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No generation gap here Watertown family tackles Griskus Triathlon tonight
BY MARK JAFFEE REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
She can thank her 13-year-old grandson, Jake, since it was Jake who convinced his grandmother to race in tonight's the 24th annual BMW of Watertown Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury.
"After I finished the race last year, I told Jake and my son Dave that I felt I was getting too old to do it anymore and I was thinking about officially retiring," said Joan.
Jake had other ideas, catching the racing bug after receiving a recent birthday present, a race bike, and suggested that it would be a cool idea if three generations of the Steel family competed this year.
So Joan agreed and was glad she found a way to motivate her grandson into becoming a would-be triathlete.
"The first time I competed in the race I was 60 and when I crossed the finish line, I felt like I had won the gold medal at the Olympics," said Joan. "I was so proud of myself days later."
A year ago, Joan finished the Griskus race in one hour, 47 minutes and 10 seconds, but admits this time around, she has no specific timetable to complete the half-mile swim, 10.5-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run.
"I am not worried about my time," said Joan. "I think if we all finish, that is a great achievement. I never went into anything like this other than to finish. I have no expectations. I want to get back safely from the swim and the bike and once the run starts, I know I am home free. If I feel I can't run, I can always walk the rest of the way. I know I have that option."
Regardless of her time or place, Joan expects to see Jake and Dave at the finish line following her latest milestone athletic moment.
"They've always been at the finish line to give me hugs and flowers and I imagine that they will have finished ahead of me," she said.
While it is possible, race director Tom Wilkas doesn't recall three generations of a family ever competing in this longtime race.
What makes this also unique is the Steel family aren't competing as a relay team. All three will tackle the course by themselves.
Dave, 39, is a former swim coach at Watertown High and Woodland Regional, and has competed in this race several times while Jake is maing his first attempt.
When Jake turned 13 on Dec. 11, his dad gave him a racing bike.
"It's been sitting in my room for quite a while and every morning I'd look at it and it made me train harder for this," said Jake, who will be an eighth-grader at Rochambeau Middle School in Southbury.
"My dad has been taking me on 20-mile bike rides and I am pretty positive that the bike is my best of the three parts of the race," Jake added. "I'm hoping to be able to finish and say that I did it. I've been doing the math and thinking that I can finish between an hour and 40 minutes and 1:45 and maybe a little faster."
Jake and his dad have a bet — an ice cream sundae at Carvel — on who will finish better.
"I'll be pretty satisfied if I can beat my dad and get that Carvel," Jake said. Dave is glad that his son wants to get involved in the sport.
"He feels he can do everything and anything and I'm glad to be getting Jake started into a healthy lifestyle; Jake's been counting the days for the race," said Dave.
So has Joan Steel, who appreciates her membership to the Waterbury YMCA — a gift from her children —where she swims on regular basis.
"There are some days when I don't feel like going, but when I am finished, I feel great," said Joan. "I feel young when I exercise, like I am 27. It's done a lot for my well-being. It gave me a purpose to get up in the morning.
YMCA and Carol White Grant
Youth and Teen Wellness Center coming soon
Through funding provided to several Waterbury area locations by the Carol White grant, the Greater Waterbury YMCA will soon house a Youth and Teen Wellness Center.
As part of an initiative to end childhood obesity, the YMCA will transform a racquetball court into a haven for youth wellness complete with age-appropriate equipment and staff guidance.
Stay tuned for more information about this and other projects at the Greater Waterbury YMCA!
Parking Lot breaking ground this summer!
All final approvals have been issued and the Greater Waterbury YMCA is pleased to announce that by fall 2010 the new parking lot will be ready for use. Expect to see us breaking ground this summer at the property located just behind the Immaculate Conception Church on the other side of the apartment building. Exciting news for the YMCA and the members!