Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Hale, James B.

For the average student, sophomore kinesiology major Tracey Holman's work-out regimen may seem like a hellish, exercise-intensive boot camp.

Mondays and Wednesdays consist of a 5-mile run around the university's golf course starting at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays consist of swimming and biking at 8 p.m. at the Eppley Recreation Center for an hour. And Fridays consist of more swimming at 2 p.m. at the ERC's indoor pool.

But for Holman, the president of the university's new Triathlon Club, the exercise is nothing out of the ordinary. Instead, it's typical fare.

For approximately three decades, triathlons have been seen as the ultimate test of athleticism

- multi-tiered competitions that combine swimming, cycling and running, each for various distances, into one race. Although there exists a Triathlon Hall of Fame and thousands of events are held around the world each year, few students are involved in the sport, something Holman and her fellow group members hope to change.

Despite the fact that the club hasn't been approved by the Student Government Association yet, the rigorous schedule that Holman recommends to the new members in the form of a neatly typed table - one she follows practically religiously - is the beginning of what she hopes will be a magnet for students who like to challenge themselves.

Holman's affinity with exercise began in high school, during which she ran cross country, coached swimming and played rugby. But what really drew Holman to the endurance-sports event of triathlons was her mother, a firefighter, who competed in one a few years ago.

"It was the first triathlon she did," Holman said, "but she's always been into marathons."

Soon, Holman was inspired and eager to get involved. Last summer, she ran her first triathlon in Hagerstown, seeing it as a way to combine her love of many sports into one.

The decision to start a triathlon club at the university came more on a whim, however.

"We were sitting in The Diner having lunch last semester and I was just like, 'Why don't we start a triathlon club?' and Danny said, 'OK,'" Holman said.

After that simple proposal, Holman and high school friend Danny Mulhern, a freshman mechanical engineering major who is now the club's treasurer, pledged to start the club the following semester. Although Mulhern had never competed in a triathlon before, he, like Holman, had run cross country in high school and coached the swim team, a perfect setup for the multi-component competition.

Continued...

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