Tires and tennies

Joe Elder, executive director at the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC), is working with a committee to plan a duathlon for Sept. 6.

Elder started talking with Saratoga business owner Mitch Bangert about what they could do to attract people to Saratoga.

Bangert has an office in the business incubator at the PVCC. Bangert and Elder both are physically active.

In November, the two decided on a competition that would include a bike ride from Chains End in the Snowy Range and end at the east parking lot of Lake Marie. The hike/run would be on the trail to Medicine Bow Peak.

Elder said he believes it will have a broad appeal. “It can be as challenging as you want it,” Elder said.

Duathlons normally consist of the run-bike-run scenario, but this one would be reversed with bike-run-bike.

The challenge is the elevation and the incline of the bike ride from Chains End and the run on a trail that offers plenty of challenges.

Elder said that he has not completed a run because of the boulders on the trail, but hopes to this summer before the duathlon.

The biking part is six miles each way, with the ride back downhill. The run is five-and-one-half miles one way.

Because this is such a challenging duathlon, safety will be a priority for the committee, Elder said. The boulders on the run can be difficult to maneuver around and a person can easily fracture a shin, Elder said. He estimates the duathlon will take around two hours to complete. Weather is another factor the committee will have to consider, because it changes so quickly at 12,000 feet above sea level.

The committee includes Elder, Bangert, Susan Marich, Melanie Fullman, Kristy Smith and Ron Hoopes.

The committee met in December to determine the permits they need. Since Fullman works for the Forest Service, Elder said she has been really helpful in that department.

Forest Service and Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) permits have been applied for and Elder said he does not foresee a problem.

Last week the committee met to determine if the duathlon was an option for 2015.

Elder said he was pleased to hear that his plan dovetailed with Keith Bailey’s idea of a triathlon in the Platte Valley. While Bailey’s idea is on a larger scale, Elder said he believes the duathlon is a good start.

“Hopefully we can grow this event,” Elder said. The event will include a dinner the night before at the PVCC and a post race celebration.

The next meeting for the group is Feb. 2.