Running a triathlon isn’t easy. But the Marquette Triathlon Team, founded in 2009, has made an impact on its members through training, motivation and a lot of conditioning.
Team President Jeffrey Condit, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, loves the endurance sport lifestyle. His and the team’s motto is simple: swim hard, ride fast and run like it’s the last thing you’ll ever do. It’s a motto he applies to all parts of his life.
“I find incredible joy in crossing the finish line if I’ve put together a well-run race,” Condit said. “I also love to see the emotions of my teammates and competitors when they have had a successful race and accomplish their goals for the day.”
The triathlon team strives to provide all the necessary utilities for students and alumni to participate in multisport races, meet other individuals with similar interests and encourage the growth of people dedicated to a healthy and active lifestyle.
“I have always been looking for memorable experiences with the triathlon team,” Condit said. “This is college. It takes some seriously hard work to balance school and training successfully, but now is also a great time to have some fun.”
Rebecca Avena, the team’s treasurer and a sophomore in the College of Engineering, is like many members of the team in that she runs because she loves to do it.
“I love having that time of day I can de-stress and take a time out from a busy week,” Avena said. “Training for long distance races takes a large chunk of time, which isn’t easy to manage when being a full-time student and balancing a job. So if I’m spending a lot of free time, I want to be doing something I love.”
The triathlon team participates in a number of single- and multi-sport events throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. The team’s athletes range from first-timers to those who regularly bring home hardware for top age-group finishes.
Maureen Ricken, the team’s secretary and a junior in the College of Engineering, joined the team after running a triathlon before coming to Marquette and was immediately addicted to the atmosphere.
“We really become a team on the 13-hour car rides to our races,” Ricken said. “I hoped to get a sense of team togetherness out of the triathlon club like there was on the track and cross country teams in high school, and I found it.”
Ricken said she loves the idea that members can decide how much they want to train.
“I love that the team is laid back in the sense that you decide when and how long you want to train, while still knowing someone will be there to ride next to you on those three-hour bike rides,” Ricken said.
Everett Brown, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and team member, is a triathlon addict.
“I had joined the team before my first triathlon, and I was going to go to Nationals, but a knee injury kept me from going,” Brown said. “I really enjoy being a part of the team because it provides a great group of people who love to swim, bike and run. I ran my first triathlon last spring … I ended up running four more triathlons last summer.”
