Batavia race inspires new triathletes

Downtown Batavia was swarming with athletes Sunday morning as participants in the 8th annual Batavia Triathlon powered through the swim, run and bike race — then relaxed and recharged after they finished.

For some of the morning racers, though, crossing the finish line meant moving on to prepare their kids for a race of their own.

Christy Schaefer, of Lombard, competed in her first triathlon at Batavia’s 2010 event — a 400-meter swim, a 14.7-mile bike ride and a 4.1-mile run. Since then she hasn’t been able to get enough. This year, her 11-year-old daughter, Peyton, was able to join in the fun.

Schaefer said she was glad Batavia decided to add a kid’s triathlon this year.

“It’s great,” Schaefer said. “It gets whole families involved.”

Many of the 7- to 12-year-old triathletes who competed did so after their parents raced first. Peyton finished in third place, hardly looking phased by the 100-meter swim, 2-mile bike and .66-mile run.

The event also included a Duathlon, which was a 2-mile run, a 14.7 mile bike, and then a 4.1 mile run.

Anne Whitcomb has been the race director for the Batavia Triathlon & Duathlon for four years. She said participants generally raise more than $10,000 each year, but reaching their goals has been harder because of the tough economy.

“This year we tried to think of alternative ways to get money,” Whitcomb said.

Sal DeTraglia, of Geneva, was one of about 20 people who opted to pay extra and choose a specific charity to donate to — in his case, Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Others paid slightly more for race-day packet pickup.

It was little things like that Whitcomb said helped raise more money for various charities.

DeTraglia, who has run for years, never tried a triathlon before the Batavia race. As he approaches middle age, he said he has started to get bored with running and wanted a new challenge. The beginner-friendly, sprint-distance triathlon gave him just the variety he was looking for — and sparked his interest for a longer race.

“It’s always like that,” DeTraglia said. “You do one and then you want to do more.”