Why do a triathlon????? Well, I'll share my experience. I had swum as a teenager and run for a club during my 20's..but there was something missing! Then one day in the late 1980's I was reading the paper and saw an advertisement for a Summertime's event -- a short course Triathlon. I thought "I can swim, I can ride a bike and I can run...I can do that!!!" So the day dawned and with a nervous knot in my stomach and not knowing what to do, I stood on the beach in the middle of my fellow competitors right on the front line. When the starting hooter went off, I was run and swum over, but somehow I managed to get through the swim... "wow"... on the bike with adrenaline pumping, to navigate the bike course, then off the bike to run around Hagley Park to the finish line. I was on such a high that I cannot explain ... I didn't have a clue what to do in a Triathlon and I didn't get a place, but I had done it..!!!! That day I was sold on Triathlon and it was to become my passion.

A couple of years later a Women's Triathlon Series was organised in each of the main centers around NZ, which was a great hit, as was a women's triathlon held at the Halswell Aquatic Centre. Unfortunately the second year the national series was cancelled three weeks before the advertised date. As the date for the Christchurch event had already been set, a couple of us decided to make it happen..... and that year 35 women completed the event held at QEII Park. That was over 17 years ago. The concept of the three event series was born the following year in which we incorporated the Halswell event and added a third event at Scarborough in the sea. From that humble start to this year's series the number of entries has steadily increased to nearly 1,000 women, and to keep the friendly atmosphere we've had to limit the entries.

The development of the series has been exciting and rewarding and has encouraged many women of all abilities, fitness levels and ages, to achieve their goals and experience the high that comes from finishing a triathlon. The mission of the series has not changed over the years. It is there for each and every woman who wants to achieve the goal of participating and finishing in a triathlon. Each event is designed to offer a challenge by increasing in distance, but emphasis is on fun and participation and the PhysioMed Women's Triathlon Series welcomes and encourages you all.

Enjoy the experience....
Barbara Millar