It wasn't your average morning yesterday as the wind picked up and remained a strong force throughout the opening event of the Sovereign Tri Series.

Pilot Bay was flooded with over 600 athletes and their supporters from all over the country for the Tinman Triathlon.

In its 28th year, Tinman Triathlon continues its long history of providing athletes and first timers to the sport with a competitive and hearty course.

The trending ‘improve your health and wellbeing' messages seem to be striking a few chords with Kiwi families, as the event attracted a high amount of first timer entries, particularly in the team category.

Kerris Browne from Rotorua leads a group of mums, dads, friends and whanau from ‘Jogging the Powerpoles'. Two years ago, she decided she needed to get fit for her children and all the activities they were involved in. As most mums might feel after having a few kids, she knew it would be tough, but by taking it one day at a time her fitness goals gradually became achievable.

It wasn't too long before friends of Kerris wanted to join her. What started out as one person wanting to make a difference in the life of her family has now become a two-year journey of inspiring and mobilising over 700 people in the community.

The 700+ member club provides free programmes for working families who often struggle with the time required to train for an event like Tinman. As the coaching coordinator for the group, Kerris always encourages 30-40 of the members to participate in some of the bigger sporting events in New Zealand.

The group had four individuals and four family teams entered yesterday, some of which were mums, new to the sport and giving their first triathlon a go. A few of them had to borrow bikes and wetsuits which Kerris and fellow coordinator Doris Bragg loan out for events.

Whilst the group might be made up of beginners and first timers to walking, jogging and triathlons, it is evident the ‘Jogging the Powerpoles' team has greater things to come.