Triathlons are never an easy task. Combining running, cycling and swimming, they are always challenging their bodies. While their presence on campus might still be unknown, the Whitman Triathlon Club is doing its part to popularize triathlons in the Whitman College community.

Triathlon races are offered in various distances, but the sprint triathlon is the most common. This race contains a 50- meter swim, a 5K run and a 10-to-13-mile bike ride. The Triathlon Club has only participated in one race so far, the Beaver Freezer in Corvallis, Ore., one of the most popular triathlons for collegiate clubs all over the country. On May 3, they will also participate in the Whitman Triathlon.

However, the presence of the Triathlon Club on campus is not new at all.

“When I was a first-year there were a lot of people that were in it, but it faded so we are actually trying to bring it back. It is a very small club, but we are trying to get it started up so we can get funding in the future,” said senior swimmer Ellen Banks.

Senior cross-country runner Annie Watters also expressed optimism for the club’s success.

“The club is fairly new, [and] not a lot of people know about it. However, we got a lot of people involved this year so we are hoping it will grow,” she said.

Though both Banks and Watters are graduating, the club will continue next year led by sophomores Robby Dorn, Will Erickson and Jo Brunner.

“The way we want to expand it is to get more people involved in races … To make the club more formal, we want to add more triathlon clinics and meet periodically to go over race strategies. We also found several races in the Pacific Northwest to attend,” said swimmer Dorn.

Though the club mostly attracts cross-country runners or swimmers, as the club begins solidifying its presence on campus, the races attract a wider range of participants.

“I think that it is something that students pick up and want to try. However, I feel as if most students don’t know about it. They would definitely like it if they tried,” said Watters.

While triathlons are intensely demanding of both the body and the mind, the positive and relaxed vibe of the races is what attracts the club members.

“It is a very mellow group dynamic, yet competitive at the same time,” said Banks.

Though the Triathlon Club is just beginning to put its mark on Whitman College, the future looks very promising. So what is next?

“Spread the word … I would really like to see more students on campus get involved with the Triathlon Club,” said Dorn.