TGLife: What prompted Enduro Sports Goa to come up with an idea of an event like this, that’s not been attempted in Goa before?
Enduro Sports Goa: One of us is a cyclist and founder of the Goa Cycling Club, another is a swimming coach and the third partner is an athlete, so we thought of putting their heads together and organising a triathlon involving all the three sports. It was also something that no one in Goa had done before so we decided to give it a go. We also had this image of changing the notion of Goa being known for the wrong things like wine, women and drugs and thought of getting Goa to become a destination for sports and health.
TGL: This is not your first triathlon. What was the first time like? Has participation grown?
ES: This is our fourth edition and we have evolved and grown. The first one was a “let’s just do it” although we had no experience. We did it as a learning experience and then suddenly there was no looking back. The first edition saw only 90 participants and this year we have almost 500. So the event has now become one of the biggest triathlons in India.
TGL: Do you feel that there is a surge of sporting events in Goa?
ES: There is certainly a surge of sporting activities in Goa with the Triathlon, Kids Triathlon , several marathons and Swimathons. Goa is also now hosting many other sporting events like the Cycling BRMs which are timed Endurance rides of 200, 300, 400, 600 and 1200 kms. Certainly a lot of activities!
TGL: How does it feel to be a part of that ‘revolution’?
ES: It’s really a sense of pride to being part of the fitness and sporting revolution, promoting Goa as a sporting destination and promoting health and fitness in our people and youth. It's wonderful to be a part of the sports revolution that's currently sweeping our state and nation. We have an added advantage in Goa of having access to beaches, forests and large open spaces which allow people to exercise in a healthy and non-polluted environment. We need to appreciate the clean air and waters that we have in our state and in doing so, promote the preservation and maintenance of these resources. Goans have lead a sussegado lifestyle for far too long and it is up to us to bring the revolution to everyone and in doing so, make Goa the healthy, clean and beautiful state that it used to be.
TGL: You’ve also created an event for kids. How important is it that fitness and sports be a part of everyone’s lives?
ES: Yes we now have the Tri Kids Goa held in November every year in a safe environment. We are happy to say we are promoting health and sport for our kids and youth in a world where our kids are so overwhelmed with studies and hardly have any time for sports and fitness. We even have the catch phrase for our Tri Kids event that says “ “Why should adults have all the fun”. We feel that all youth and kids should have sport and fitness as a daily routine. With one of the leading causes of disease and ill health, stress is killing us, fitness and sport should be a part in all of our lives.
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Factfile
• The Goa Triathlon offers athletes the choice of 3 categories; the Super Sprint Triathlon, The Olympic Triathlon and the Team Olympic Triathlon
• It is open to participants over the age of 16.
• The Olympic event begins with a 1.5 km swim on Bambolim beach
• The 40 km bicycle course starts off flat before getting to a small incline and then taking the athletes through a series of curves and loops along the Bambolim plateau, which is also the setting for the 10 km run.
• The Goa Triathlon is the only Triathlon event in India to include an open water sea swim as well as a cycle and running course closed off to all vehicular traffic.
