Competitors like Isabella Dustin, shown at the 2019 Optimist Triathlon, will be given a virtual option for 2020. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

Staff Report

WINONA LAKE – The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club has enjoyed nearly three decades of hosting one of northern Indiana’s largest triathlons. Working through the obvious snags early 2020 has presented, the 27th running of the triathlon will be held, just in a virtual setting.

The triathlon, originally set for June 27, will be converted to a virtual event.

“After careful consideration and deliberation, due to the ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing recommendations from Governor Holcomb, we regret to inform that we have decided to convert the Warsaw Optimist Spirit Triathlon to a virtual event,” began a statement from the Optimist Club Wednesday morning. “We feel that this decision is best for the health of our community, participants, supporters, volunteers and sponsors of the event. Thank you to those who have shown support to the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and our events through the years.”

The Virtual Warsaw Optimist Sprint Triathlon will be held June 27 through July 26. Each participant must complete the entire swim, bike, run (or kayak, bike, run) during one setting. If a participant does not have access to a body of water or pool to complete the swim portion then they can complete a duathlon (two-mile run, 14-mile bike and 3.1-mile run).

This virtual event gives participants the freedom to complete the race at a time and location of their choice, thus reducing participant-to-participant contact. Participants must time themselves and then submit their finish time and proof of time and distance (such as a screenshot of their timing app or GPS watch) onACTIVE.com Results.

After running the race, participants must submit their results on the event’s ACTIVE.com Results page. Prior to the start of the event, participants can see a countdown to when they can submit results.

Participants may submit their results at any time between the start and end of the event (a countdown to the deadline is displayed), by first entering their registration ID for the event.

Participants can then enter their finish time and upload a screenshot of the result page from their timing app or GPS watch that shows the time and distance completed.

The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club is reviewing options with a local business to provide an opportunity to compete in a running event this October in Winona Lake. The 28th running next year is set for June 26, 2021.