Triathlon brings mindfulness to Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place

For Lakewood Ranch's Rhonda Leiberick and Roscelyn Guenther, the alternation of walking and running every two minutes was the key to their successful completion of the 5k walk/run as part of the Lakewood Ranch Mindful Triathlon on Jan. 17. 

"It was my first race and it was amazing," Guenther said. "There were great people who were friendly and supportive." 

The Mindful Triathlon's three segments were a 5k run or walk, a yoga session led by Shack Yoga and Sculpt, and a meditation by the Wellness Space.

"It was very well organized," Leiberick said. "We did it for the yoga, and we're here for the mindfulness."

Courtenay Smith, owner of Shack Yoga and Sculpt led the yoga session. She has been part of the event for the last five years.

"I love teaching the community because it's such a fitness minded and health conscious community," Smith said. "It's a fun event to get everyone together."

Nicole Hackel, the events and resident experience manager for Lakewood Ranch Communities, helped organize the event with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and the ER at Fruitville. She said the event has traditionally been held in November, but said January gives the event that "new year new me" mindset.

"It's obviously very different from a traditional triathlon, and it's not as serious in that regard," Hackel said. "We have a lot of people who walk their dogs along the 5k. We have people who come with newborn babies. We have the actual runners. It's a triathlon for everyone." 

Esplanade's Ann Sanger and Deb George agreed that the event is for all ages. 

"It was an absolutely fabulous event and it was very well run," Sanger said. "The walk was along a beautiful lakeside path and the yoga and meditation on the lawn looking out to the lake was just magnificent."

"That's what Lakewood Ranch is all about," George said. "It's a space for everyone. What better thing to end with than this beautiful environment and our neighbors and our loved ones?"