Meet the Athlete

meet the athlete pura vida mindset

Triathloner and Arbutus Club member, Harrison Sali, details how he feels most free when he's giving it his all.

Harrison Sali has been a member of The Arbutus Club for as long as he can remember, alongside his mother, Roxanne, father, Barrie, and brother, Max. During middle and high school, the Club served as his home away from home – a place where Harrison could hang out with friends and focus his energy in the Fitness Centre. "It’s a place where we can come together with friends and socialize, a place where we can work out and stay fit and healthy" says Sali. Since 2018 Harrison has been participating in triathlon and has utilized our facilities in his training regimen. From biking across Europe to participating in the RUNVAN® Fall Classic, he has his sights set on an Ironman.

When did you begin participating in triathlons?

Harrison: I first started participating in the sport of triathlon in 2018, when I signed up for a sprint triathlon in Abbotsford. I have been involved in sports my whole life, but something about swimming, running, and biking consumed my mind after that event.

What do you enjoy most about your sport?

H: My favourite part of participating in this sport is how long it can take. You can do something like a sprint tri, where the pace is fast and it’s over before you know it, or you can do something like a full Ironman, which I am currently training for. This whole other monster demands patience and technique, as you are out there for 12 hours or longer.

Has the pandemic had any impact on how you participate?

H: The pandemic shut down Ironman and many other events like it due to mass participation, so to keep up with all my training I set other goals for myself that weren’t event based. For example, my friend and I ran from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay, also called the Baden Powell trail. Over

Meet the Athlete

50 kms of running and a lot of elevation. Plus, it was in the middle of December, so time was of the essence. I enjoyed every minute of it. To keep up with my biking, my friend and I bike-packed across Europe. 1400 km, 8 countries, 23 days, and a few mountain passes through the Alps. You could say that kept my legs nice and sore.

How do you stay committed to your craft?

H: I’m inspired to stay committed because I love it, plain and simple. If I didn’t love the training, the competition, the ups and especially the downs, I wouldn’t be doing it. Something this pandemic will never take away from me, is my love for fitness and being the best that I can be in whatever I pursue.

How has The Arbutus Club helped you become a triathlon athlete?

H: My participation in triathlon sports is not uncommon to The Arbutus Club. I see lots of members who have completed Ironman competitions and who work really hard to keep up with their own fitness goals. That’s another thing I love about the sport, I’m not special or unique, I’m just putting in the work like everyone else, getting out there and doing my best. That’s all you can ask of yourself in the end.

How have triathlons influenced your life outside of the sport?

H: I’ve learned many skills, but I think the most important is being mentally strong when you become physically weak and tired. It is in this special place of pain and discomfort that you grow character, you learn more about your mental fortitude in this specific time than you can ever imagine. This will not only make you a more confident human, but you will learn to relax even under the most intense situations. What are your goals for the next year?

H: My 2022 goal is to complete my first full Ironman Triathlon – something the pandemic has stopped me from doing over the past 2 years. Thankfully, I have other goals. But, the time is now and nothing will stop me (fingers crossed).

If you could describe playing/participating in your sport with one word or phrase what would it be and why?

H: If I could describe the sport of triathlon with one phrase, it would be “pura vida”…pure life, because I am my most pure when I’m out there, giving it my all. That is when I feel most free. ♦

What do you think the key to perseverance is?

H: I believe the key to perseverance is to not lose sight of why you are doing it, that you are not just going through the motions, but feeling every breath, every stroke, every stride, and doing it with purpose and intention. I do this because I love every aspect of the sport. Know a member that is a hard working athlete and uses our facilities to train? Let us know.

Contact The Arbutus Club Communications team at communications@arbutusclub.com with a brief description on why they should be featured.