Mike’s March Meltdown event offers triathlon with a twist

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Athletes from around the Northern Rockies area will conquer a very different kind of triathlon on the weekend.

Taking place at Fort Nelson’s Art Fraser Park on Sunday, March 15th, Mike’s March Meltdown encompasses three winter-specific sports: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating in a distance event around the area.

Initially scheduled for March 1st, the event was postponed due to cold weather. Due to this weekend being the start of spring break for students, Krista Pearson, recreation program and rentals manager for the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), said the event has been turned into a virtual event with participants filming themselves performing the sports.

Pearson told Energeticcity.ca they were looking for a date “that works for everybody.”

“This year, we’ve had so much snow, and it’s still quite cold,” Pearson told Energeticcity.ca. “We have had a ton of people that have said, ‘that works better for me, now I can do it wherever I am.’”

The event is named after Mike Irwin, a Fort Nelson resident who worked at the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality recreation centre for 17 years beginning in 2004.

Irwin suffered from bronchiectasis, which led to the partial removal of his right lung after being given the diagnosis in 2010.

An avid marathon runner, he ran around the province to raise funds for the BC Lung Association. He passed away in 2021.

“Back in 2020 we were putting together this event, and then Covid happened, so we made it virtual,” said Pearson. “The winter triathlon is pretty unique to being in the north. After [Mike] passed away in 2021, we re-labeled our winter triathlon to Mike’s March Meltdown.”

Pearson added Irwin’s brother, James, participates virtually from Alberta each year. 

The March Meltdown is divided into two divisions: Lynx, for more experienced participants, and Cariboo for youth competitors.

According to a Facebook post from the Northern Rockies Regional Rec Centre, participants can enter the event solo or as a team.

The Lynx event will feature a 2.5-kilometre ski, followed by a five-kilometre skate and a 2.5-kilometre walk/run or snowshoe.

The Cariboo event features a one-kilometre ski with a one-kilometre snowshoe and the option of a one-kilometre walk/run or a snowshoe of 0.5 kilometres. 

Pearson said a run/walk component can replace any of the snow events.

“Not everybody typically will skate,” Pearson explained. “But, if they don’t skate, they might be more comfortable running. The most unique thing is that you are cross-country skiing, skating and snowshoeing, and the running is a little bit for people that don’t like one of those sports.”

For those who wish to participate in person on March 15th, the recreation centre has all the equipment needed to participate in each event. 

Registration fees have been waived due to the virtual nature of the event. However, participants can fulfill all the requirements in Art Fraser Park. 

The Mike’s March Meltdown will take place on Sunday, March 15th. To register, call the NRRM recreation department at 250-774-2541 ext. 1 or visit the event’s website.