Competition just a part of Tri-Masters' total focus

Bernard Lyles is one of the few, the proud . . . minoritytriathletes.

And he's determined to change the future of his sport.

Lyles is president of the Chicago chapter of Tri-Masters, thefirst national triathlon/biathlon club for minorities. His goal isto open the door for other minorities. So far, his plan is working.

After founding the club last year, Lyles has recruited 26members - and all will compete in Sunday's Chicago Sun-TimesTriathlon.

"When you're into an endurance sport, it carries over intoeverything you do," said Lyles, 38. "If you're disciplined enough todo a triathlon, you can do anything."

The problem was there were very few minorities actually doingtriathlons. But when Lyles entered the Chicago Sun-Times event in1988, everything changed.

"There were only a few blacks involved in triathlons when Istarted," Lyles said. "But (at the Sun-Times Triathlon), I noticed abig group of black guys and didn't know any of them. They all wentout in the fifth wave. I was really impressed."

The group was the original Tri-Masters from New York, a clubthat had been formed that same year. Founder Alvin Hartley, who hashelped develop clubs in Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, Jamaica andthe West Indies, encouraged Lyles to start a Chicago chapter.

"We had to get 10 people together and put up $150 a piece,"Lyles said. "I got some of my friends together, and we goteverything kicked off."

Since then, the club has expanded steadily. In fact, theTri-Masters just recently accepted an invitation to make ChicagoState University its headquarters and training base.

But the real focus of the club is not just for recreation.Lyles' plan is far more ambitious.

"In the long run, I want to establish a powerful group thatgives a kid the opportunity to better his life," Lyles said. "Wewant more black males involved with things other than the drugs, thegangs, jail.

"Not all of these kids want to hang out; it's just that theydon't have anything else to do. Not all of them can play basketballor are rough enough for football. We give them a sport they can dountil they're 70.

"And when you get done with all that training, there's no timeto hang out. You go home and go to bed."

Lyles, an automotives teacher at the City Colleges of Chicago,already has conducted seminars at two elementary schools, speaks withteenagers and promotes the club wherever he can.

It's not an easy process.

"When you talk to them about swimming in Lake Michigan, theyback off," Lyles said. "I have to get it in their minds that we canbe just as good. We dominate basketball and football. Why shouldswimming be a barrier? Why can't we dominate other sports?

"And people think the Tri-Masters must be a triathlon group forpeople over 40. We have to clear that up right away. If you try,you can do anything. You can master your own destiny. That's wherethe name comes from."