2006 Iron Creek Off-Road Triathlon

By Circ Toepel, XREP

RESULTS 

The middle of July may not seem like the perfect time to travel to Spearfish SD but just 13 miles south of there is this sweet little lake and some of the most buff single track in the entire US. This is the site of the Iron Creek Off-Road Triathlon.  Their motto is "asphalt is for wimps!" There was not a inch of it to be found. Iron Creek Lake is in the Black Hills of SD and it is every bit as gorgeous as any pictures you've seen.  There are no luxury facilities like steamrooms, showers or saunas unless you count the 106 degree heat.  It is camping only with some rustic cabins for those who can't rough it with a tent.
 
The race starts at 3:00 in the afternoon to give competitors a chance to sleep in or drive there on race day.  The swim is 1000m with two laps separated by a short beach run.  Kevin Sheldon and Molly Bockmann were first out of the water, both with split times under 16 minutes including transition!  The lake was a pleasant 71 degrees so wetsuits were optional and about half chose not to wear one.

The 22k bike course is world class single track.  It starts out of transition with a short, steep quad buster that gets your attention and lets you know right away you are on the bike!  Soon you are rolling through postcard meadows and small stands of forest that would make you want to get out your camera every few hundred yards if not for the racing.  The first loop is short and brings the racers back by the transition before heading out for the climb up Mt Baldy.  Heavy rains in the spring made for some very tall grass on either side of the narrow path which made it easy to stay on course. 

The winner of the men's race, Will Kelsay from Boulder, CO said, "The course was marked well, but I had my head down, charging hard and missed a corner. I immediately knew I was off course."  His finish time was 1:56:12.    

Jackie Burt, competing in her first race as a pro, scorched the 22k bike course and almost held off a tenacious Tracy Stewart on the run, who finished first in the women's field with a time of 2:19:59.

The five-mile run starts off with the same short loop as the bike and continues with two laps round Iron Creek Lake.  About three quarters of the way around, the trail becomes rocky and drops down below the majestic waterfall outlet then climbs back above it on a short, very steep and loose rocky section.  The last quarter mile brings the racers back to the lake and the finish line where most chose to escape the heat by jumping back into the water.

The post-race food was outstanding. Those fortunate enough to be on the podium received fruit flavored honey from a local producer. I was lucky enough to get a taste of the blueberry one.  WOW!  Pancakes will never be the same.

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