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Hotel workers ready for ƵappTriathlon

Four Seasons has 17 employees participating in annual local race
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Four Seasons Whistler employees take a break from training to pose for a picture. The hotel is sending 17 participants to the ƵappTriathlon on Sunday (July 6).

Triathlon fever has officially hit the Four Seasons Resort Whistler.

A total of 17 employees of the hotel are running, swimming and cycling in preparation for the 17th annual ƵappTriathlon on Sunday (July 6) and sales manager Danny Ng said he’s thrilled to see the passion his co-workers have for the event.

“It all started when I was getting ready for Ironman this year and decided to up my training,” he said. “I thought it would be a great way to get some company to join me for a bike, a swim or a run and I think everyone in our group wanted to be healthier or get in better shape for the summer.”

Ng said his co-workers were somewhat intimidated at first, but the relay option for the ƵappTriathlon helped get everyone on board.

“When we suggested the idea of doing the triathlon to our team, everyone was a little scared at first, but with the relay, it’s totally achievable,” he said. “Everyone has their own goal and we had a number of people who had swam or biked in the past.”

According to Ng, the 17 participants represent a cross-section from all divisions at the hotel. The marketing director, sales director and the front office manager and many others have taken up the challenge.

“At the end of the day, we want to build that awareness of being healthy and building team morale,” he said. “Theenergy is infectious when everyone works together and I think it’s motivating everyone at work to become healthier.”

Ng said about a year ago, Four Seasons started up a new policy to encourage all staff to lead a healthier lifestyle. Employees started up a health and wellness club and the hotel’s cafeteria began serving more healthy meal options. The hotel also began offering spin and yoga classes for employees.

Training has been ongoing for all employees involved in the triathlon, with swimmers doing laps at local pools and also local lakes. Cyclists meet every Friday for a ride and runners are continually pounding the pavement in anticipation of the big event.

“There’s a little bit of competition between the teams,” Ng said, laughing. “Every team will be trying hard but everyone has a role to play. Each member of the relay has to work together and if they want to succeed they just can’t give up.”

Ng is on a team with his wife and will be doing the biking and swim portion of the race. After the ƵappTriathlon, he will participate in the Whistler Ironman on July 27. It’s the second Ironman for Ng, as he also did the New York Ironman in 2012. He’s set a goal of 14 hours for the Whistler race.

The ƵappTriathlon goes down on July 6 with the swim kicking the event off at Alice Lake at 9:30 a.m. Participants will swim 1,500 metres, then hit the trails of Brackendale for a 37 km bike ride and then a 10 km trail run with the finish line at Don Ross Secondary School.

For more information on the event, visit www.squamishtriathlon.org.

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