Special to The Dorchester Banner/Dave Ryan
Jillian Burton enjoyed racing in last year’s Firecracker Kids’ Triathlon, sponsored by the Cambridge MultiSport Club and held at the Dorchester Family YMCA.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE — One sure sign a town has embraced the sport of triathlon is when you see a 6-year-old girl, on her pink bike and wearing a helmet and bib number, pedaling hard and fast in a race. That’s what residents of West Cambridge will see on July 4, when the Firecracker Kids’ Triathlon will take place at the Dorchester Family YMCA. The event will be organized by the Cambridge MultiSport Club (CMS). The club’s website said, “All participants will swim in the indoor pool of the YMCA. From there, athletes will bike down Hambrooks Boulevard along the water.” It continued, “Finally, the run will take athletes through the residential streets surrounding the Y. There is plenty of opportunity to watch and cheer on your athletes as they compete.” Cambridge police officers and Dorchester County sheriff’s deputies will be on hand to provide security. CMS member Bob Wood is helping to organize the annual race, as a way to get children involved in the athletic lifestyle. “It’s so good to see them gain confidence,” he said, adding that the emphasis is on fun and participation rather than winning and losing. The children are divided into girls’ and boys’ classes, with age groups of 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12. Each group follows courses with age-appropriate distances. To learn more about the triathlon or to register, visit www.active.com. Cambridge MultiSport Club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities. To learn more about CMS, visit cambridgemultisport.wordpress.com.