Splash, ride and run: Le Mars to host triathlon

Eleven miles of biking.

Three point one miles of running.

This September, Le Mars is going to host the first annual Le Mars YMCA and Wells' Dairy Sprint Triathlon.

The event, open to new competitors, veteran triathletes and relay teams, is set for Saturday, Sept. 8. The first swimmers will hit the water at 8 a.m.

The Le Mars Family YMCA decided to coordinate the event after they were encouraged to get one started in town by a sister YMCA in Nishna Valley.

"We liked the opportunity to bring something new into town," said Angela Loutsch of the Le Mars YMCA. "A new option for health and fitness."

The YMCA also visited with planners of the first annual Siouxperman Triathlon held this spring in Sioux Center.

"The Nishna Valley triathlon is limited to 35 participants, and the Sioux Center triathlon had 250 people," Loutsch said. "We're hoping for something in the middle. Our goal is 100 people."

Competitors will wear a computer chip on their ankle to keep their time in each event and overall, and the company All Sport Central will officiate the race and have results right there.

Wells' Dairy, Inc. stepped up to be a major sponsor for the race, Loutsch said.

"They made it possible to hire All Sport Central to time the race," she explained.

The swimming will be six laps in the outdoor pool, the biking will be an out-and-back eleven-mile course on C-30, and the running will be a 5K on residential roads.

The pool parking lot will serve as the transition area between events.

Awards will be given for the top three male and female finishers overall, along with the top relay team.

This event welcomes rookie triathletes, Loutsch said.

"It's a sprint triathlon, so the distances are shorter," she said.

Somebody who's been working out in either in running, biking or swimming can take the next two months and train to get stronger in the other two, she suggested.

Basic training programs and information are available at websites like www.beginnertriathlete.com.

"And for a lot of first timers, it's not about winning, it's about finishing," she said.

There's also the option of hooking up with people who are strong in the other areas and making a relay team.

Relay teams can consist of two or three people.

September marks the wrap up of triathlon season, Loutsch added, so they hope to draw in people that have trained for other events as well.

"That way they don't have to start from scratch with training," she said.

Registration is open online now at www.allsportcentral.com. Forms are also available through the YMCA.

Early registration by August 17 is $30 for an individual and $45 for a team. From Aug. 18 to Sept. 3, registration is $40 for individuals or $60 for a team. Sept. 3 is the final day to register.

The registration fee includes a free T-shirt, the timing chip from All Sport Central. Competitors must be 15 or older.

For people who want to be part of the event but aren't so keen on suiting up for a swim, bike or run, volunteering is an option.

"We need about 50-70 volunteers, depending on how many participants sign up," Loutsch said. "We need medical assist people, nurses and people of that nature, for the first aid stations, and we need people to be out on the bike path giving out water at water stations and on the running course helping direct the runners."

Volunteers will get a free T-shirt.

They are also seeking business sponsors.

The YMCA is also working with Le Mars and Plymouth County law enforcement to keep the route as safe as possible.

They won't be closing down the bike route to vehicle traffic, Loutsch said, but they will be encouraging them to take an alternate route.

"Originally we wanted to use the bike path and give it some exposure, but it isn't finished yet," she said.

But there is a possibility it will be used in the future.

"Hopefully we can do this year after year," Loutsch said. "We'll see how the first year goes."