The 35th annual Tupper Lake Tinman Triathlon takes place Saturday, and is one of the events that has come to define the village where the logging industry was once king.

In its heyday, the Tinman boasted well over 1,000 athletes, but with the growth and popularity of other triathlons in the region, that number has dropped off in recent years. This summer, however, the field has expanded, and by the time the race begins at 8 a.m. with the swim in Raquette Pond, more than 600 triathletes are expected to be racing in the Tinman’s four different events.

“We certainly have and stage a lot of unique events in Tupper Lake, and this one is great,” said Wendy Peroza, who is in her second year as the race director. “We’re getting more and more activities that really balance things out for visitors — fishing, boating, camping triathlons. There’s something for everyone, and the Tinman is one of those events that has established itself as a long-standing tradition here.

“It’s one of the oldest triathlons in the Northeast, and I’m thankful to inherit a really great race,” Peroza added. “There are older triathlons, but with the exception of the Ironman races, there aren’t many that offer the half-Ironman distance that we do. I think that’s a big draw. Really, I just want to help keep the standard going.”

A wave of triathletes start their Tinman trek a year ago with the swim in Raquette Pond. (Enterprise file photo — Lou Reuter)

The Tinman’s longest and most popular distance is the 70.3-mile race, which includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile round-trip bike leg to Cranberry Lake, and a 13.1-mile half marathon run. Triathletes not looking to take on the full Tinman have two triathlon options — the Olympic and sprint distances, and there is also an aqua-bike race featuring a swim and ride.

The Tinman had 538 triathletes registered on race day in 2016, a year that saw the Olympic distance included in the event for the first time. Peroza said she’s received positive feedback about the addition, noting that it’s a nice alternative fitting between the full Tinman and the sprint. The Olympic distance features a .93-mile swim, a 26.13-mile bike leg and a 6.2-mile run.

“I think people are pretty happy we’ve added the Olympic distance,” she said. “Depending on how peoples’ race schedules play out during the season, it’s really nice to have it.”

Earlier this week, Peroza said 329 triathletes were entered in the full Tinman, the Olympic distance number was at 124, the sprint had an even 100 entries and 24 participants were signed up for the aqua-bike. Additionally, 11 teams totaling 30 athletes were signed up for the full-distance relay.

Peroza said she expected those numbers to grow before registration closes.

Last year’s race saw Tupper Lake’s own Amy Farrell add the women’s overall Tinman title to her impressive triathlon resume. It marked the first time Farrell had raced the full-distance in Tupper Lake in 15 years, and also the first time she claimed a 70.3-title on her home course. Peroza suspected Farrell might show up Saturday, but noted she may not do the long triathlon. After all, Farrell just notched another championship less than a week ago, winning the overall women’s title in the 70.3 Ironman Syracuse held on Sunday.

Matt Migionis of Newton, Massachusetts has captured the men’s full-distance Tinman title the past two years.

On Saturday, Jim Adams of Altona will look to continue the historic run he started with the very first Tupper Lake Tinman, a race that took place in 1983 with 62 competitors.

Now 70, Adams, who runs with a permanently damaged left knee, could be taking on the race’s 70.3-mile distance for the final time. He’s the only person who has appeared in all the 34 previous Tinman triathlons heading into Saturday.

“Jim will be wearing bib No. 35, and that couldn’t be a more fitting tribute for him and for our race,” Peroza said. “He requested that number, and obviously, that’s the number we gave him. This is probably the last time he does the full distance. It’s definitely getting tougher for him, but he keeps plugging along. I suspect we’ll see him again, maybe in the aqua-bike next year.”