You need to keep your kiddos active over the summer without breaking the bank. How about all-ages training for a triathlon? If that excites you (or scares you), keep reading!
The 2019 Desert Edge Triathlon is right around the corner on September 7 and 8, and athletes all over the Grand Valley are busy training for it. If on your lonesome doesn’t inspire you, what about gathering with a like-minded community for productive horsing around? That’s the attitude at the 3rd Annual Splash Sprint Series. It’s welcoming gathering of athletes of all ages who are there not just to train for Desert Edge, but to try new activities, get expert advice, and feed off each other’s lighthearted support.
Snook’s Bottom is named after the infamous New York murderer William Snook, who homesteaded here in 1879 on the lam. Even though he had a wife and four children in New York, he “remarried” a local woman in 1883, fathered more children, and reinvented himself as a farmer. With William Snooks long gone, MAD Racing has redeemed Snooks Bottom as the perfect place for the Splash Sprint Series.
Tawny Espinoza took first in her division last year, and she loves the Splash Sprint series because it fits with her schedule. “I work full time and I have two boys,” she says. “I can run over to the Splash Sprint after work and be home in time to take care of my family.” Her schedule is crazy, so she trains all year and then registers last minute for whatever races happen to be convenient. Splash Sprint doesn’t require a huge time commitment or a whole lot of money, and it’s right here in Fruita. Tawny really likes the safe place to try new things. “It’s a great way for people to experiment with new activities, like maybe paddle board instead of swimming. Or new gear, like a new pair of goggles, for example. The sprints aren’t very long, but they give you the feeling of racing, of pushing yourself.”
Tawny is all about the swim, and she likes to train at Snooks Bottom because there are no motorized watercraft there, unlike at Highline Lake. “Swimming is my forte,” she says. “The temperature [of the water at Snooks] is perfect. You don’t need a wet suit. It’s refreshing on a hot day. We get out and swim around the island and back. If you get tired, you can hang out on the island for a while. And I like how the [staff] gets in the water with us.”
The 2-mile running track features both paved and dirt surfaces, and Race Director John Klish creates variation by changing up the direction of the running.
Tawny is referring to John Klish, the Splash Sprint Race Director and owner of MAD Racing Colorado, who inherited the Desert Edge Triathlon from Racing Underground in Denver. This is the third year MAD Racing Colorado will host the Desert Edge Tri, and Splash Sprint was John’s idea to provide training opportunities locally. Inspired by 63-year-old Durango-based athlete Ned Overend, who still finishes in the top tier in triathlon-type events, John swims and runs alongside participants not only to encourage them, but to keep himself in shape.
For the second year in a row, John has invited USA Triathlon Certified Coach Adam Sczech to offer a 30 minute clinic each day of Splash Sprints series, which runs once a month all summer long. June 13 Coach Adam will focus on swim techniques for efficiency and speed. “It’s about getting comfortable with swimming in open water where you
“My favorite part [of the Splash Sprint],” says veteran runner and swimmer Max Robinson, “is the raffle.” John collects a dollar from every registrant, and the winners from each division take home the cash. “I won $6 last year,” Max chuckles.
This is a great event for families, John points out. Lifeguards are
With so few local events appealing to all ages, the Splash Sprint series is an important family summer activity.
available. Athletes under 18 are welcome, so long as their parents are along, and with so few local events appealing to all ages, the Splash Sprint series is an important family summer activity. No pre-registration required, just load up the car and come on out to Snooks Bottom on Thursdays June 13, July 18, and August 15 at 4:30 pm. The fee is $10 per person. And if you try your hardest, you just might win that back.
Learn More
The 3rd Annual Splash Sprint Series meets at Snooks Bottom, 1051 Kingsview Road in Fruita, June 13, July 18, and August 15 at 5:30 pm. A half hour clinic is followed by fast-paced, lighthearted races segregated by event, age and sex. Cost is $10/person, plus $1 for each event you enter for the winner’s pot. Choose from swimming, paddle boarding, and running. No preregistration is required.
The 2019 Desert Edge Triathlon in Loma is happening September 7 and 8 and features professional clinics and as well options for water, bike, and running components. You can race individually or as a team. Entrance fees run from $90- 185. The race is only open to 300 participants each day, so register now to ensure your spot.
Adam Sczech is an IRONMAN University Certified Coach, USAT Level I Certified Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and VFS Master Bike Fitter. You can get his expert advice for only $10 at the Splash Sprint Series, or hire him by emailing adam@teammpi.com. Adam can create a fitness plan for you, or can meet with you up to three times a week. For more information about Adam, visit www.TeamMPI.com.
