Race Committee
Tri Millennium is an athlete and people focused event and as a team we strive to offer a great athlete experience.
Race Director
Ryan Waalkes
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Race Director
Jill Martinek
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Transition Coordinator
Brian Van Ee
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids and have lived on the Westside for the past 16 years. I first learned about Bridge Street Ministries through the Westside Community Clean Up, an annual event Ryan founded with his wife Erica in 2008.
Serving on the Millennium Triathlon planning committee feeds two of my passions: youth ministry and triathlons.
I became an avid biker at age 50, transitioned into competing in triathlons at age 55, and have been volunteering with the Millennium Triathlon for the past 3 years.
I loves being able to use my engineering skills to help with event planning and find the most rewarding part is interacting with other volunteers and athletes on race day.
I'm a husband and father of 2 kids (5 & 7). Our kids are starting to get into sports like gymnastics, soccer, t-ball and triathlon. Having them train with me is fun and what I feel the sport is all about. I'm a competitor, I grew up playing baseball & racing go-karts. I enjoyed racing karts because of the personal challenge of self improvement and doing things that seem impossible at first.
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This year I will have competed in over 20 triathlons and several running races. Everyone has a start and I want people to feel encouraged so if we pass by each other on the bike or run I'll aim to give a "Great job, keep it up!" or "You got this, you're amazing!"
Packet Pickup Coordinator
Elizabeth Fanco
I refer to myself as an "adult onset athlete" because I didn't run my first mile until after 40 or complete my first triathlon until I was 41. I love all things running and multi-sport, but as someone who (until very recently) spent their entire life heavily overweight I have a passion for making sure that EVERYONE knows there is a place for them in the endurance athletics community.
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Regardless of age, size, ability, or speed, each person who sets up their transition area and takes off across the starting line puts in the same hours of training and dedication towards accomplishing a goal, and I love being able to celebrate every single athlete who crosses the finish line. Also, I love hearing everyone's "why" for racing, so feel free to come find me at the races and tell me your story.
A bit about me personally: I am a mother of 8 children (ages 10-24) and we have a farm in Alto, MI. Our entire family runs half marathons together for Team World Vision to raise money for worldwide clean water projects. Since completing my first half marathon in 2018, I have done more than 2 dozen HMs, as well as 5 full marathons (including NYC and Chicago) and 17 triathlons.
You'll likely see me at many local races, as I'm a 'people person' and try to race every weekend - - for both the community aspect of racing AND because training miles seem more fun if you get a shirt and a medal for them. I also work with several other local race organizations, so if you've raced anywhere in the greater Grand Rapids area in the last 5 years I have likely handed you your packet with a smile and a "Have a GREAT race!"
Website & Training
Lucas Brinks
I grew up watching the Ironman World Championship on NBC thinking how amazing all the athletes were and wanting to do the same one day. Self doubt kept me from pursuing it though until my wife encouraged me after the birth of our first child.
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The past 20 years I have worked in service related businesses and found my energy comes from coaching and developing peoples. The company I had worked for for 13 years transitioned and closed to which I found myself looking for what was next.
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Looking at my options I've decided to pursue what naturally made sense to me and that was endurance coaching. I want to find ways to make it more accessible and building upon Youth & Junior programs in the community as well as supporting growth for Paratriathletes.
I'm a husband and father of 2 kids (5 & 7). Our kids are starting to get into sports like gymnastics, soccer, t-ball and triathlon. Having them train with me is fun and what I feel the sport is all about. I'm a competitor, I grew up playing baseball & racing go-karts. I enjoyed racing karts because of the personal challenge of self improvement and doing things that seem impossible at first.
​
This year I will have competed in over 20 triathlons and several running races. Everyone has a start and I want people to feel encouraged so if we pass by each other on the bike or run I'll aim to give a "Great job, keep it up!" or "You got this, you're amazing!"
