grow looking for duathlon participants

August 30, 2018

By David Nordby The Brillion News

BRILLION – The grow FOUNDATION in Brillion is looking for participants for their Loving Living Life 2day 5k or Duathlon event on Saturday, September 15.

The 5k event was originally in honor of Heather Gruett, who was the founding member of the foundation. Gruett was suffering from cancer and the 5k funds helped her with treatment.

“She was my dear friend and we had always talked about putting together a triathlon or duathlon, so she was able to witness the 5k event. Her comment to me on that was, ‘Now next year this will be a duathlon,’” event organizer Dulcie Schmidt said. “Her focus was on community wellness, and this was a big honor for her to have seen it come to fruition.”

Last year incorporated the duathlon event, which is a run/walk and bicycle ride.

“This is just two [events],” Schmidt said. “I think people are more familiar with triathlons.”

The race has three different legs starting with the 5k run or walk. The second leg is the biking portion for 12 miles. The third leg is one-mile run or walk back on feet.

The race is on both city and county streets and the Friendship and Fox River Trail Systems.

“We really want to showcase that trail,” Schmidt said.

Participants can sign up together and split the legs of the race between two or three people.

Children eight and under must be accompanied by an adult, but the event is encouraged for all ages. The foundation will also be holding a raffle as part of a helmet giveaway the day of the duathlon.

A version of this story appeared in the August 30, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.