The Ironbear triathlon proves that there is more to a Bowdoin education than what students learn in the classroom.
The 2007 Ironbear, which will take place Saturday on Bowdoin's campus, started out as an idea and passion for founder Will Thomas when he was a senior at Bowdoin in 2003.
"I'd been doing triathlons for a few years before college, so I had this idea to put on a triathlon at Bowdoin. I decided to give it a try so I scoped out a bike course in the greater Brunswick area, met with a bunch of different coaches, gave it a name. I did all the stuff, but I really had no idea what I was doing," Thomas said.
"I had spent my entire life savings account to pay for T-shirts and all the things like that," he said.
"I was begging everyone to do the race, and I eventually got about 75 people to do it. This year about 500 athletes from all over the country are participating. We filled the race out in an hour and 20 minutes," Thomas said.
Thomas is the founder and executive director of Tri-Maine Productions, a company that also includes Bowdoin alums Carter Thomas '06 and Nicole Goyette '05.
"Tri-Maine definitely started out from the first Ironbear. I learned a lot about entrepreneurship, event management, and taking risks," Thomas said. "Now through all our events I deal with all these different groups of people, but that first year was by far the hardest. I was scared out of my mind."
The Ironbear is both a triathlon, which consists of a 525-yard swim, a 12-mile bike, and a three-mile run, and a duathlon, which is a two-mile run, a 12-mile bike, and another 3-mile run.
In addition to individuals, relay teams can also sign up to do the Ironbear.
Of this year's approximately 500 participants, 90 to 100 are Bowdoin students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
Student organizer Annie Cronin '07 said that in the past, several deans and professors have signed up to participate, as well as Karen Gordon Mills, wife of President Barry Mills and managing director of New York-based Solera Capital.
There will also be about 125 volunteers at the event, mostly Bowdoin students, with some faculty.
"Participants always comment on how much they enjoy having student volunteers," Cronin said.
Proceeds, which Cronin said will be about $3,000, will go to the Common Good Grant Program, run by Bowdoin's Community Service Resource Center.
"It's about keeping the triathlon tied to Bowdoin and the Brunswick community," said Cronin.
Participant Lana Tilley '07 said that this is the second year she is doing the Ironbear.
"I had volunteered the two years before, and while watching as a sophomore I thought I could do it and that it would be fun to train for. It was actually really hard," she said
Tilley also said that she will continue to participate in triathlons after graduation.
"It's a good way to continue being in competitive athletics after college," she said.
Cronin said that "there are a lot of people who do the triathlon for fun and have never done a triathlon before, and it's training for some more serious athletes. People have a great time out there; there's a really good vibe."
Tilley agreed.
"There's so much energy and everyone is really excited. You just feel so good after," she said.