MARYSVILLE — In its continuing efforts to encourage citizens to lead healthier lifestyles and use its recreational amenities, Marysville employees sought to lead by example with their first triathlon at Ebey Waterfront Park July 23.

More than 60 city staffers turned out to kayak, bike and run that morning. Parks director Jim Ballew was impressed with this turnout. He took a turn paddling a kayak in a mile-long round-trip course through Ebey Slough himself.

“It was wonderfully impressive,” said Ballew, who credited community development director Gloria Hirashima with coming up with the idea, and the city’s wellness committee with making it happen.

“Our city employees are our ambassadors,” Hirashima said. “As we’re revitalizing the downtown, it helps to have citizens see us using the waterfront and our public parks. A lot of folks still don’t know we even have a waterfront. It lets everyone know they can enjoy our community assets.”

Hirashima hopes that having city employees use the waterfront and parks more will not only promote their worth to the public, but also inspire ideas on how to improve those services.

Ballew already has some insights on how next year’s triathlon might be different. The bike course was revised for safety right before the event started, and Ballew expects that next year will see more people compete as individuals, rather than as members of teams.

“We might have a swim portion instead of kayaking, which would really change up the whole dynamic,” said Ballew, who credited Summit Rehabilitation in Smokey Point with providing tips and training to prospective competitors two months beforehand.

“We’ve seen some dramatic weight loss since then,” he added. “Obviously, a number of people are doing this for fun, but for many others, this has been a lifestyle change catalyst, and not something they take lightly.”