Around Colorado

Scenery abounds in Steamboat Springs for triathlon, road races

Competing in the Steamboat Triathlon made me realize I need to start factoring “scenery slowdown” into my race times.

Race guides, publications and coaches give athletes secondsshaving tips on everything from tucking into your bike for lower wind resistance to spraying your wet suit with cooking oil to get it off faster. But I’ve never heard anyone address how to keep your focus on the finish line when racing by eye-drawing vistas, majestic mountain peaks and other distracting natural wonders.

During the bike portion of the Steamboat race, an osprey flew right in front of me before alighting on a power pole just to the side of the course. An osprey? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to speed past the chance for an up-close look at a magnificent bird of prey?

Scenery slowdown hasn’t been as big a factor in my previous triathlons because they took place in Boulder, Loveland and Fort Collins. It’s not that these aren’t beautiful places; it’s just that they are places where I’ve lived and am familiar with, so I’ve built up more of a resistance to their aesthetic charms.

But Steamboat, an athletic event destination, has a siren’s call that was difficult to ignore. The swim takes place in Lake Catamount, that blue jewel that twinkles into your field of vision as you descend into the valley northbound on U.S. 40.

When you’re swimming, you’re too busy staying on course and avoiding other athletes to do much sightseeing, but it sure is refreshing to see a mountain range when you tilt your head up for a breath instead of the side of the pool.

Catamount is the largest private lake in Colorado, so you have to try the Steamboat tri to swim in it.