Camp Teaches Young Athletes Triathlon Skills

Triathlon coach Doug Levens had such fun coaching a triathlon camp in Weston, he decided to start a similar program in Cheshire. Once he achieved his USA Triathlon Level 1 certification as a coach, that's just what he did.

For the past two summers he has run a beginner triathlon camp in coordination with the Cheshire Parks & Recreation Department. This year, he is adding an advanced camp for young athletes who have been through the program or have competed in a triathlon.

"I had a bunch of repeat campers who already knew the basics and I was already getting a little differentiation with the groups," Levens said. "I wanted to still teach first-timers and get them excited about the sport and also be able to spend some additional time with people who had done my camp or had done triathlon before, so we can advance them a little bit further and hopefully they'll start taking on some races around the area."

Kieran Haug is one of Leven's youngest campers at 8, but he will be in his third year as a camper and attending the advanced camp. Kieran, whose father Ryan ran the Ironman in Hawaii last fall, ran the Mini Mossman Triathlon in Norwalk at 6, finishing 12th overall.

"When Doug first started he wasn't even taking kids that age, but we met him at the (Mini Mossman)  triathlon and he said 'If your son can do this triathlon, he can do my camp,' " Kieran's mother Veena Raghuvir said. "It's a fantastic camp."

"I like swimming, biking and running and it's all three of the sports. My dad does them, too," Kieran said. "I'm not the best at swimming. I'm best at biking. It's fun."

One doesn't usually associate triathlon training with such early ages, but Levens describes the camp as an all-encompassing experience that is fun, instructive and challenging.

Levens said each day features a similar schedule but with varying components. They start with stretching to warm up the campers' legs and calisthenics to get everybody moving and warmed up.

Running drills come next with either relay races at the track or different types of tag, variations on getting campers moving forward and laterally. It's less training than getting their legs moving, Levens said.

Then they'll either use the linear path for a bike workout or set up cones for a bike rodeo at the park during which the staff coaches turning and how to use their speed and brakes. They also will sometimes find a hill to tackle so they can fine-tune gear-shifting.

That's followed by swimming at the pool with members of the YMCA Sea Dogs swim team mentoring the younger swimmers on technique. The older swimmers, who often have training in the evening, go through less of a regimen, which again may involve relay races.

The camp also touches on different aspects of a healthy diet by analyzing nutritional labels, Levens said.  He said the campers will also research healthy food guidelines listed in the best selling "Eat This, Not That" books.

"It's a great way to educate the kids about healthy eating," said Jenn Giles, a camp coach who is a registered dietician, exercise physiologist and elite triathlete. "Their focus is on the race, the triathlon, so I kind of get in the back door a little bit, I focus on foods that will power them and fuel them the best way.
"I focus on balancing their diet and weeding out the no-so-healthy choices with healthier choices," Giles continued. "I have them keep a food log. It's kind of fun having them write down every morsel they put in their mouth. It gets pretty entertaining. They're so funny."

"(Nutrition) is a big focus of mine because the kids can work as hard as they want but if they're not feeling their bodies properly, they're not going to have the result that they want for the amount of work that they put into it," Levens said.

"It's hard," Levens said. "It's a continuing battle, even with my kids to do it, but I've gotten great feedback from the parents that some of it is definitely sticking."

The  advanced camp will run from June 27-July 1 for ages 10-14, while the beginner camp is Aug. 8-12 for ages 7-10. Both camps run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day at Bartlem Park. 

Cost of the camp is $215, $225 for non-residents. (Call Parks and Recreation at 203-272-2743 for scholarship information.) 

"The whole week is a buildup to teach them the sport and teach them the different aspects and on Friday, we do a triathlon in Bartlem Park," Levens said. The Friday triathlon requirements vary for each age group. The youngest group, 7-to-8 years old will swim 50 yards, bike 2 miles and run 1/2 mile, which takes about 20 minutes. The 12-14 age group will swim 400 yards, bike 6 miles and run 1 mile, which takes about 40 minutes. Two middle groups fall in between those numbers.

"It's all based on the guidelines USA Triathlon sets up for the kids," Levens said. "It's something that's challenging so they understand it's an endurance event but it's not too taxing on the body.

"I tell the kids no matter if they finish first or last, they're a triathlete. It's something to build on. There are some that are super competitive, but the kids are learning their bodies."

For more information on the camps or to sign up contact Cheshire Parks & Recreation Dept., 599 Main St., phone: 203-272-2743.