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Anyone can be a couch potato, but why can't anyone also be a triathlete?

This must have been the thought of Mark Hanson when he signed up himself and his family for a new adventure. They decided to join the ranks of 1,700 participants in this year's Chisago Lakes Triathlon, Sunday, July 24.

Hanson lives in Chisago City and has been aware of the event from watching it every year. But somewhere, somehow the long winter led him to be motivated to just try something different. "I once said to someone I would do this event when I turned 60.  I didn't think they would remember.  This is kind of like how I got elected to the city council.  I opened my mouth at the wrong time, so I had to follow through. I signed up myself as well as my family," Hanson said.

None of the Hanson family has ever done this.  While some family members have done a variety of physical fitness events, this will be the first family competitive event. "We are athletic just not competitive. We snowboard, skateboard, sail, surf, windsurf, swim, stuff like that," Mark explained.

Barb Hanson has done some walks for cancer or the like, but she has largely been coerced into this triathlon by the eldest Hanson son Axel.  Axel is home for two months. He lives and works in Newcastle, NSW Australia. Perhaps he could win the Farthest Distance for a Competitor to Come Award.

He has completed two adventure races down under. He also surfs and in March, he was crushed in a big wave and fractured his right fibula.  So this will be a "bit" of a test for him.  

Olena, their daughter works for Mount Olivet home in Minneapolis and has competed in some smaller races. Her Dad thinks she will do pretty well.  

Jacob, the third child, is taking the summer off from working and raking the beach.  (He has been running from something, so he should do pretty well, Mark said.)  Their youngest, Roscoe is currently learning how to make cookies and cakes, so there will at least be treats after.

On how the day will go, Hanson summarized, "I don't think we will finish last. Some of us will do well in the swimming, hold our own in the biking and the running portion might not be too bad.

This should be interesting. You have probably noticed from our applications that we are not small people, having checked off Athena and Clydesdale," he joked.

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