I grew up doing triathlons. They weren’t exactly what you’re imagining, though. At a YMCA family camp in northern Minnesota, teams of four swim, run and canoe to victory. My extended family dove into this tradition our first time at du Nord, and we’ve been swimming, running, and paddling in pursuit of family pride for the last eighteen years. It hasn’t always been easy, though. We practically have to throw someone in the water to get a swimmer. They tag off the plethora of cousins that always want to run, who in turn shove off the uncle/grandpa duo who paddle with the occasional stray child tagging along in the canoe.
Our team has morphed over the years. Some cousins got to old to come to family camp, others grew up enough to be drafted onto the team. Swimmers have graduated from completing a lap inside the buoys to racing just outside of them. Different canoe push-off methods have been experimented with, the presence of a coxswain in the boat is still debated, and stroke rates are all over the map.
My family will head up to camp for our 19th year this summer. We’ll inevitably field a triathlon team with a creative name, and it will (hopefully) complete the entire racecourse in under five minutes. I, however, don’t have to wait until July to take part in this important tradition. The Dartmouth Triathlon Team has, in the two short terms I’ve been here, introduced me to a new order of events, a strong community of athletes, and a sense of belonging here on campus.
In high school, I was a Nordic skier and rower. While I still ski every chance I get, I came to Dartmouth knowing I’d have to find a new athletic community for myself. I stumbled upon the Tri table at the activities fair and was intrigued by the team’s obvious commitment to not only swimming, biking, and running, but also to inclusivity and team bonding. I went to the info meeting and came out excited, more than anything else, to get to know people on the team. Since then, I’ve attended practices, dinners, socials, brunches, and a race with the team. I continue to be impressed with the genuineness and openness of my fellow triathletes. We all have such different backgrounds, athletically and otherwise, and yet everyone supports each other unconditionally.
Triathlon has fostered a sense of belonging for me here at Dartmouth, both at and in addition to team-related functions. When I’m not at practice, I see triathletes on the sidewalks, ski paths, classrooms, labs, and mountains. A “hello!” is always exchanged and never fails to brighten my day. Having this network of students from all different corners of campus has made my transition to college less daunting. As I’ve dealt with normal first-year challenges and bigger events at home, my friends from Tri have always been here to talk, offer support, and blast good music.
I might not be competing with my family when I’m at Dartmouth, but the triathlon community is the closest thing I’ve found to a family here on campus. We support each other, respect each others’ strengths and weaknesses, and train not only to win, but to grow. I’m incredibly glad that I found the Tri Team and that I have so many years ahead of me to develop both as a triathlete and as a member of this community.
About the Author
Abby is a '22 from Edina, Minnesota. She loves to ski, canoe, write, and generally be goofy! She doesn't know what she's studying here at Dartmouth yet, but it'll definitely be something that allows her to be outside all the time.
