By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

The triathlon is perhaps the most grueling sporting event ever created.

The event starts with a swim, is followed by a bike ride and finishes with a road race. The only thing to make it easier is to know you have people behind you, rooting you on.

Perhaps that is why the Jubb family has been so successful in the Peachtree City Youth Triathlon. Kenny, Marie and Angela Jubb of Peachtree City have been involved in the race during the past two years. Kenny, 15, has raced in the triathlon since its inception. Marie, 8, placed fifth last year, while Angela, 10, and Kenny each placed first.

The Jubbs train nearly every night for the two months leading up to the race. Kenny tends to train on his own, biking six to 12 miles in fast sprints and running with much longer legs than his sisters. They are an athletic bunch, though, each swimming a stint for the Pacers and playing basketball and soccer.

Kenny swims for Starr's Mill's swim team and hopes to run for Starr's Mill's cross country team next year. He plans to rejoin the Southern Crescent Aquatic Team as well. He is also working toward becoming an Eagle Scout and plans to run in the Peachtree City Classic in the fall.

The Peachtree City Youth Triathlon is the largest youth triathlon not part of a series in the Southeast. There have been entrants from all over the region, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. The day starts early with check-in at 6:30 a.m. and the races beginning shortly after 7:30. The race features more than 300 children competing in many different age and gender groups.

The Jubbs also have lots of advice to offer to those who may not have run in the triathlon before. Marie finds the running to be the hardest part. “It's the last part and you are all tired out,” she explains. Angela feels that the biking is the most challenging part of the race, due to the hills, while Kenny feels that the transfer from swimming to biking can be the hardest part of the race.

“Last year, I went from the pool to the bike and my chain came off. I thought it was fixed, but then I flipped over the handlebars,” said Kenny. “The year before that I slipped a gear and my feet slipped off the pedals.”

The one thing they can all agree on, though, is to keep practicing, try your best, have fun and never give up.

The Peachtree City Youth Triathlon will be Saturday, June 3. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. at Glenloch Recreation Area and is open to children 7-15. Cost of the race is $18 and the deadline for registration is May 23. There will be a swim qualifier May 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Kedron pool for any child who has not competed in the youth triathlon. Call Teri Besch at 770-785-2595 for information.

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