Triathlon Manitoba is returning to the Peace Garden this weekend, marking its 6th time of athletes from across the province taking on the beautiful Turtle Mountains that straddle the 49th Parallel, the Canadian-U.S. border.
This weekend's triathlon features the typical multi-sport race that consists of swimming across Lake Stormon, cycling the course through the larger grounds, and running the pathway through the Garden, making for a breath-taking finish surrounded by the gardens in full bloom!
"It's a triathlon that's been running since 2019," shares Triathlon Manitoba Executive Director Jared Spier.
"That was the first year that it was held out there and they've sort of been adding bits and pieces to it every year, making it a little bit better. There's some great support from the Garden itself and the staff there, and it's something that we're looking forward to!"
This is the first year the event is going to be a world qualifier event, giving an opportunity for local athletes to qualify and go to the World Championships. It will also be Provincial Championships for the Sprint Distance Triathlon.
"It's such a supportive atmosphere, both with the volunteers who are out there to make sure that everybody's taken care of, and then the staff at the Peace Garden have been incredible in supporting this event and making sure that that it has sort of what it needs," says Spier. "And it's really an amazing opportunity to have the run of such a beautiful venue. I can't think of a more beautiful place for a triathlon event!"
"I've had the opportunity myself to race across Canada and throughout the world," explains Spier. "And I mean, the Peace Garden is as good as it gets, really. Yes, there are more tropical, more mountainous courses, but as far as a perfectly built racecourse, the Peace Garden's got a little bit of everything and the finish ... to finish along the border, is so unique! It's so captivating and it's really rewarding to be out there!"
This is the 3rd major Triathlon in Manitoba this summer. The first was held in Birds Hill Park in early June. The second was held at Hecla just last weekend. With over a hundred athletes registered for this weekend's event at the Peace Garden, it makes for being one of the larger races in Manitoba.
"And it's certainly something that we've got lots of people looking forward to," he adds. "It's one of the few races where there's two days of racing. Because there's one day that they do the Mixed Relay, which is a very unique event that's been added to Triathlon and happens at the Olympics as well as other high-level races. But this is the only place in Manitoba where you can do it as an amateur athlete, which is a cool opportunity to just race with your friends and have some fun."
The Mixed Relay race typically involves four racers, each doing a shorter swim/bike/run race, then handing off to the next member of their team.
"Everybody does a mini triathlon," explains Spier. "So, one person will swim, bike, and run for 35 to 45 minutes and then they hand off to the next person on their team who will swim, bike, run for 35 to 45 minutes and it just sort of keeps going and going and going until all four of you have finished. Because you effectively have three super fans cheering on one person every time the race is going on, it really does lend itself to a different atmosphere and it's quite fun!"
Please listen to more with Jared Spier below and be inspired to practice up for next year's Mixed Relay below!
Spier reminds folks that if they want to join the Mixed Relay they don't have to belong to a team, they just need to be ready, willing and able to join a group that needs to fill that 4-person team, but that too has flexibility! The Mixed Relay is all about having fun!
'Just Try It' is a program that Triathlon Manitoba has been offering to women out of Winnipeg. Listen more about this program in one of the audio clips below.
Day two features individual racing, with triathlon and duathlon options, over the Sprint or Olympic distances.
Athletes will know the swim, bike and run terrain quite well from racing the day prior, which means they can enjoy the challenge of more miles in this beautiful venue and perhaps push themselves to a new level, says Spier.
This year’s Sprint Triathlon events will be the Provincial Championship as well as a World Qualifier event, as will the Mixed Relay, where the top age group female and male athletes can make their way onto the Canadian Age Group World Championship Team, for the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Final held in Pontevedra, Spain.
JUST A REMINDER – When travelling to the Peace Garden, you DO NOT enter the United States, nor do you deal with US Customs and Border Protection. The Peace Garden exists between the two border controls, similar to a duty free area, so you will require a passport or other ID for the Canadian border control on your way home, but you do not enter the United States or deal with their agents at any time.
Visit Triathlon Manitoba's website HERE and Facebook page HERE!
