Published September 18, 2014 07:08PM
Ironman Lake Tahoe Threatened By Nearby Smoke
Ironman Lake Tahoe and Ironman 70.3 Lake Tahoe face the possibility of cancellation due to smoky conditions
6. Ironman Lake Tahoe <br> <strong>The course:</strong> Only in its second year, Ironman Lake Tahoe is known for its difficulty. The two-loop, 2.4-mile swim takes place in the pristine North Lake Tahoe from Kings Beach—the water is clear enough to see 70 feet down. The 112-mile bike takes athletes down the 21-mile length of the lake into Tahoe City, through the Truckee River corridor and includes 8,000 feet of climbing. The 26.2-mile run is relatively flat and follows the Truckee River bike path before a finish at Squaw Valley, the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. (For a more detailed description and photos of the course, <a href=https://www.triathlete.com/2013/08/photos/course-recon-ironman-lake-tahoe_81962>check out writer Susan Lacke’s course recon prior to the inaugural race.</a>) <br><br> <strong>The draw:</strong> If the scenery doesn’t take your breath away, the hills and the 6,000 feet of altitude will—the race boasts the highest starting altitude of any Ironman. As if the challenge of doing an Ironman at altitude weren’t enough the inaugural race saw especially challenging weather conditions including frigid winds, snow the night before and temperatures in the 30s on race morning—the conditions led to a <a href=https://www.triathlete.com/2013/09/race-coverage/ironman-lake-tahoe-sees-20-dnf-rate_85150>20 percent DNF rate</a>, second only to the 2012 Ironman St. George (29 percent), a race which has since been turned into a 70.3. The race could arguably earn the title of “toughest Ironman.” It’s also a challenging way to earn one of 50 coveted slots to the Ironman World Championship. <br><br> <strong>How to race it:</strong> Even though the inaugural race sold out within 24 hours of opening, the high DNF rate may have kept athletes from registering as quickly this year—registration for the 2014 event (and the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Lake Tahoe, to both take place on Sept 21, 2014) is currently open. <br><br> <strong>For more info:</strong> <a href=http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/lake-tahoe.aspx>Ironman.com</a> <br><br> Photo: Susan Lacke
This Sunday’s Ironman Lake Tahoe and Ironman 70.3 Lake Tahoe face the possibility of cancellation due to smoky conditions being caused by the nearby King Fire. An Ironman spokesperson tells the Reno Gazette-Journal that as of now the race is on.
“We are working with the local authorities and our medical team in monitoring the fires and smoke in the region. At this time we do not anticipate making any changes to the race,” Keats McGonical, Ironman Operations Manager, said in a statement to the RGJ on Thursday. “As with all of our races there are a number of contingency plans in place to handle a number of different situations. Our current plan is to go ahead with the event as scheduled.”
Several athletes, including pros Bryan Rhodes, Kevin Taddonio and Mackenzie Madison, have commented on Twitter about the currently-smoky conditions.
According to several sources, the National Weather Service is predicting that the smoke will clear out in time for the race.
This is the second running of Ironman Lake Tahoe, and the first time the race will include a 70.3. The inaugural version of the full distance last year featured frigid conditions, resulting in a DNF rate of 20 percent.