olympic or “standard” triathlon.

The swim is 150 yards in the Bayou Black Recreation Center pool.

The start will be staggered with competitors beginning every five seconds. They must swim the length of the pool in all six lanes to finish.

Afterward, there is a 10-mile bike ride from the gym to the Blanchard Bridge and back. Finally, the 3.1-mile run from the gym to the Mandalay Bridge and back completes the race.

Race organizers wanted the course to be efficient so that competitors wouldn’t bump into each other, but still make it a challenge of their athletic endurance.

“You get to push yourself and see how you can do in different sports,” Matta said. “Instead of just always running or always swimming, you combine it all together. It’s kind of like being the ultimate athlete. You can’t just be good at one event. You have to be good in all three to do well.”

“A lot of triathletes, they’re not going to tell you they’re great at running, swimming and biking,” Fontenot said. “Usually, everybody has a weak point or even two weak points. So they have to step it up a notch.”

Participants can compete individually or as part of a relay team with one person doing each sport. Registration for individuals is $45 and $90 for a relay team. Tarpon team members get a $5 discount.

The top three overall male and female finishers will receive a medal. First, second and third place male and female finishers in each age group will get a plaque.

Age groups are 14 years and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+.

Organizers hope to raise about $3,000 for the swim team. But another aim is to encourage local residents to try something new.

“Our real goal is to get at least 100 participants,” Matta declared. “Right now, we’re at 65.”

“I hope everyone just has fun with it and hope it opens the door to more multi-sport events in this area,” Fontenot said. “We want to introduce people to a different way to stay fit, have fun and be active.”

Registration forms can be found on the event Web site, www.tarpontriathlon.com.

The last registrations will be taken by 7:30 a.m. on race day. The race begins at 8 a.m.

The event will go on if there is rain, but will be cancelled if there is lightning and thunder.

Food, drinks and musical entertainment will be provided after the race.

To be a volunteer for the Tarpon Triathlon, e-mail Matta at michelle@tarpontriathlon.com.