Participants

Our triathlon participants have ranged in ages from 10 to 57. Nationalities represented so far include:

• New Zealand
• Germany
• Hungary
• Scotland
• Holland

Meet some of our triathlon participants.

	Sophie Toutain I’ve never done the triathlon before and I’m keen to try. I am passionate about being kind to the earth and ALL its inhabitants (not just humans!). I can run, I love cycling and swimming but I’m not super great at any of the three so I’m taking part to have fun and to show that being vegan means being healthy and active! I love food and I think vegan food has it all, the colours, the flavours, the spirit … I love tramping in amazingly beautiful NZ, now my home. Even your local birds befriend me!
	Aaron Koolen, Computer Programmer I'm a computer programmer and therefore sit on my bum all day and hadn't really done any decent exercise in 20 years. I was getting older, and fatter, and Yolanda persuaded me that I should get out and give the triathlon a go. It was damned hard at first, but now I'm loving the training and my fitness has skyrocketed. It's one of the most positive things I've done for myself in a long time. Looking forward to competing!
	Simon Risdon I really enjoyed participating in my first Vegan triathlon. I did the swim and handed over to my friends Suzanne and Philip who completed the biking and running. it was a fun day and really good to be around lots of people who are not meat eaters!
	Deidre Sims The Vegan Triathlon was an awesome experience. I never thought I would participate in such an event but I had so much fun doing it!
	Doug Hesp I am very excited about being in my first Vegan Triathlon. I hope the day is not too windy!
	Rachel Clare, Student The Vegan Triathlon was a fun experience. It was my first time doing it. I went vegan so I could do it and I have been vegetarian for many years! It was an awesome day and I hope to do it again next year.
	Troy, Youth Worker My strict regime of eating loads of Lite Licks ice cream languidly left me lurching through laughing at myself for no preparation for this fun and fantastic event – that I finished! great grass roots vegan community event that I enjoyed and surprised myself. Thanks!
	Deidre Bourke, Lawyer Hi I'm Deidre, I've been vegan for around 18 years. Being a lawyer and somewhat attached to my computer I spend a lot of time sitting so have never been one of those lovely fit healthy vegans! The triathlon gave me the motivation to get my act together and now I have actually discovered running is fun, and running with fellow vegans is awesome. The triathlon was much harder than I expected, but I am so glad to have done it, it’s even spurred me to start a vegan sports club - 'Team Vegan'. Keep an eye out for us in Round the Bays this year, we will be the group of 30 or so vegans all kitted out in our sporty Team Vegan club uniforms!
	Anna van den Bosch, Full Time Mother I’ve been a vegetarian for many years and have toyed with the idea of going vegan for a while, the Vegan Triathlon was the final push. And no, it’s not that difficult! My aim was to finish the triathlon, and I did, with my three year old on the back of my bike for the cycle leg! Participation and being vegan is the key.
	Flip Grater, Musician I am a vegan, a musician, a swimmer, a runner and an enthusiastic home-cook. It's amazing how all of these things seem to benefit each other!
	Joanna Payne The thing that I think is best about the vegan triathlon is that it challenged me to take up swimming again, which now I love doing. The organisers were a really supportive crew and made the day a lot of fun!
	Stew-art Filshie Hi, Stew-art here, fellow Vege. Soc. committee member. Last year was my first Vegan Triathlon, and a great day it was, with herbivorous characters aplenty, giving it a go with gusto, and lashings of integrity! The after dinner at Mainstreet was oishi (Japanese for yummy), and significant in that it is now a barren wasteland readied for a highrise. If you like the number 8 as I do, the Vegan Triathlon t-shirt or top of your choice will have 2008 emblazoned across it, all the more reason to play a part, aye mates!!
	Ella Soryl, School Student Kia ora. I’m a life vegan and have been in every Vegan Triathlon so far! My favourite event is the swimming and my worst is the running. After being in this one, I entered and won my school triathlon so the Vegan Triathlon was good training for that. My favourite vegan food is avocado.
	Yolanda Soryl, Teacher I had never even been in a triathlon or any race before I found myself organising the first Vegan Triathlon in 2005! As the girl who was always last in the school races, I wanted to make the event welcoming to all abilities and an event of vegan coming together and celebration. The 2005 Vegan Triathlon was my first ever triathlon and it felt great to be able to do it. In 2006, I was able to do the long routes of each event. I came last but who cares?
	Rosemary Soryl, Eco Accommodation Manager When I started doing the Vegan Triathlon I was not very fit or active. A few years on, I am now running and/or cycling 2-3 hours a day and participating in the gruelling ‘Coast to Coast’ endurance event! I’ve been a vegan since January 1st, 2000. When I am not running or cycling in the Port Hills, I manage greenSpace Eco Accommodation and raise my four vegan children and two cats.
	Alanah Fern, School Student Five year old Alanah participated in the 2006 triathlon on the back of Gaynor’s cycle. A life vegan, she enjoys ballet, gymnastics and swimming. Alanah is looking forward to racing herself when she is older, but for now is happy to join in from the comfort of her cycle carrier.
	Annie Southern, PhD student Being a vegan is for me one of the best things I have ever done. It seems to have impacted all sorts of other areas of my life because I would never have believed someone like me would not only be taking part in a triathlon but also looking forward to it! I don’t feel having a disability isn't even an issue in terms of this event because the vegan community is so supportive in many ways.
	Frances Mountier I’m an Appeal Assistant and Administrator at SAFE, and went vegan at 16 when I was much closer to my crazy 15 year old soccer addiction and thus fitter. I participated in the first vegan triathlon and had an awesome time (even though I hate swimming) so am looking forward to 2008!
	Hans Kriek, SAFE Campaigns Director I am the campaign director for SAFE and have never been in a triathlon before. In previous years I had the excuse of being sick and then broke my toe not to participate. This year none of my excuses will be accepted by Yolanda and so I will swim, cycle and run if my life depends on it. It probably does as I believe Yolanda would inflict serious bodily harm if I do not attend. This is good for you fellow vegan triathlonist, as at least you won’t come in last because I will!
	Nichola Kriek, SAFE Education Officer I have been a participant in the last two vegan triathlons...perhaps not the most willing participant – but a participant nevertheless! Each time I have slogged through and wondered ‘why?’. Why did I let myself get talked into this? Why can’t vegans just be thought of as spindly, non-energetic carrot munchers? Why don’t I own a decent pair of running shoes? Needless to say, each time I have persevered and marvelled at the ability for my body to accept pain while my brain desperately tries to convince me that I am about to drop dead! So I look forward to the 2007 triathlon with the usual enthusiasm and trepidation – the vegan version of Fear Factor.
	Sacha Dowell, SAFE Campaigns Assistant I’m Sacha, I’m vegan and I work as Campaigns Assistant for SAFE. I have been in both Vegan Triathlons and they were my first triathlons that I have competed in individually. The running isn’t fun at all, but despite the pain I just grit my teeth and run the 4km anyway! One of the best things about the triathlon is the t-shirt at the end which results in many people asking in amazement “are you a triathlete?”! Last year my bike got a flat tyre on the way to the triathlon, so I had to do the running second instead of last and the cycling last instead of second – it was like I did the triathlon by myself as I hardly saw anyone else! Here are some mug shots of what I looked like before and after last year’s triathlon. :) And if you want the website address about my stray cat rescues, here it is: http://www.cisforcats.co.nz/rescue/cat_rescue_christchurch.htm
	Jasper Duff, School Student Hi I'm Jasper I'm 10 years old I've been a vegan all my life, I live in diamond harbour, my favourite vegan foods are pasta with yummy tomato and basil sauce and I also like olives in it too and my other favourite food is pizza. My best friends are Joshua Walker and Isaac Fowler. My favourite animal is a cheetah and my favourite pet is a puppy, my best vegan friend is Asher. This is my first vegan triathlon I liked the Mainstreet and getting my certificate.
	Phillip Wilkinson Fern, Eco House Builder My training for this event mainly comes from my work building eco houses. I have been vegan for ten years and am dad to two vegan children. Fruit smoothies, bananas and Piko’s vegan pies keep me going! Currently I am about to start building my own eco house at Pines Beach. I do the swim event in the Vegan Triathlon.
	Amber Guy, School Student, 12 I went vegan last year especially so that I could join in the Vegan Triathlon. I am 12 and have been a vegan for nearly a year (and a vegetarian for nearly a year and a half). This is because I love animals and don’t believe in making animals suffer just for us. I convinced my mum and my sisters to go vegetarian too and now one of my sisters is vegan! I am a member of the Vegetarian and Safe Youth groups. My fav vegan food is Sheppard’s pie and So Good ice cream.
	David Klein, Student Kia ora, My name is David and I competed in the 2007 Vegan Triathlon - my first one ever! It was a beautiful day, though far more challenging than I expected. After 'taking it slow' on the swim, running in the sunshine was lovely, and running with the kids was heaps of fun. I've just moved to Christchurch from Palmerston North, and am blown away by the strong vegan community. Everyone is so friendly and supportive, and we show that being vegan is for everyone - and that vegans can do anything! Bring on next year!
	Tracey Brown, Complementary Therapist I’m keen and active in sports and the outdoors. My biggest sporting achievement has been participating in the 2007 Coast to Coast. The thing that I love most about the Vegan Triathlon is that it is not competitive and more about fun and community than winning. Though each year I have to push myself to beat my vegan niece Ella who is only a third of my age and can outswim me!
	Alastair Duff, Gardener and Organic Grower This is my 2nd Vegan Triathlon after running to glory last year in a World beating effort. More of a cyclist than a swimmer or a runner I was most distraught OSH stole the cycle leg from us this year. With all advantage lost I was lapped in the pool and only ran fast when I thought someone was looking. Although it took my legs 4days to recover, and a week of cycle training lost I'll be back next year for the t-shirt and the after Triathlon dinner, yum yum. Not forgetting the actual Triathlon of course!!
	Asher Soryl, School Student Kia ora. I’m 9 and a life vegan. I did the children’s run and ran the whole way with the other adult vegans and Jasper. It was cool. I am into Dr Who, reading, computers and climbing. I love tomato sauce and would like to eat it at every meal if mum would let me. Luckily tomato sauce is vegan!
	Neve Soryl, School Student Kia ora. I am 7 and have been a vegan all my life. I loved doing the children’s run cos my best friends Alanah, Rene and Alexa did it too and we had fun. I love ballet, swimming, writing, drawing and playing with my friends.
	Te Koha Soryl, School Student Te Koha is 2, a life vegan who enjoys gymnastics, swimming and reading. Te Koha walked the whole 2.1km, having trained in the weeks leading up to it by walking alongside his buggy when out and about. Te Koha’s first word was ‘duck’, and he loves all animals. His favourite foods are miengin, avocado and hummus.
	Tanja, PhD student Geez, first Yolanda talked me into doing last year’s triathlon, and now she wants me to admit to it publicly! Races really aren’t my thing, never were. The only way you could drag me to a race would be if somehow the benefits outweighed the agony—and the humiliation of knowing I crawl at snail-speed (though I have the greatest respect for snails of course. Heck, they even let me beat them in a race!). So if it’s any encouragement, this triathlon is indeed worth it. I highly recommend it to couch potatoes (hmmmm....potatoes!) and athletes alike. All I can say is if *I* can do it, YOU really don’t have any excuses left.
	Ingrid Anna Hi, my name is Ingrid Anna, and I am 13 years old. I have been a vegetarian all my life and turned vegan around September last year! I love all animals, but I especially like OWLS!!!
	Kerstin Hi, my name is Kerstin and I will be 12 by the Vegan Triathlon. My hobbies include reading, chess, maths problem-solving, athletics and playing with cats. I have been a vegetarian all my life and turned vegan last year.
	Suzanne Liggett Fern, Teacher I’ve been vegan for 16 years and am now raising my two vegan children. Before I had my children, I was really into training. Now I am not! So I am very happy that I can participate in this event without too much preparation. Last year I did it as part of a team with my partner and flatmate. I did the run. I’m even less fit this year but will do the run, probably at a walking pace. I’m really looking forward to it cos it is an event of great vegan spirit.

Vegan Triathlon participants - both
newcomers and participants in previous
Vegan Triathlon years - are invited to submit
their profile and picture to info@vegantriathlon.org.nz.