Boulder Peak Triathlon Set For Sunday
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With Boulder, Colo. housing several of the world’s top triathletes, the Boulder Peak Triathlon attracts a competitive field in its 19th running.
See the complete race preview below:
A sold-out field of over 1,800 athletes will take part in the 19th annual Boulder Peak Triathlon on Sunday, July 11. The race takes place at the beautiful Boulder Reservoir, and will showcase a pro field competing for $35,000 in prize money.
The Boulder Peak is the second of three races which comprise the Boulder Triathlon Series. The 5430 Sprint Triathlon Presented by Amica took place on June 20; while, the Rohto Ironman 70.3 Boulder will culminate the series on August 8. Sunday’s race features a 1,500 meter swim, a 42 kilometer bike, and a 10K run.
Last year’s men’s champion, Tim O’Donnell is back to defend his title; but, will have stiff competition from the likes of Joe Gambles and Paul Matthews, who finished second and third respectively in 2009, as well as 2-time Hawaii Ironman World Champion, Tim DeBoom, and the 2007 and 2008 Boulder Peak Champion, Matt Reed. The women’s field is wide open. Past champions Amanda Lovato (2005) and Angela Naeth (2008) are certainly among the favorites for this year’s women’s title.
While the first wave of age-group athletes will hit the water at 6:30 AM on Sunday, one of the unique aspects of the Boulder Peak is the pros start racing at 8:45 AM. This allows most of the age-group athletes and spectators to watch some of the best triathletes in the world come in on their bikes and do a three-loop run course that is extremely spectator friendly.
As with all races in the Boulder Triathlon Series, owned and directed by World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman), the Boulder Peak will be a “zero-waste event.” At the June 5430 Sprint Triathlon, the event diverted 93% of all of its waste materials away from the landfill, either through recycling or composting. “We were extremely proud of the efforts and results accomplished in our “Tri Sustainability” program at the Sprint,” said Scott Straugh, Ironman Race Director. “We absolutely aim to duplicate this at the Peak, with the help of our great group of athletes and spectators.”
Among the 1,800 plus athletes competing on Sunday will also be Diana Russell of Boulder, an avid rock climber and grandmother of nine; as well as Charles Potter of Colorado Springs, who served in Iraq in 2007, and Afghanistan in 2009.