Kauai’s Garden Isle Tri Fest, 2012

The 2012 International Garden Isle Tri Fest is keeping organizers, Joe and Carol Williams busy. This annual multi-sport event is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2012 and will provide a safe, fun, sporting event for individual athletes as well as families with children. The event also enables local athletes to compete in an international competition. Proceeds from the event will benefit local charities like Habitat for Humanity and the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

Despite their busy schedules, I had a chance to catch up with Joe and Carol to a few questions about the event. This is what I found out:

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the Garden Isle Tri Fest?
A: To help out the local kids that need more scholarship money through the Rotary Scholarship Fund while creating a much- needed multi sports event during a time we felt like there wasn’t much going on -St.Patrick’s Day.
Q: How long have you been putting on this event?
A: This is our second year.
Q: Who does the Tri Fest benefit?
A: The Rotary Scholarship Fund and the Habitat for Humanity.
Q: What have been some of the challenges and rewards of putting on an event like this?
A: The biggest reward is watching the kids having fun learning how to do the Kids Duathlon Event and seeing how much they enjoy running and biking plus getting a finisher metal.
The biggest challenge is community support, especially early on (because it takes a long time to pull together this multi-faceted type of a Festival.)
Q: I understand that wellness is really important to you and your wife. How does the Tri Fest support your wellness beliefs?
A: It helps teach folks that cross training with more than one sport is actually better on your body than a lot of just one activity. Also, sweating while doing such an event can help you get rid of toxins that you do not need to keep in your body. We will also be providing healthy snacks and drinks for the participants (which goes along with a wellness lifestyle.)
Q:When and where is the Tri Fest?
A: Saturday, March 17th, 2012 from 7am till about noon at Kalapaki Bay & the Kauai Marriott Resort Grounds, starting in the upper big parking lot close to the pro shop.
Q: How can people find out more about the 2012 International Garden Isle Tri Fest?
A: Check out our website: www.gardenislandtrifest.com
You can also sign up online at active.com or pick up a registration form at Kauai Athletic Club, GNC, Pictures Plus all in Lihue, Work It Out active wear store in Kapaa, or Kiahuna in Poipu.