The Generation Homes Women's Triathlon is returning for its fourth year, and training is already underway for several of the entrants.

Event organiser Miranda Clark says the local event could be the biggest yet.

'At the moment we're forecasting 600 or more entries. Entries are tracking at about 150 up for this time of year, which is really cool.”

She describes the triathlon as 'an entry-level, kind of novice event”.

It's made up of a 400m swim, 10km cycle, and 4km run or walk, for ages 11 and older. There are individuals, team, and a special mother-daughter category, which is always popular. The average competitor will take just over an hour to complete the course.

The event takes place at Pilot Bay in Mount Maunganui, and involves 'a little bit of an ocean swim”, as Miranda calls it.

'We're running free training sessions for the next six weeks on Tuesday nights, and I had 87 turn up this Tuesday just gone. It's incredible, there's normally nowhere near that number at the first session.”

Miranda began the triathlon after leaving her job to have her daughter. She runs it in partnership with Triathlon Tauranga, and has a team of around 70 volunteers on the day, although much of the organising is done herself.

'I saw a gap. There used to be a longstanding women's triathlon here, but the rights were given to a national franchise and it ended up getting cancelled. I started out doing those events, and I had let my fitness go. So I started this. It was about empowering ladies that no matter what size or age you are, you can do it.

'The whole point is to encourage participation and activity, getting the ladies active. Many of them have never done anything like his before, so it's a real one-time goal. But I've had others who go on to do Ironmans and that kind of thing. So it's such a springboard for getting women into the sport, as well as helping them get fitter.”

The triathlon has consistently drawn a high number of entries, ever since its inception.

'It's proven to be hugely popular. The first year I thought it would be awesome to get 100 or so women, but we had 480.”

For more info, visit http://trichicks.co.nz/