The Devil’s Challenge Triathlon got off to a chilly start as an early morning fog settled over Southern Wisconsin. But within an hour of the first swimmer’s splash into the water from beach the skies cleared to make for a great conclusion of 2009 Triathlon season.
- See photo highlights from the Devil's Challenge Triathlon
- Additional Devil's Challenge Triathlon photos
- Are you a triathlon nut?
Dale Humphrey of Verona came across the line with a winning time of 1:08.33. “It was a great course,” he said. “I’ve never done it before. So I really didn’t know what to expect. It turned out to be a pretty good day.”
With the Wisconsin Ironman just one week before Humphrey said very few of his peers made it out. Local triathlon coach and competitor Cindi Bannik not only came in with a top women’s finish 1:12.26 but was third over all.
“With no wind and clear weather it was really nice out there,” she said.
A wide field of avid and first time racers crowded the timing pads on the shores of Devil’s Lake, 40 minutes north of Madison, at 8AM. Shallow water from the start made it possible for everyone to wade out to first the buoy before taking a sharp left for the quarter-mile swim. The transition out of the water to the bike included an almost comical slog through the rocking lake bottom waist-deep 20 yards up the beach from the second buoy.
Once on the road the course opened up to shady spin, 15 miles through Devil’s Lake State Park and adjoining county roads in full sun. The bike concluded with a windy downhill and an abrupt stop at the park entrance to start the run. Three miles later the race concluded with a huge throng of spectators and a catered lunch.
“I'm really pleased with the turn-out,” said race organizer Jenny Relling. “We have about 715 this year. That’s down by about a 125 from last year. But a week after Ironman. That’s not too bad.”
Relling said there’s a possibility next year’s race with run the week after Labor. “That way,” she said. “People might do it as kind of a warm-up for Ironman.”
- See photo highlights from the Devil's Challenge Triathlon
- Additional Devil's Challenge Triathlon photos
- Are you a triathlon nut?
Find results for the 2009 Devil’s Challenge Triathlon at: http://www.onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=3544
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