Fallbrook YMCA youth triathlon marks 10 years of building confidence

Lincoln, Neb. (KLKN) — About 100 kids swam, biked and ran their way through the Fallbrook YMCA Youth Triathlon, an annual event designed to challenge kids while building confidence along the way.

This year marks a decade since the YMCA started the event. Over those 10 years, some participants have grown up alongside it.

“It was fun, but it was hard,” participant Raina Wilcox said. “But I really liked how we pushed. Most of us pushed through it.”

Each participant starts with a swim before getting on their bike and finishing with a run.

For some kids, this year’s race was one of many.

“We have some kiddos participating today who started out when they were just 5 years old,” Fallbrook YMCA Executive Director Emmalie Wilcox said. “Now here they are. It’s really been exciting to see growth and confidence build over time.”

The triathlon is untimed, meaning the kids aren’t competing to see who can cross the finish line first. Instead, organizers encourage them to challenge themselves and return the following year with the goal of improving.

Parents and siblings cheer from the sidelines throughout the course, while YMCA staff and volunteers help guide participants from one leg of the race to the next.

“And so then next year when they come back, they can set the goal of trying to beat their time from the previous year,” Emmalie Wilcox said. “The kids are really supportive of one another. They encourage each other, they cheer each other on.”

For Raina, success at the finish line wasn’t necessarily about how quickly she got there.

“I liked it, but I wish I did better,” she said. “But I’m proud of myself.”

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the YMCA’s Open Doors annual campaign. Money raised through participant fees and local sponsorships supports the Open Doors financial assistance program, which helps kids, families, adults and seniors access YMCA programs and services.