This annual August event is the brainchild of former Michigan Tech volleyball coach Mary Kaminski.

According to her, this triathlon is a fitting tribute to a Mize, a pioneer of the environmental movement in the late 1960s. Mize was instrumental in saving Lake Superior from industrial pollution.

“It was a great day for a race,” noted Kaminski. “We had perfect weather and a well-staffed crew of volunteers that we couldn’t do this day without.”

The event kicked off with around 24 athletes diving into the waters of the Portage Canal at 8 a.m. for the Main Mize. This included a half-mile swim towards the Lift Bridge. After drying off at Ray Kestner beach, participants jumped on their bikes for an eight-mile ride down the canal and back and concluded the race with a four-mile run.

Swimmers hit the water on Saturday morning at Ray Kestner Park in Houghton as part of the fourth annual Verna Mize Triathlon. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

Just minutes after the Main racers hit the water, around 24 Mini Mize racers took the plunge for a quarter-mile swim, four-mile bike ride and a two -mile run.

Mark Karppinen was the winner of the Mini Mize with a time of 43:07. It was his second year in a row competing in this triathlon, and he said having a year under his belt certainly helped.

“I have done a lot of competitive running but not so much swimming and biking,” he stated. “Swimming is my weak point, and it is something that I want to get better at.”

Being a part of the student triathlon club at Michigan Tech certainly gave Main Mize winner, Nick Petersen, an advantage. The Green Bay native completed the three events in 60:14 minutes.

“So, there were of us here from the Huskies triathlon club and this is a great way to introduce people to the world of triathlons,” he shared. Running is my strong suit, but the water was great for swimming.”

Friends Jeff Parent and Todd Fadoir, originally from the Detroit area, echoed a similar sentiment. Parent said that he had done triathlons before, but that was 10 or 15 years ago. When he learned about this through a friend, he knew he wanted to be a part of it, and it fit in perfectly with a visit to Fadoir who had just bought a house in Hancock. The two were among the top finisher in the Mini Mize.

“Best part was the swim, said Parent. “I was second out of the water. The worst part was the run as I was limited to speed walking due to an injury.”

It was Fadoir’s first triathlon.

“I’ve run competitively but never biked or swam like this,” he said.

When asked if they would be back next year, they responded with an emphatic ‘yes’.

“This was great,” related Parent. “I love what the race stands for and celebrates in all that is Verna Mize.”