Groups partner to encourage summer exercise

Wellington women have plenty of incentive to kickstart summer exercise in the next few weeks.

Community events Start Me Up and TriAbility Triathlon have partnered to encourage more participants – with a great prize draw for women who enter both.

Start Me Up, run by Lower Hutt youth development organisation Ignite Sport Trust, is on 19 October at Petone. The Hutt Valley Disabled Resources Trust’s TriAbility Triathlon is on 21 March next year in Wainuiomata.

Both events are incredibly encouraging, especially for newbies, says Ignite Sport’s events coordinator Andrea Bolton. “Start Me Up is about beginning regular exercise. Whether women stroll, walk, run or cycle, there’s something in it for all,” says Andrea.

The TriAbility Triathlon welcomes all levels of competitors but especially those with disabilities. TriAbility was first held in March this year and is the first triathlon of its kind in Aoteroa which fully supports competitors to train, enter, compete, complete and achieve alongside training/support buddies, in amongst those competing solo.

Project Manager with Hutt Valley Disabled Resources Trust, Charlie Holland says, “We love the idea that the HVDRT TriAbilty Triathlon is an achievable goal to aim for following Start Me Up. Women of all abilities get the chance to show their community spirit by entering two great events and having a lot of fun in the process,” she says.

Women who enter both events will go in a prize draw for an Interislander return family trip.

“We’ve partnered with TriAbility Triathlon to encourage women to keep up their summer exercise,” says Andrea. “The Start Me Up team will be there in March next year to celebrate women’s achievements at both events.” She adds men who volunteer to help at Start Me Up will be entered in their own special draw.

“More and more research points to the fact that even 15 minutes of exercise a day helps our health, both to prevent disease and in recovery,” says Andrea. “Start Me Up is a great kick-start and TriAbility Triathlon is an incentive to continue exercising.”

Start Me Up options include a 5km or 7km walk or run, or 15km or 25km cycle ride along Hutt River Trail, or a duathlon of the two lesser distances. For more information see www.startmeup.org.nz Visit www.hvdrt.org.nz/triability to learn more about TriAbility Triathlon.

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