The Annual "Spartathlon" took place this last Friday, as grade five students from Strathcona Tweedsmuir School participated in a swimming, biking and running triathlon.

The event has been a tradition for close to ten years, and is the first triathlon for most of the participants. The students train for the event as part of their physical education program, completing it near the end of the school year.

Carrie Duncan-Moore, Physical Educator at STS, says this event is part of the phys-ed program and they are lucky to have good weather most years.

" It's part of our phys-ed program, we always do it around this time of year. The weather turned out perfectly today. A couple of years ago we had to cancel because of a lightning storm, but most of the time the weather cooperates," she said.

Approximately 45 students participated in the triathlon, with the longest and final component being biking for five kilometres.

Duncan-Moore says the triathlon not only highlights the physical training efforts of the students, but the friendships they have developed.

" They'll sacrifice their time to help others, if the bike fails and they don't want to leave their friend alone, they will escort them back to the bike station. There's tremendous camaraderie and friendship that is seen throughout the day, and that's inspiring," she said.

The students also nominate each other for acts of kindness, helping one another and physical efforts during the event at a school assembly the week following the triathlon, where recognition and awards are presented.

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