Naval Station Everett Sailors competed in the annual “Average Joe” Triathlon, May 6, as part of the continuing activities for Fitness Challenge Week.

The competition, held in conjunction with National Physical Education and Sports Month, was used to push its participants’ physical endurance in various strenuous activities.

The triathlon consisted of three legs, including a five-mile stationary bike portion, a two-mile run and a 200-meter swim. Competitors could either participate in the event in its entirety or as a team of three with each individual taking a leg. Eleven individuals and two teams entered the competition.

“Once we got a pool five years ago, we wanted to involve some of the fitness events into the pool, so we decided to do a mini-triathlon,” said Julia Krassin, Everett Fitness Center Fitness Coordinator. “We’re trying to show people they can increase their fitness level by getting out and doing fun things and they don’t have to do something they don’t feel they’re good at.”

The winning individuals were Lt. Jonathan McComb of Afloat Training Group with a time of 29:33; Chris LaRocque of Intermediate Maintenance Facility with a time of 31:16; and Lt. John Beattie of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest with a time of 32:49. The top finisher in the team event went to the team of Seabees from Construction Battalion Mobile Unit 421.

“It was a good keeping-in-shape, community participation event, lots of fun,” said McComb, who has participated in Ironman New Zealand. “It’s great. The more folks we can get out to these things, the better. Instilling the culture of fitness is more than just lip service. You have to get a healthy lifestyle going and it improves everything.”

Other events incorporated into the Fitness Challenge Week are the Cannonball Splash May 5 and a dodgeball tournament May 8. All of this is followed by Naval Station Everett’s Health Fair the following week.

“We’re one of the biggest showings on the base (for physical fitness), we physically train as a command twice a week, we’re involved in softball, golf, volleyball, and dodgeball all the time,” said Command Master Chief (AW) Rodney Shepard of Reserve Readiness Command. “These events keep a Sailor mentally and physically sharp, and in these times with the global war on terrorism, it’s imperative we stay as physically fit as we can. We need to mix it up a little bit and do different things so it doesn’t get mundane.”