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Olson trio prepares for Hoot Lake Tri [UPDATED]
Published 9:34am Thursday, July 26, 2012 Updated 9:48am Thursday, July 26, 2012Having a training partner is a great motivator to push yourself in whatever event you may tackle.
Having a family member train alongside you just pushes you more.
Guy, Robbie and Stephanie Olson have decided to add that extra motivation as they train for the Hoot Lake Triathlon.
The 20th annual Hoot Lake Triathlon hosted by the YMCA takes place Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
The course is over a quarter of a mile swim in Hoot Lake followed by a 15.7 miles bike ride and finishing with a 3.3 miles run.
This by no means has been a family event. The crew has each found their way into competitive running by different means.
“In 2008, a group of friends and I decided to do several 5Ks, a triathlon and a half-marathon,” Robbie said. “With school, I didn’t really do anything this year when my dad said ‘let’s go’.”
Guy started doing triathlons after a suggestion from friends.
“I love to just get up and do things,” Guy said. “I had some friends challenge me to try a triathlon and I have been them ever since.”
Both Robbie and Guy have had experience running triathlons, but this will be the first for Stephanie.
“I’m doing the triathlon to cross it off my bucket list,” Stephanie said.
The trio has done their weight training at the Fergus Falls Fitness Center and has participated in several bike rides that owner, Doug Becker, schedules as a part of his training.
Robbie and Stephanie also do their swim training together.
“My brother and I go swimming at Pebble Lake a few times a week,” Stephanie said. “We go out to the raft and back a couple of times.”
Guy training regimen also finds him at the YMCA pool and on the treadmills.
The group recently ran in the Ashby Appreciation Days 5K in preparation 3.3 miles they will have to run for the Hoot.
When they are not training for competitive events, Guy owns and operates Olson Funeral Home, while Stephanie is currently attending the Minnesota State University Mankato, majoring in social work and brother Robbie currently works at Olson Funeral Home and will be going to the University of Minnesota in the fall for mortuary science.
Guy and Stephanie both see the run as being the hardest part of the triathlon as Robbie sees the opening swim as the most difficult part of the race.
“My advice for people new to the event is to just do it, don’t worry about the results,” Guy added.
