CHECKING IN LIGHT READ
All in the family
By Tim Hola
Courtesy Tim Hola
Picture this. You’re getting ready for a
big race. Instead of the typical high-tech racing goggles, gels, aero bike and
racing flats with elastic laces, you pack a
scuba mask for the swim, a gold-tone
five-speed Sears bike (with fenders) for
the ride and a classic pair of grey Brooks
Chariot running shoes for the run. Yes,
I know it’s hard to imagine, but for my
parents, Fran and Ken Hola, it was
those exact items that propelled them
into the sport of triathlon.
“It was 22 years ago, in 1984, when
we saw the Big Creek Triathlon in Des
Moines, Iowa, on an evening TV news
report and heard there was a triathlon in
Lake Okoboji later in the summer. We
had never done one before, so we signed
up,” Fran explains.
Ken, on the other hand was lured by
the competition. “I liked it because I
wanted the opportunity to compete,
especially on the bike, and get a good
workout,” Ken says. What my parents
didn’t realize was this was the start of a
bond in our family that would last
for years.
The Lake Okoboji Triathlon was a
1.5-mile swim, 18-mile bike and 6.2-
mile run. “Back then, you didn’t see any
aerobars, disc wheels or high-tech gadgets. The equipment we used worked out
just fine for our first race, although I can
imagine the looks I’d get today if I lined
up in my swim wave wearing a big bulky
scuba mask,” Ken admits.
After suffering some minor injuries
while running, my mom switched her
focus to the pool, where she still spends
most of her time today. My father, however, still races at age 62.
I grew up as a swimmer in high school
and frequently watched my dad compete in triathlons and duathlons. He
asked me once or twice to participate
with him, but I was always a little hesitant because I just liked to swim. When
I turned 20, I finally succumbed. It was
the summer of 1995 in Des Moines. I’d
be lying if I told you I didn’t enjoy the
variety of sports coupled with the
intensity of a fast race. However, to
share that enjoyment with my dad,
knowing he was out there going
through the same feelings, made it that
much better. Since then, my dad and I
have raced together at least one race
per season. We even share the same
sponsor, PowerBar.
There have been many memorable
moments. In 2000, at the Manitou
Sprint Triathlon in White Bear Lake,
Minn., we found ourselves racing
together on the bike. “In that race,
Tim started in a wave behind me and
passed me on the bike,” says Ken.
“After he passed me, I gave it all I had
and re-passed him and said, ‘Speed it
up, kid!’ I then ran out of gas and he
was long gone.”
It’s days like that that keep things in
perspective. I remember I was trying
for the overall win. I was very focused,
but when he passed me, it made me
laugh and realize why I like to race: to
have fun and to get in a good workout,
a bond we share.
“I think it’s great that Tim and I share
this activity, and it’s something that definitely strengthens our relationship year
after year,” Ken believes.
Triathlon strengthens our family.
Every member of our family has done a
triathlon, including my sister Christine.
It seems like it’s contributed to our
family’s well being by each of us learning from each other. Plus, we’ve been
lucky enough to travel to many places
as a family. I’m thankful this sport has
given us so many positive experiences. I
will soon be a father myself and hope
that I can pass on those experiences to
my kids. Ken says, “Racing with my son
gives me the opportunity to share the
same experiences I have in a race, and
while doing so, I feel privileged that we
can embrace this healthy lifestyle
together.”
