by Kurt Dallow, MD, USAT Level II coach, certified Ironman and Xterra triathlon coach
Nestled amidst the awe-inspiring scenery between Breckenridge and Frisco, at Gold Run Nordic Center, the 2024 USAT Winter Triathlon was held on February 23 - 25th. After being hosted in Anchorage, AK for the past few years, the USAT winter triathlon found its new home in Colorado for 2024.
The picturesque setting of the Gold Run Nordic Center served as the perfect backdrop for this epic winter sporting event. I feel fortunate to have the Nordic Center almost in my backyard, providing me with ample opportunity to hone my skills in skate skiing and fat biking.
While I had dabbled in skate skiing years ago, returning to it recently has been a challenging but fun rediscovery. It's not an easy sport and now that I'm older and training in high altitude, it's even harder to master. But practice makes perfect and I practiced as often as I could.
As for fat biking, a newcomer to my repertoire, transitioning from a mountain biking background made it a relatively smooth learning curve after a few outings. However, the success of a good fat tire ride is mostly dependent on snow conditions and they weren't always optimal this winter but I did the best I could.
The weekend's festivities kicked off with a sprint and Olympic duathlon on Friday, involving a snowy trail run spanning either 3 or 6 kilometers. The transition to skate skiing presented a unique challenge compared to the usual routine of shedding a wetsuit and hopping onto a bike in warmer conditions.
Opting to run in stocking feet during the transition to the carpet, where I swiftly slipped into my skate ski boots, added an extra element of excitement. The 5-kilometer ski course, featuring some moderate climbs and gentle descents, proved both demanding and enjoyable on the "skinny" skate skis. For the Olympic distance, participants tackled two laps of the sprint course.
Despite a few weather-related hiccups, including a snow squall at the start of Friday's duathlon, the overall conditions remained favorable. I was lucky enough to win my age group (70 - 74) but more importantly, I felt more confident to tackle the triathlon on Sunday.
Saturday greeted us with warmer temps and Sunday's temperatures in the mid-30s prompted the race director to make the prudent decision of combining the Sprint and Olympic races to ensure optimal snow conditions. It turned out to be a wise call.
I won my age group again in the triathlon on Sunday, which really made me happy that my training had paid off. I learned a few things that I will do differently next year.
In summary, the 2024 USAT Winter Triathlon, affectionately known as the "Breckebeiner," proved to be a resounding success. I'm hopeful that this event will continue to thrive and cement its place as a cornerstone in the winter multisport calendar.
If you're interested in competing in the 2025 Breckebeiner and want an experienced coach, contact me! It's a fun and challenging race and one that you will never forget!
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