Orion Township: Triathlon Training Paradise for Fire Lieutenant
(Chris Hagan, Lieutenant, Orion Township Fire Department, May 9, 2022, orig. Orion Living)
Orion Township, MI – One day we’ll all wake up, and our bodies will no longer be able to do what our minds believe is possible. Fortunately, this day can be delayed for quite some time as our minds can be one of the most limiting enemies we have.
I was interested in pushing myself in a physical endurance sport in a way I’ve never been challenged before. Last year, I registered for the Michigan Ironman 70.3 and the Detroit Free Press Full Marathon.
The Ironman 70.3 is a triathlon consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. And I have come to the conclusion that Orion Township is a triathlon training paradise. I had no prior experience with triathlons. My previous swimming experience was swimming boat-to-boat on Dollar Bay, and I had never truly cycled before unless you count a casual stroll down the Paint Creek Trail.
Finding areas to train in Orion was extremely easy. Lake Orion High School has an Olympic size pool with early, open swim times at an unbeatable price. Wildly less expensive than area fitness centers that offer a pool. In addition, there are several public lakes where you can get real-life training comparable to an actual triathlon swim if you go in the morning. It’s essential to practice your transitions, just as you would in a race. There are two distinct locations in the Township that offer plenty of saddle time to practice your cycling skills.
The Paint Creek and Polly Ann Trails are jewels in the Township and are a phenomenal training ground for cycling. Intended for mountain or gravel bikes, road bikes with thicker tires fly overtop of the well-maintained trails. The gravel creates more resistance on your tire, so even though times might be slower than the road, you’re training harder, resulting in faster road times.
These trails are equally beneficial for the run portion of a triathlon. Training for the 13.1-mile run, also known as a half-marathon, is easily accomplished on those trails. It’s important to remember that cross-training is essential for engaging your various muscle groups needed in triathlons. Backcountry hiking and hill running offer an unmatched advantage to training compared to flat surfaces. Bald Mountain North & South, Camp Agawam, and Orion Oaks County Park, all of which are located in the Township, offer multiple trails with varying degrees of difficulty. There are over 70-miles of safety paths throughout the Township, allowing you to carve your own creative route.
For the days where mother nature was relentless, making cycling too treacherous, swimming too choppy, and running too muddy, I found myself at the gym. There is no shortage of fitness centers in Orion to fit your training needs. Located in the Village, Hanson’s Running Shop and Main Street Bicycles have experts in both running and cycling, which makes getting the right gear simple.
The realization is that training for something intense, like an Ironman, can all be accomplished right here in the Township. It’s one of the things I value most about living in Orion. For the price of free, I can wake up, swim on Lake Orion, cycle on the Polly Ann Trail, and go for a run on the Paint Creek Trail. With so many different options, it’s easy to change your training and pick a different lake, a different trail, and a different route.
I encourage everyone to get outside and see the value offered within the 36 square miles of the Township. Find an activity to challenge yourself physically, whether it’s an Ironman or one of many 5K run/walks that happen throughout the year. Get out and get active. The investment you make now will pay off in the long run.
Learn more about Orion Township at www.oriontownship.org.