Pipestem Off-Road Triathlon planned

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For those interested in putting their bodies to the test, the Pipestem Off-Road Triathlon will be held here on Saturday, July 25.

The grueling, three-stage event is the only one of its kind scheduled in the three-state area of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota this year. Spearfish, S.D., typically hosts a triathlon, but this year’s event was cancelled.

Organizer Steven Aesoph said the town has the perfect venue for the race.

“The purpose of the event — other than suffering — is to showcase the awesome facility Jamestown has to offer in Pipestem,” he said.

The idea for the event was hatched from the success of the Reservoir Relay held during the Jam the Dam festivities here last summer.

“I was on the winning team (last summer) and we thought it would be a great idea to do that type of race on a larger scale,” Aesoph said.

The triathlon consists of a 1,000-meter open-water swim, an eight-mile mountain bike ride and a 5-mile trail run.

Wetsuits can be used for the swimming portion of the race if the temperature is less than 78 degrees. Helmets are required for the bike stage.

The swim will take place on Pipestem Reservoir as an out and back course from the north shore just north of the Pipestem office building.

The bike course consists of a one-lap ride on the Pipestem Trail before the run finishes things off, starting on the gravel road that runs west on the north side of the reservoir and links up with the North Ridge Trail heading east back to the area near where the race began.

The triathlon, which costs $30 to enter, is expected to take at least two hours to complete, and is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. The winner will receive $100.

A relay event is also planned, which will allow teams of between 2-4 people to use either a canoe or kayak for the swim stage of the race. The distances for all three stages are the same as the solo competition.

“The relay option was introduced to increase participation for those not up to completing the 2-plus hour race course on their own,” Aesoph said. “There is also a stand alone five-mile trail run that follows the same course as the run portion of the race.”

Cost for the relay is $50 per team. The winning team will earn $100.

Participants from North Dakota and South Dakota have already signed up for the event as well as a team from Chicago.

Registration can be completed at the James River YMCA or go online to www.active.com. On race day, registration begins at 9 a.m.

Tags: sports, recreation, triathlon, pipestem