LifeNets 4th of July Parade Float

by  Sara Freije
 

For the second year in a row the North Dakota Chapter of the LifeNets entered a float in the Fourth of July parade.  The theme of the float was "Swim, Bike, Run" going with the main reason they entered the float--in order to promote the triathlon they host every year.
 

In what has now become the norm before the 4th of July Parade, the North Dakota Chapter of LifeNets sits around a dining room table wrapping hundreds of water bottles in pre-printed labels.  Why would a group of people be wrapping 1300 some odd water bottles with labels?  For their Fourth of July parade float, of course!

LifeNets also handed out free bottles of water to the hot and thirsty crowd of parade goers.  The water bottles were wrapped in pre-printed labels that gave information about the triathlon that will be held at the Mandan Community Center on Sunday August 26, 2007.

When asked why the organization decided to hand out water instead of the more popular candy that most other floats throw out, Vice President Tracey Freije said, "Water is a life giving element and our organization is called 'LifeNets', also, we're promoting the triathlon as a health focused event and we want to be healthy."  Aside from that, bottled water was more than welcome to the spectators that sat on the sidelines of the parade in the 90-degree plus heat.

The main reason for the float though was to bring awareness to the community for the LifeNets triathlon. 

This year will mark the third annual LifeNets triathlon.  The event will be hosted at the Mandan Community Center. 

When most people think of triathlons they think of incredibly long distances that only the most elite of athletes can participate in, but not true.  The LifeNets triathlon offers both a sprint triathlon and an Olympic triathlon. 

For the sprint triathlon a participant will swim 500m, bike 13 mi, and run 5k.  For the Olympic distance triathlon participants will swim 1000m, bike 26 mi, and run 10k.  The great thing about the LifeNets triathlon, too, is that one person doesn't have to go it alone, but is able to put a team together for either the sprint or the Olympic distance triathlons.  Another focus of the LifeNets triathlon is to get the entire family involved.  With categories for children starting at 6 years old and the with the adult categories being open ended, the whole family can get out and get active.

 “The most exciting thing about our triathlon is the incredible community support.  We have had many businesses donate, participate, and volunteer in our event.  We have many repeat athletes as well.  That inspires us to make the event better each year”, stated Chapter President, Pam Redline.

For more information about the triathlon and LifeNets go to www.lifenets.org or active.com or call Pam Redline at
(701) 400-4571.