Triathlon draws newbies to Gateway

MARENGO — Not everyone trains for a 500-meter swim followed by a 16-mile bike ride and a 5k run. Some participants in Saturday’s Gateway Triathlon in Marengo tackled the route with very little preparation.

James Duncan, 17, made his triathlon debut in the fog at Gateway Park last weekend after only a month of running to train.

“He’s big into physical fitness,” said his father, Sgt. Bob Duncan of the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department.

“I wrestle, and I row,” said James. He’s even won nationals — in pararowing. James has cerebral palsy.

James said he read David Goggins’ book, “Can’t Hurt Me,” a memoir that encourages self-discipline, mental toughness and hard work, so when the triathlon was announced, “I thought I’d give it a shot.”

Because of cerebral palsy, James has a lack of mobility, balance and strength in his legs, and he lacks coordination. “Being active is the best thing for it,” he said.

The Gateway Triathlon was also the first for Micah Sands, 15, of Polk City. “I decided to do it Monday,” he said.

Sands sat on the ground by his bike putting on his shoes after a 500-meter swim. “This is a really cool event for a small town,” he said.

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Sands’ only training was playing high school football. He doesn’t swim or bike, said his parents, Justin and Jenny Sands.

“He’s always wanted to do a triathlon,” said his mother.

“This was close,” said his dad. “I woke up at 4:30 and drove him to Marengo.”

Known as The Iowa State Guy because of the jersey he wore last weekend, Bennett Luedtke, hydrated after finishing the 5k course that concluded the triathlon.

Bennett ran track and cross-country during high school, but it was an injury that forced him to cross-train, he said.

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A native of Muscatine, Luedtke ran the Try Melon Triathlon and won.

“Triathlon is awesome,” said 28-year-old Luedtke. Marengo’s version “was excellent. I’m a big fan.

“It’s a good scenic route through rural Iowa,” Luedtke said of the bike ride. The running trail was scenic, and the entire event was well-run. Luedtke, a graduate student in the University of Iowa’s physical therapy program, looks forward to doing it again.

Iowa County Sheriff Rob Rotter started the Gateway Triathlon last year. “I’ve been in them,” he said. “I love them.”

Rotter’s physical fitness routine is fairly recent “I was getting fat,” he confessed. He started participating in triathlons about three years ago.

“This area is a great place for them,” said Rotter.

“We capped it at 100 last year, and we got that.” This year the event was capped at 150, and Rotter said he’s sure more than 120 triathletes were at Gateway, though he didn’t have final numbers Saturday.

Gateway Triathlon advertised the sanctioned event on several national websites. Triathletes came from as far away as Indiana last year, Rotter said. About 90% are from outside Iowa County.

Rotter helped fund the first Gateway Triathlon, but this year it’s self-sustaining, he said. Registration fees cover the cost of necessities like swim caps, disposable timers and T-shirts.

Though a fog covered Gateway Park’s lake early Saturday morning, the water quality was great, said Sgt. Duncan. The county dive team checked the water earlier in the week “to make sure there’s no debris,” and water quality checks showed no contamination from runoff, he said.

Results from the event were not available at press time.