It sounds a bit unusual for someone barely out of their teens to be referred to as a triathlon veteran, but Nichola Kennell can certainly be considered so.
The former Langford and View Royal resident, who turns 21 in September, has competed in the Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence Triathlon a number of times and will make her third appearance in the Olympic distance race on Aug. 2 in and around Elk Lake.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e loved it from a young age,B次元官网网址� says Kennell, who grew up doing many types of sports, but latched onto triathlon in Grade 2 with the encouragement of her dad, Steve, an avid cyclist and volunteer youth triathlon coach.
A competitor who has been gradually transitioning to the more gruelling Olympic distance from the sprint, Nichola counts Victoria-based triathlon stars Simon Whitfield, Paula Finlay and Kirsten Sweetland among her inspirations. She trains with legendary Victoria runner Jim Finlayson, and Lifesport CoachingB次元官网网址檚 Paul Regensburg on the swim and cycling aspects of her event, but gives kudos to her dad for helping her climb the steep triathlon mountain.
B次元官网网址淢y dadB次元官网网址檚 one of my biggest supporters, he got me involved in triathlons and heB次元官网网址檚 been my strongest hand, guiding me along the way,B次元官网网址� she says.
Kennell, who competed nationally as a junior but these days races directly against more seasoned athletes, is a natural runner who uses such events as the Island Race Series, GoodLife Fitness half marathon and TC10K to train.
She finished 19th overall among women in last yearB次元官网网址檚 Sri and fourth in her category (age 20 to 24), which happened to include race winner Alison Hooper, a former national junior womenB次元官网网址檚 champion and Canada Summer Games gold medallist. While KennellB次元官网网址檚 best Olympic distance time came in her first attempt at the Sri Chinmoy race, she hopes to shave some minutes off this time with enhanced training.
B次元官网网址淣ew techniques are always coming up,B次元官网网址� she says, noting that preparing for an Olympic distance event takes far more training than the sprint.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 getting the routine down for taking in nutrition for something like the (40-kilometre) bike. In the sprint you donB次元官网网址檛 really need a whole lot; a bit of Gatorade and water will suffice.B次元官网网址�
The Sri Chinmoy Olympic distance event begins with a 1,500-metre swim in Elk Lake, followed by a 40K bike ride out West Saanich Road, then finishing with a 10K loop of the chip trail around Elk and Beaver lakes.
The sprint event cuts all of those distances in half.
B次元官网网址淚 like the course. I run Elk and Beaver all the time, so itB次元官网网址檚 like home turf to me,B次元官网网址� Kennell says. B次元官网网址淒efinitely itB次元官网网址檚 a wonderful race to do; itB次元官网网址檚 so laid back, but itB次元官网网址檚 so organized at the same time.B次元官网网址�
While reports surfaced earlier this year that 2015 may be the final Self Transcendence Triathlon and Duathlon in Victoria, race director Sumitra McMurchy says no decision has been on the eventB次元官网网址檚 future. However, a formal announcement will be made following the Aug. 2 event, she adds.
McMurchy is thrilled to see athletes such as Kennell realizing their dream.
B次元官网网址淭he Self-Transcendence always aimed to encourage participation of people at all levels, encouraging them to reach a little beyond what they have achieved in the past,B次元官网网址� she says.
The event, popular with many West Shore athletes, also features a duathlon (5K run, 40K bike, 10K run), plus a relay category at the Olympic distance and a youth triathlon.
Kennell, an avid student of triathlon who trains hard in spring and summer when not working toward a degree in Exercise and Wellness at the University of Victoria, hopes to one day compete in an Ironman distance event. But in preparation for the upcoming race, she is happy to continue learning and as the name implies, to transcend beyond what she has previously achieved.
Visit for past results and other information.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
