A local organization wants to help people get 2026 off and running. And biking. And swimming.

The Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) YMCA, 800 Village Road, Lancaster, is hosting L-S Future Varsity Swim Night and spearheading two other activities: the IronMember Challenge and the 100-Mile Swim Challenge.

L-S Future Varsity Swim Night will be held at the Y's indoor pool at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, in conjunction with a meet against McCaskey.

In addition to honoring the seniors on the Pioneers' swimming and diving team, middle school students who are interested in joining the swim squad are invited to meet the high school swimmers and be recognized during the meet. They will participate in a Senior Kickboard Tunnel and will receive a free swim team T-shirt. Anyone who is interested in participating can sign up at https://tinyurl.com/brwf7xvh by Saturday, Jan. 10.

"The swim team wanted to try to get middle school students excited about joining the varsity swim team in high school," said Corinne Tolan, the Y's aquatics director. "Varsity Swim Night is all about pairing a middle school swimmer with one of the high school swimmers so that they can get an idea of what joining the swim team is all about and get to feel the camaraderie of being on a sports team. It was really fun last year because I got to see some familiar faces from the pool and from the Y having a good time. And it's also nice to see that mentorship happening too."

It is also an afternoon to remember the careers of the L-S senior team members. "It's a fun night," said Tolan. "I enjoy seeing people come out to cheer on their classmates. I'm an L-S alumnus, so I might be a little bit biased, but I'm just super proud to see what they've accomplished. They deserve to be celebrated."

In the IronMember Challenge, YMCA members have six weeks to complete a total of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of riding on a stationary bike, and 26.2 miles of running. Members will track their progress on the wellness floor. 

"Instead of calling it an Ironman, we're calling it an IronMember, and members will have six weeks to complete the full distances of what you would in an Ironman challenge," Tolan said. "This is all inside, and the purpose is to help people meet their New Year's resolutions, their fitness resolutions, and get them started out right. It's fun because you'll get a pin if you finish and bragging rights."

The aquatics division is holding the 100-Mile Swim Challenge where participants will have a year to swim 100 miles. Members can participate in the challenge at both the Lampeter-Strasburg and City Center branch YMCAs. There is a fee to take part in the activity. If members sign up at L-S, proceeds support youth swimming at that branch, and if they sign up at the City Center branch, proceeds support the Safety Around Water program for School District of Lancaster students. Anyone who completes the challenge will receive a T-shirt and certificate. Anyone participating in either the IronMember or swim challenge can count their swim miles toward both goals. 

Tolan touted the health benefits of completing both challenges and added that both activities help the YMCA advance one of its missions. "Part of the reason that we're doing these challenges is to have members have a reason to come back and to build community, because that's also really important," she said. "There's the group so far that has signed up for the 100-mile swim; it's a bunch of our regulars, and I'm trying to let them know this person has signed up for this challenge with you, so that they get to know each other. That's, I think, one of the important things that the YMCA creates is a sense of community."