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CLEAR LAKE: A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Health and wellness has always been one of those things only
for races and marathons. The full-fledged biker, decked out with
all the latest gadgets and gizmos for their bicycle whizzing by at
warp speed. It’s easy to be discouraged for those that just like to
In 2017, Clear Lake hosted the first annual Tri-Clear Lake event.
Now for some people, the word triathlon alone elicits a fear and
anxiety of doing the impossible. The good thing about this event,
is that anyone can do it… you just have to give it a ‘tri.’
The race begins at 8am on Saturday, June 9th with a 750 meter
open water swim at State Beach. After that, participants will
jump on their bikes and head out for a 12.4 mile jaunt. The race
wraps up with a 3.1 mile run, ending on Main Street. When it’s
all over, you can head over to City Park for a finish-line party you
won’t want to miss. If you’re still on the fence about signing up,
here’s a little tidbit of information you may have never guessed:
You can do Tri Clear Lake as a relay.
So round up a couple friends and get signed up. It doesn’t matter
if you have two or three people on your relay team. The main
thing is that you’re out there… doing it! Not only that, but every
participant is there for a different reason. Yes, some are in it for
the competition; to beat their previous time or to win the race in
their age group. For some, it’s a pure bucket list item. Something
they’ve always wanted to do. And others will be there because
they’ve made a conscious decision to be healthier. It’s a great
sense of accomplishment to cross that finish line and achieve
something you never thought you could do.
The common denominator in all these people is one thing… they
did it. They gave it a TRI.
Registration is $65 and limited to 500 participants. For more
information or to register online go to www.triclearlakeia.com.
If the Tri doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, the good news is that
Clear Lake offers a plethora of options to keep you moving and
shaking throughout the year. And each activity has such a vast
array of participants; you’ll fit in whether you’re highly competitive
and looking for a win, or just joining in for the fun of it.
The Clear Lake Parks & Rec Department is a great place to
find activities for all ages. Their kids program is bursting with
happenings from fishing camps to organized sports, golf lessons
to dance camp, and everything in between. And for the adults,
who are kids at heart, get a group of friends together and register
a slow-pitch or sand volleyball team. It will guarantee a summer
full of lasting memories, and it gets you out and moving.
At Parks & Rec, they strive to create opportunities for the citizens
of Clear Lake and the surrounding community to be active, have
fun, and improve their quality of life. Check out their full lineup
of options at www.cityofclearlake.com. Get out and
experience their programs and enjoy the many parks.
For those looking to find that perfect Zen, that balance
of mind, body and soul, be sure to check out Yoga by
the Lake. It’s offered every Saturday morning at the
Sea Wall area near City Park during the summer and
is sure to bring you back into balance and kick-start a
fabulous weekend at the Lake.
Another fun activity to consider is the Wednesday
night bicycle ride. North Iowa Touring Club meets
each week at the Sea Wall starting at 5pm (April, May
& August) and 5:30 (June and July) for a group ride
which is open to the public. Different groups ride
at different rates of speed so there’s something for
every rider. Rides range anywhere from a 15 mile ride
to the more advanced, which is 25+ miles. Helmets
are required to participate. Biking is a great way to
enjoy the scenic views of the lake while enjoying the
outdoors… and getting a little exercise!
On the flip side, I have to admit the best way to experience Clear
Lake is from the lake. If you agree, you might be interested in
Paddlefest. Scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 28th at
9am, the inaugural event is a great way to explore the shores
of our fabulous lake on your kayak, canoe or stand up paddle
board. Three options will be available for you to choose from: a
1-mile sprint race, a 5K short course, and a 10K long course. The
courses will have separate waves for each category with 3-minute
intervals between each category (kayak, canoe and SUP).
Being active and conscious of your healthy choices doesn’t have
to mean you live and breathe a fit and healthy lifestyle. Just
being outside in the fresh air, enjoying the many opportunities
Clear Lake has to offer to keep busy and on the move is enough.
A healthy heart is a happy heart, and that’s easy to achieve when
you’re at the Lake.
by Rachel Smith
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