New triathlon will leave asphalt for dirt

LAKE PLACID - Move over Ironman. There's a new triathlon in town.

This summer, Lake Placid will host another world-famous triathlon series, but this one won't have competitors pounding the pavement. On Sunday, Aug. 23, athletes will take to the trails in an XTERRA triathlon in and around the village of Lake Placid.

XTERRA is much shorter, distance-wise, than the Ironman. This race is only a 1,500-meter swim, a 25-kilometer mountain bike ride and a 10-kilometer run, while the Lake Placid Ironman includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile footrace. Nevertheless, this new off-road race will still test competitors' strength and endurance.

The two-lap swim will take place in Mirror Lake, while the bike and run will be on parts of the Jack Rabbit Trail.

The event is being organized by Tri and Du It Multisports, of Plainview. Race Director J.P. Latkovic expects about 300 to 400 people to compete in the inaugural event. He said there are about 50 to 60 XTERRA races around the country every year and 10 to 15 XTERRA international competitions.

"Lake Placid and the Adirondack region is about being outdoors and being active and XTERRA is the same thing - being outside and getting dirty and having fun," he said. "I think the two will meld together nicely."

Latkovic added that there will be a relay option for those who want to do the race as a team of two or three.

The Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau has been working with Latkovic since October to hammer out the details of the event, and has secured land-use permission from the village and other private property owners on the race course.

"This is great news that the region will host the XTERRA race, given today's economy," said Margaret Marchuk, director of events for the Visitors Bureau. "This event has a potential to grow and bring more athletes and their families to the Lake Placid area in the future."

Local triathlete and owner of High Peaks Cyclery Brian Delaney said he has been pushing for years to have an XTERRA race in Lake Placid and is happy it's finally happening. Delaney is helping to organize the event and will be in charge of setting up the bike and run courses.

"The event here is going to be a great event," he said. "It's eventually going to be a great course, but it's going to take some tweaking and community help."

Delaney has competed in every Ironman race held in Lake Placid and said he plans on competing in the XTERRA race too. Two years ago, Delaney was in an XTERRA race in and around Lake Tahoe, Calif.

"(XTERRA competitors) are a little hardier group than the Ironmen," he said. "We swam in Lake Tahoe in water that was 55 degrees."

Being a little more rugged and not afraid to get their hands dirty will be an advantage to racers since unpredictable Adirondack weather is always a possibility that can add to the challenge of a triathlon.

Delaney said he hopes that XTERRA will continue to put on events in Lake Placid and hopes that in 2010 the race can be on Labor Day weekend and serve as the regional championship.

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shipsaint
02-07-09 9:43 AM »Report Abuse	somthing to think about,rr tracks rip out the rails and make it a cross country run or mnt bike track,make an adirondack iditarod,from placid to where ever,just a thought,and we might be able to make money from it

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