PUSH triathlon aims to make the sport more accessible
When Connie Sheehan started the PUSH triathlon in 2020, she wanted to show people of color that the sport was accessible to them. Seven years later, the community-focused event is moving to a new home at V3 Sports in North Minneapolis. The triathlon will begin at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.
“I just want people of color to know that this is for us, we can do this,” said Sheehan, owner of PUSH Fitness and event organizer.
The triathlon is designed as an entry-level event. Participants swim 12 lengths of a pool, bike 15 miles and run 3 miles. Most compete as teams, allowing people to participate in the portion of the event they are most comfortable with.
“If I would say to you, ‘Come do this triathlon with me,’ and you said, ‘Connie, I can't. I can't do all those things,’ I'll say, ‘What can you do? Can you walk?’ Great, I'll put you on the team with a biker and a swimmer,” Sheehan said.
That accessibility is intentional. Sheehan said people of color remain significantly underrepresented in triathlon, and swimming can be a particular barrier because many people haven't had the opportunity to learn.
“It’s not because we aren't able. It's just because we haven't grown up with it,” she said.
The swim portion is held in a pool rather than a lake, and the event emphasizes participation over competition.
“I called it a race, it's not really a race,” Sheehan said. “It's people coming and just figuring out that we can do these things together. People cheer each other on.”
This year also marks a new partnership with V3 Sports. PUSH previously held the event at the Pool & Yacht Club in St. Paul, which Sheehan credits with giving the triathlon a chance in 2020, when many races weren't being held.
As the event grew, Sheehan said, she needed more space. V3's mission made it a natural fit.
“V3's mission aligned so closely with mine, being in a space where there are people of color, giving them access to swimming,” she said. “They have an amazing pool. So it feels like it's a good fit right now.”
The triathlon grew out of Sheehan's broader efforts to make fitness more welcoming to communities of color. She operated a physical PUSH Fitness location for seven years before closing it three years ago. She continues to organize the triathlon and an annual Thanksgiving Day workout, with proceeds going to Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul.
Sheehan said her interest in fitness for people of color began after she moved from Chicago to Minnesota and noticed few people of color teaching or participating in fitness classes.
“I know the incidents of high blood pressure and diabetes, and I also know that it can't be cured by movement, but movement can sure help,” she said. “And so I just thought, ‘Oh, I'm going to bring that to our people.’”
Community members don't have to compete to take part Saturday. Spectators can cheer swimmers at V3 Sports or watch cyclists along River Road.
For Sheehan, that's ultimately what the event is about.
“I want people to try their hardest, and some people are there to win. Most people are there to do it,” she said. “So it really is about community and just pushing yourself a little bit, trying something new.”
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