Cheryl Burns participated in her first triathlon more than 30 years ago in Bemus Point.

“I just wanted to see how I’d do,” the Busti resident said.

So she entered it despite not owning a wet suit for the swim. And then, of course, there was the daunting task of navigating a hill in Ellery on a borrowed hybrid bike, which was too big for her.

“I remember praying very hard that nothing was going to come out in front of me or that I didn’t wipe out because, you know, you’re going 55 miles per hour down that hill,” Burns said with a laugh. “I was thankful I could get off the bike and run, because it was safer.”

When she finally finished all three legs of the triathlon, she was, in her words, “so mad at myself.”

And that was because?

Ever the competitor, Burns wasn’t happy with only a third-place finish.

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In the fall of 2011, Patricia Gabreski and a group of like-minded people decided it was time for southern Chautauqua County to host a triathlon, an event that hadn’t been held in these parts since the event in Bemus Point in the early 1990s.

So on June 8, 2013, the first Big Fish Triathlon took place.

“I don’t know if I’ve missed many of the years participating in it,” said Burns, a 2024 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee, who is on the very short list of best triathletes this area has ever produced. “Patty is the one who started it … and it’s huge. It all built from there, and I got to participate, as well as help.”

The next Big Fish Triathlon, the 13th annual, will be June 13 at Mayville Lakeside Park. It will also be the final one under that name.

“Being close to home is always nice, and I think one of the main things has been the venue and how safe it is,” Burns said. “You get out there and you’ve got more than enough people in kayaks looking out for you. On the bike course, people are at every corner and, when you’re running, there are water stations and volunteers. … It’s something.”

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The Big Fish Triathlon, according to its website, reflects the mission statements of both the Jamestown YMCA and Camp Onyahsa in Dewittville, specifically, in “fostering healthy mind, body and spirit,” as well as “prioritizing the benefit to the camp and the on-going commitment to the children and young adult leaders that benefit from the outdoor camp experience.”

Next weekend’s Big Fish Triathlon will feature two courses. The Little Fish Tri will include a 400-meter swim, a 22-kilometer bike (14 miles) and a 5K run (3.1 miles). Meanwhile, the Big Fish Tri course will be an Olympic distance triathlon that consists of a 1,500-meter swim (.93 miles), a 40-kilometer bike (24.8 miles) and a 10K run (6.2 miles).

All proceeds are dedicated to support Camp Onyahsa’s week of camping for children with Type 1 diabetes.

Burns would have competed next weekend, but recent foot surgery will prevent her from doing so. Earlier this week, she had a conversation with race director, Dr. Robert Berke, who asked her if she was going to show up for the finale.

Responded Burns: “I’ll certainly try.”

Thirteen years ago, Gabreski, Berke and a host of others gave the Big Fish Tri a — well — try for the first time, too.

Congratulations to all.

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To register for the Big Fish, go to www.bigfishtri.com.