Gregory Seigel follows in the footsteps of some pretty big sneakers. Having caught swim-bike-run fever from his father, Seigel entered his first triathlon in high school, just to see if he could cross the finish line.

Now the UM psychology major is helping others do the same. Seigel and mechanical engineering major Patrick Almas are co-presidents of TriCanes, a triathlon club with the emphasis on try.

“We want to provide an entry point for triathlons, to break the stigma that they are too burdensome to compete in,” Seigel says.

When most people hear the word triathlon, Almas says, they think of the Ironman—a rigorous 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run. The TriCanes focus more on “splash and dash” events, including everything from Olympic-length triathlons (0.9-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike, 6.2-mile run) to shorter races.

Established five years ago by Frank Gencorelli, M.D. ’08, TriCanes has grown to more than 50 active members, some of whom travel to the annual USA Triathlon (USAT) Collegiate National Championship. Some schools they encounter there have fully funded varsity triathlon programs, while the TriCanes have local corporate sponsors and parents for support. But what they lack in funds, TriCanes make up for in moxie.

“We get e-mails all the time from students whose goal is to finish just one triathlon,” Almas says. “We enjoy the opportunity to facilitate that for them.”

Seigel is a personal trainer who works at the Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center, and Almas is a licensed USAT coach. Earning these certifications has better equipped them to train TriCanes members of all levels. For some TriCanes, vowing to complete a triathlon is part of a lifestyle shift. Seigel recalls an overweight student who trained for two years before crossing the finish line. His mother was waiting with tears in her eyes. “This accomplishment is symbolic in a lot of ways, especially when you see it means so much to the family too,” Seigel says.

“The sport attracts a certain nutty, doggedly determined group who have perhaps more heart than athletic perfection in any one area,” notes physician David Lubarsky, a professor and chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management at the Miller School of Medicine, and a TriCanes member.

To brush up on their strokes, TriCanes turn to former UM women’s swim coach Ken Groce, B.B.A. ’75, B.S.C.E. ’75. A self-employed engineer, Groce coaches two swim practices a week at the University Center pool plus open-water swims at Key Biscayne on the weekends. His reward is seeing students who have never done a triathlon become comfortable enough to participate, regardless of their athletic capabilities.
“My goal is to give them another option for releasing stress,” says Groce, who has been a triathlete since the 1980s. “It helps if they can say, ‘I ran ten miles on Saturday, so I can deal with this stress and homework.’”
Seigel and Almas agree that TriCanes are a unique breed. “We’re the Whole Foods of college kids,” Almas says, a nod to their healthy lifestyle choices. But Almas also cautions against missing out on fun, like Hurricanes football games.
“I had a blast and I did well in the competition,” Almas says of a recent choice to cheer on the ’Canes despite a race the next day. “Going to the game, standing in the rain, enjoying the college experience—that’s the best way to get a good time in the race.”