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By J.R. Brower

Pete Valentino is what you could call a total fitness fanatic! The 51-year-old personal trainer is assistant manager of 84 Fitness Center in Eighty Four, and his passion is participating in triathlons, both locally and nationally. His goal this year is to participate in 11 such events, and he has already participated in five.

Pete Valentino practices his specialty, spinning, on the stationary bike.

Triathlons are athletic events in which participants swim, bike and run for various set distances. The most recognized is the Ironman triathlon, which, according to Valentino, consists of a 2.5-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon run of 26.2 miles. Shorter distance triathlons are referred to as Half Irons, which consist of 1.2-mile swims, 56-mile bike rides and 13.1-mile runs.

Valentino spoke of another type, the Olympic distance triathlon, which consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 4-kilometer bike ride and 5-kilometer run. “I compete better in the Olympic style events, because I can more easily get top 10 distances,” he said.

He said he normally completes in about seven triathlons per year. He and fellow triathletes from western Pennsylvania travel together regularly to competitions all over the country. This enables them to share expenses.

Most recently on August 1, Valentino competed in the Canoe Creek Triathlon in Hollidaysburg, where he placed 21st out of 300 and 3rd in his age group, of which there were eight. For the last two years, he has competed in the Milwaukee Triathlon, and he has also participated in several similar events in nearby Madison.

Other triathlon events in which Valentino has competed include Lawrence (KS), Raleigh, Cleveland, Philadelphia and New York City. “There is nothing like swimming across the Hudson River and then running through Central Park,” he exclaimed.

Speaking of his methods as a triathlete, Valentino said, “Last year biking was my main concentration, but this year it is running.” In spite of his commendable triathlon goals for himself, he admitted, “I’m getting older, and time is catching up with me.”

Even without the triathlons, Valentino stays in great shape as a personal trainer at 84 Fitness Center. His specialty is leading sessions on the art of “spinning” on a special stationary bike. He said he has always been into physical fitness, having previously coached wrestling at Trinity High School and taught physical education at Waynesburg Middle School.

Valentino and his wife, Marcie, live in Malden, near Brownsville, and they have a 4-year-old daughter, Ellie. He said his wife, a second grade teacher in the Beth-Center School District, is into fitness, too, and supports her marathoner in his many events.

For anyone interested in participating in triathlons, Valentino would be an excellent source of information. He can be reached at 84 Fitness Center at 724-228-8855. For more information on programs and memberships, visit their website at www.84fitness.com.

(Note: This story was suggested by one of Valentino’s former trainee’s at 84 Fitness Center, Justin Hellman. Hellman was so impressed with his triathlete trainer that he felt that he should be appropriately recognized for his efforts. Hellman trained with Valentino to get in shape to attend the police academy.)

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