by Pam Redline

Home Page for the Mandan Triathlon

Last summer my husband, Ralph,  and I, and our good friends, Rod and Tracey Freije, were sitting in our kitchen trying to come up with a way to raise funds for LifeNets. You see, in the past, Bismarck-Mandan United Church of God congregation had a garage sale and raised something like $550.00 for LifeNets.  LifeNets sent us a letter telling us what our money was used for.  It was very exciting to be part of something that could, so easily, affect other people's lives.
 

My support, my coach and best friend, my husband Ralph and me. Bismarck Triathlon June 2004

I organized a triathlon last fall in Mandan.  It was small and raised enough money and interest that I decided to do it again.  Many attendees wanted to repeat the event as the site is ideal.  One of my friends, Betty Peterson, suggested that we repeat the event but make it a fund raiser for a non profit organization we all believe in.

 

These two ideas were put together to make the LifeSprint and Mini SprintTriathlon events to be held here in September.  There has been much enthusiasm and my race staff are the best!  I have the fortune of being the director.  I get to delegate many things to Laura Schield and Tracey Freije, my Assistant Race Directors, and Betty Peterson who has done all the foot and phone work to contact the media.  Also, Loretta Benedict, a very good friend and fellow fitness enthusiast, made our web site possible.  Without any of these fine ladies and their belief in our idea, LifeNets Triathlon would not exist.

 

We plan to have a dynamic, very fun filled event as we are including children's events in the day.  7-10 year olds and 11-14 year olds will have a chance to compete at their level.  Adult categories begin at age 15.  All guidelines are according to the National Triathlon America guidelines.  This event is actually a sprint triathlon as it is not a full distance event, but half.  This, we hope, will make the event more fun as well as more user friendly for new triathletes as well as first time competitors.  We have family teams, individual and relay, or three-man team events.  Teams and relay participants may each do one of the three events.  Individual competitors will complete all three.   Awards are given in each category.

 

There will be food and drinks available to all participants and volunteers throughout the day.  The awards will be presented when all results are tallied.  Awards staging will be done at a local park, next to the Community Center where the event is being held.

 

We have a very small congregation but we have a lot of heart.

 

I, personally, will participate, as will Laura and Betty.  We have many who want to volunteer including Herb Teitgen, our pastor.  Our brethren are becoming enthused and have committed to helping along with some Boy Scout volunteers, medical staff, etc. 

 

We are praying the event will be big enough to be exciting but not so big it is overwhelming.

 

Our long term goal is to see a LifeSprint/Mini Sprint Triathlon done in every capital city in the US and Canada on the same day of the year, similar to the cancer or cystic fibrosis runs.  If we're going to dream, dream big.

 

Pam 
 

Bismarck Triathlon 2004 – Pam Redline warming up on bike Bismarck Triathlon June 2004 – Pam Redline Training for 12 miles on the bike

The Bismarck Sprint Triathlon 2004 – Laura Schields (Assistant Race Director, Mandan Event) in white. Pam Redline (Race Director) in yellow Ahhh! The end of my practice triathlon. (I did two of these/week prior to the “BIG EVENT!” Training for the swim