Two compete in Talkeetna's first winter triathlon

Aired Thurs. -The second triathlon of the “No Meeting Triathlon Club” was held Wednesday evening in Talkeetna Lakes Park.

The first triathlon was held last September and included a run, swim and bike around Talkeetna Lakes Park.  The group of five participants was excited  to find others to participate in mini-triathlons and vowed to have a winter event.  Besides competing and having fun, the other criteria of the club is not to get bogged down organizing, hence the name “No Meeting Triathlon Club”.

The winter event was originally planned as a ski, snowshoe and ice skate at the downtown rink, but warm weather put the rink out of commission.  Race organizer Laura Wright decided to add sledding to replace ice skating.  Two participants showed up for the event which included a freestyle ski around X Lake followed by a run up to the highest point on the sledding hill, a sled downhill and run back to the parking area.  Dan Harrell, new to skate skiing was second in the ski portion to Laura Wright, but managed to catch her on the return run, taking first place by 30 seconds.   There was a canine division but the lone dog was disqualified for not completing the course.  Frannie Christianson was the course timer.

The next triathlon will be sometime this summer.  There will be minimal announcements and no organizational meetings.  Wright said someone simply states the time, place and event.  Whoever shows up works out the details, such as direction of travel and finish.

Thanks to Laura Wright for this sports report.