GRAND RAPIDS —The Timberman Triathlon will celebrate 40 years Saturday, July 12.
The Timberman was first organized in 1985 by John McCoy, a Blandin Paper Company forester. It was originally part of the Tall Timber Days Festival and has been held at Sugar Lake Lodge most years.
Amy Dettmer was a recent guest on the KAXE Morning Show. She and her husband Alan have been race directors for the past 10 years, alongside a dedicated committee, some of whom have been involved since the very start.
"It's a great testament to the race committee, to volunteers, to the whole organization," Dettmer said. "People have been very dedicated. It's just been a great thing."
The race relies on around 150 volunteers, both on the lake and on land. If you would like to volunteer, email Dettmer.
The trickiest part of a triathlon is switching between activities, she said.
"When you're on the bike, you're going faster, and then all of a sudden, it's like 'Whoa, the brakes have come on, and now I have to reorient and figure out how to run again,'" she explained.
This year's competitors have three different lengths to choose from: Olympic, sprint and super sprint. In each one, participants swim, bike and run. The Olympic and sprint options can be shared by a team.
Registration for the Timberman Triathlon closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 10.
