Triathlon Booming In Montana

According to the Independent Record, triathlon is growing in popularity in Montana.

Discipline, endurance and strength are just a few of the qualities it takes to compete in sports. And when you are competing in three sporting events in immediate succession, those abilities become even more important.

Such is the case with the sport of triathlon. Today’s athletes are looking for new ways to challenge themselves, and in the Billings area that trend has resulted in a big rise in the popularity of triathlons.

“There’s a growing interest not just locally, but around Montana,” said Big Sky State Games executive director Karen Sanford Gall.

Jay Marschall, owner of GymJay in Billings, has been training, coaching and competing in triathlons since 1987. Marschall began training for a triathlon after finishing college in order to get in shape.

“I had a bet with myself,” Marschall said. “I spent three months training for my first one. I did more and kept getting better and better. I got hooked.”

Marschall said his goal was to compete in an Ironman competition, but at first didn’t realize how much training had to be put into it.

Read more: Helenair.com

Learn more about triathlon in the Montana area in the current issue of Inside Triathlon.