Event Description
Beautiful Lathrop State Park, three miles west of Walsenburg on U.S. Highway 160, is the site of the newly created Spanish Peaks Duathlon. This sprint distance event is comprised of a 5K (3.1 miles) run around the picturesque shores of Lake Martin on the jogging path (Cuerno Verde Trail), followed by a 20K (12.4 mile) bike ride on the asphalt paved park roads with the Spanish Peaks looming to the South, and a final 2.5K (1.55 mile) "down and back" run on the east side trail. (The freshly minted trail will consist of a concrete walking path with "shoulders" specially designed for two way jogging). The course is aligned so that both the run and bike legs begin and end in the immediate vicinity of the park office located at U.S. Highway 160 at 70 County Road 502 in Huerfano County, Colorado.
For those not inclined to biking, you have the option to run the 5K and end your competition at that point, while Duathlon participants will continue with their 20K bike ride. SPECIFY WHICH OPTION YOU ARE TAKING AT THE TIME YOU PICK UP YOUR RACE BIBS AS YOU CHECK IN FOR THE EVENT. (The Spanish Peaks 5K as well as the full Duathlon will both be included in the ongoing "RaBa Cinco" year long competition with additional information available at www.cocorelays.net) Registration cost is the same whether you do the 5K alone or the Duathlon.
Duathlon Information: The initial 5k run is essentially one lap around Martin Lake, returning to the starting location in the parking area on the east side of the Park Visitor Center building where your bikes will be stationed to await transition to your 20K ride. Riders will be directed first west bound from the Visitor Center to a brief out and back of one mile before making a left turn to begin four complete clockwise laps totaling another 11.4 miles of the paved park roads around Martin Lake, with completion of the bike ride back at the Visitor Center where the biking leg began. At this point, participants make the transition to the final 2.5K (1.55 mi.) run along the trail which mainly runs along the east side of Martin Lake (in the direction of the golf course). This is a "down and back" leg with the finish line back in the area of the Visitor Center.
Following completion of the Duathlon an awards ceremony will be held at the Walsenburg Golf Course located in the northeastern area of Lathrop State Park at 1399 County Road 502. Awards will be made to the top 5 female and top 5 male duathlon finishers.
Important notes: 1) All vehicles entering Lathrop State Park without a valid park pass will be assessed a parking fee at the entry gate of $7 (cash exact amount or check). This applies for event participants, volunteers and spectators. 2) The late "walk up" duathlon entry fee (applicable after the close of online registration) is $35. 3) This is a fundraising event for the Addicts-turned-Athletes program under the jurisdiction of LiveWell Huerfano, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Huerfano County, Colorado.
