 Bernard Lyles Program Founder and Executive Director
Bernard Lyles is known internationally as an ambassador of the sport of triathlon. An accomplished triathlete and marathon runner himself, Lyles is a native Chicagoan from a family of 15 siblings. In addition to the hundreds of youth athletes he has coached and mentored over the years, he is also father of 6. His passion for the sport of triathlon, the benefits is accrues, and his interest in teaching the sport to African-American youth athletes, led him in 1990 to found the Chicago Chapter of the international Tri-Masters Triathlon and Duathlon Club for people of color. In 1992 he founded, with the support of Dr. Dolores Cross, then President of Chicago State University and an initial start-up grant from the Chicago Community Trust, the Tri-Masters Sports Initiative Programs for youth ages 6-14 at the Chicago State University campus. Prior to working at Chicago State University, Lyles worked with the City Colleges of Chicago from 1987-1992 as an Automotive Instructor. Mr. Lyles received his Associates in Applied Sciences Degree in Automotive Technology in 1978 from Kennedy King College, and is working towards his Bachelor of Arts in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from Chicago State University. Lyles is an Advanced-Certified Scuba Diver, WSI (Water Safety Instructor) Certified, and is certified as a First Choice Fitness Leader, an at-risk youth fitness intervention training program sponsored by the Chicago Department of Public Health. Bernard Lyles' sports accomplishments include: • Competing in and completing over 90 triathlons, including the Hawaii • Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1998 and Ironman Wisconsin in 2001 • Competing in and completing 38 marathons, including 7 Boston Marathons. His marathon PR is 2:54:21 in the 1985 Chicago Marathon • Invited to and participated in the 1995 Dave Scott Triathlon Training Clinic in Vail, Colorado • Volunteer coordinator for The LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon (since • 1990), as well as many other running and triathlon local race events • 1997 PowerBar Elite Team Member • 1999-2000 Saucony Sports Team Member The Ironman is triathlon's premiere event. Bernard Lyles was invited to, and competed in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 3, 1998. The competition consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. Email Bernard Lyles at: Bernard@tri-masters.org
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