The small community of Leopolis, population 87, expects to host about 200 athletes Saturday for the 30th annual Leopolis Iron-Man Contest.
Sponsored by the Leopolis Booster Club, the triathlon began with 22 people in 1986 and grew to a record 208 athletes in 2007.
Booster club member Carol Peterson cites the event’s family friendly atmosphere as one of the reasons for its success.
“Some people who have relatives in the area and are on vacation, join in,” she said. “Sometimes an entire family gets involved.”
Sally Bucket Egan, a longtime participant in the event, said it draws people from not only Wisconsin but also several other states.
“I have struck up conversations with people as far as Colorado,” she said.
Egan, who resides in Pella, has made the triathlon a tradition for her and her family the last 25 years.
“I have been participating in it since I was 8 years old.” Egan said. “I grew up in Leopolis.”
Egan, who is an athletic trainer at ThedaCare, said the word triathlon often scares people from joining the race.
“A lot of people are intimidated when they hear it is a triathlon,” she said. “The course is a fun course.”
The Leopolis triathlon is split into two courses: one for the “jocks” division and the other for the “beer belly” division and children under 16.
Jocks will start with a 50-yard swim on the Leopolis Pond, followed by a 12-mile bicycle ride and 5-mile run. The other division includes the 50-yard swim, 5-miles bike ride and 2-mile run.
The beer belly race is designed to be more fun and less competitive.
“It is a friendly competition where people can have fun,” Peterson said.
“The whole triathlon is just a wonderful experience, and the actual competition is good for everybody,” Egan said. “There are just as many people out there having fun as there are serious competitors.”
Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the top two finishers in various age groups in both divisions.
Last year, Mike Heidke, of Neenah, won the male race of the jock division, completing the course in 59 minutes, 58 seconds. Milwaukee resident Melissa Radmer was the top female finisher at 1:12.25.
Preregistration is available, but Peterson said most of the participants register the day of the race. Registration is open from 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday with an 11 a.m. start time.
