GREAT LAKES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM RAISES FUNDS WITH IRONMAN 70.3 TRAVERSE CITY
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN: On August 25th, 2019, five local organizations will be represented in the pool of 2,400 athletes competing in the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City. These five charities will campaign for pledged dollars in completing the triathlon, with all pledged dollars going directly back to the associated charity. Called the Traverse City Triathlon Charity Challenge, the 2019 participants include Munson Manor Hospitality House, Food Rescue, a Goodwill of Northern Michigan program, The Father Fred Foundation, The Great Lakes Children’s Museum and TART Trails. This week Traverse City Tourism highlights Danny Martinelli, the athlete representing Great Lakes Children’s Museum.
TCT: What’s your connection to Great Lakes Children’s Museum?
DM: My company (Mane Content / 9&10 News) produces a few television spots for them. I really connect with their mission for hands on learning.
TCT: Do you have a history of triathlon training?
DM: I have run four full marathons, a handful of half marathons and 10ks, countless 5k races, and one Olympic length triathlon. Training IS my MO. I like to push myself to see how far I can go.
TCT: What do you anticipate being the most difficult leg of IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City? What about easiest?
DM: The swim portion will be by far the most challenging for me. I am not buoyant. I just sink. The running portion will be the simplest for me. Running is something I just do for fun. It’s something you need zero equipment for. I can just walk out my door and go, just me and whatever route I adventure through.
TCT: What were your first thoughts in being invited to compete in an IRONMAN?
DM: When I was first approached about it, it was a few days before my fourth full Bayshore Marathon. I had been training very hard for this race for 3+ months and was just ready to run it and earn that post race burger and shake. My first thought after being asked was "one race at a time." After thinking about it for another minute, what big an opportunity and great challenge it would be for me, I said let’s do it!
TCT: When you’re not training for IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City, what are you up to?
DM: What am I doing when I’m not training? When does that happen? When I'm resting in between runs and gym time, I'm either shooting or editing video at Mane Content / 9&10 News, and coaching pole vault or cross country at Traverse City West High School. I also like to catch a movie at the State Theatre, do trivia at Right Brain Brewery, go on hikes at Sleeping Bear Dunes, play hockey, cook mass amounts of food and spend time with friends and family.
Support Danny and the Great Lakes Children's Museum in the Traverse City Triathlon Charity Challenge here.
ABOUT GREAT LAKES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is a year-round, participatory facility offering high-quality, applied learning experiences for local and visiting children. With their adults, the Museum provides a safe place for children of all ages to explore their world in their own way, at their own pace. The comprehensive blend of interactive, Northern Michigan exhibits and complimentary programming that come alive for GLCM guests promote the development of 21st-century problem-solving, creativity, innovation, communication, collaboration, visual, scientific, literacy, cross-disciplinary and critical thinking skills. The Museum cultivates curious children who learn through play—and that cultivation can lead to a lifelong appreciation of learning.
ABOUT TRAVERSE CITY TOURISM
Traverse City Tourism is a nonprofit corporation that serves as the area’s official destination marketing organization. Traverse City Tourism works to enhance, reinforce and develop the Traverse City brand by telling the Traverse City story to potential visitors through advertising, marketing, trade shows, publications, sales missions, media relations and Visitor Center services. Its experienced and knowledgeable team members are motivated by pride for their community and a desire to advance its economic well-being without sacrificing the values that make it a pretty great place. For details on lodging, attractions and area events, visit traversecity.com.
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