Home

Joel Reichenberger

Joel Reichenberger's column appears Sundays in the Steamboat Pilot & Today. Contact him at 871-4253 or e-mail jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com.

Steamboat Springs — At least 575 athletes set their alarm clocks for bright and early this morning and hauled themselves out of bed for the fifth annual Steamboat Triathlon.

Event director Joy Rasmussen said the triathlon was never an event that "almost didn't happen," but nevertheless, today's athletes have plenty of locals to thank for their ability to participate.

Steamboat, of course, has no shortage of events for local weekend warriors to take part in. There's a Running Series race almost every other weekend, and those prove plenty accessible with a shorter route - usually less than five miles - typically available for those unwilling to race the longer and more daunting trails.

But other events don't cater to beginners.

Town Challenge events have novice classes that feature shorter trails, but the riders in that class mostly claim to ride hard three or four times a week. They may be slower than the pro division, but they're hardly novices.

The Steamboat Marathon is perhaps the town's signature summer sporting event, and again, there's a half marathon and a 10-kilometer race that anyone can sign up for and finish at any pace. Plenty of people walk the entire distance.

But you can't just show up and run the marathon. They stop keeping time after six hours, and if you're not in great shape and a running newbie, six hours might not be enough time.

The triathlon, though, gives everyone a reasonable goal.

Some of the athletes to toe the starting line this morning will be really, really good. They'll have expensive wet suits and fancy road bikes. They'll be racing to win.

Training is an everyday thing for them.

Many others, though, have spent the past two or three months riding a bike when possible and trying to get to the pool maybe once a week, if that much.

So many others won't be racing to win but racing to finish, and the triathlon is somewhat unique because while it may take a long time and organizers will pack up and leave at some point, it's at least accessible to those of us who aren't ready to pedal up Mount Werner without a break or tackle the marathon.

The triathlon isn't for those rolling off the couch for the first time this morning, but it can make for a perfect step for those trying to get healthy. Anchored at the end of the Steamboat summer, it's a great goal for those striving to fit in, in this uber-fit town.

The triathlon fills an important hole in Steamboat's sporting landscape.

Rasmussen listed a long collection of locals who have helped her keep the event afloat. She pointed out Dave MacAtee, Bart Kounovsky, Sue Hanson, Keith Giglio and SmartWool's Mark Satkiewicz.

They're only a few of the people who have helped keep the triathlon strong. There are also dozens of volunteers who will take to the course today.

All 575 owe them a big "thank you."