Dozens brave elements in triathlon

PALMER — Sunday morning the bravest athletes in the Mat-Su Valley came out to combat the elements and complete the 10th annual Colony Christmas Triathlon.

“We heard about it though a couple of people and thought we could do that,” said Don Berberich, who was competing in the race with his son, Trenton. “We did not really train, but were going to try and do the whole thing. We just want to finish.”

Of the 77 competitors in the race, more than half competed in a team format.

“The race went off without any hitches, we only had one team scratch due to bike failure. So, out of 16 teams and 12 individual men and 24 individual women, I think that is pretty good,” said Ann Riggs, manager of Peak Fitness.

Riggs, who has helped organize the race for the past four years, said the weather was better this year, but still the race was for the stout-hearted only.

“It is just different when people hear about it in the Lower 48. They think it is crazy to have a triathlon in the winter,” Riggs said. “But all the feedback from the competitors has been nothing but positive.”

Challenger Alesia Thon, who was participating for her third time in the triathlon, agreed with Riggs.

“It is just fun and we have a good time out there,” Thon said. “It is just nice to get out and do something in the winter, and you’re burning calories as well.”

But not all the participants shared Thon’s outlook on the frigid winter race.

“You know, honestly, it would not be my first choice of things to do, but it will be a new experience. I think just survival will be the hardest part,” said Blake Livingston.

Livingston said he was talked into competing in the triathlon by his brother in-law.

“This will be my first triathlon, and thankfully I am just part of the team so I only have to do the running portion of race,” Livingston joked.

Competing in different aspects of the race makes the triathlon more manageable than doing the whole thing.

“For some competitors, one portion of the race is easier than the others, but still, it is pretty hard,” said Riggs.

For the majority of the people competing they just want to have a good time and get some exercise, but for a few the triathlon was all business.

“Usually there are about 20 that really focus on beating their times,” Riggs said. “Alisa Kincaid, for example, has finished first the last couple of years for the women and Jason Potsander has finished first for the men.”

This year proved no different as each won their respective divisions finishing with times of 51 minutes and 29 seconds for Kincaid and 48:29 for Potsander.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com.

Colony Christmas Triathlon

Sunday, Palmer

Women’s division:

1. Alisa Kincaid 51 minutes, 30 seconds; 2. Angie Brennan 56:44; 3. Heidi Beer 59:48; 4. Alesia Thon 1:00:12; 5. Rose Theisen 1:00:38; 6. Melissa Kemberling 1:01:02; 7. Desiree Hacker 1:02:49; 8. Liz Friedman 1:04:57; 9. Dianna Clemetson 1:04:59; 10. Katherine Lindstrom 1:07:05; 11. Greta Cladouhos 1:08:07; 12. Claire Torbenson-Armonstrong 1:12:33; 13. Frieda Riggs 1:13:52; 14. Theresa Hampton 1:15:00; 15. Veronica Vania 1:15:00; 16. Kristin Cross 1:15:01; 17. Nancy Wingate 1:15:42; 18. Desiree Simeon 1:16:17; 19. Vera Hershey 1:19:0-4; 20. Julie Voiger 1:19:44; 21. Kelly Neher 1:22:51; 22. Erin Kittredge 1:29:03; 23. Julie Markus 1:34:41; 24. Brandi White 1:27:58.

Men’s division:

1. Jason Potsander 48:29; 2. Jason Sandidge 52:28; 3. Ty Hampton 52:47; 4. Joel Cladouhos 53:36; 5. Scott Clemetson 53:55; 6. Bob Smith 54:41; 7. Martin Fallow 57:48; 8. Ed Gross 58:07; 9. Ray Michaelson 58:33; 10. Gary Steffens 59:14; 11. Todd Weaver 1:00:55; 12. Andy Corey, 1:01:53; 13. Andrew Stevens 1:03:29; 14. Ron Stokes 1:09:02; 15. Mark Armstrnog 1:17:30; 16. Trenton Berberich 1:19:36; 17. Don Berberich 1:19:40; 18. Nick Markus 1:38:47.

Teams division:

1. Snowshoe Smashers 50:28; 2. Super Cool Vibs 53:11; 3. Level Paths 56:00; 4. North Star Animal Hospital 1:00:41; 5. Team Beluga 1:01:10; 6. Team Zink 1:02:01; 8. Java Bean 1:05:09; 9. Soldotna Sirens 1:07:24; 10. Alaska Farmland Trust 1:08:33; 11. The Pak 1:09:30; 12. Team Bifrication 1:09:40; 13. The Freaks 1:13:22; 14. Threes Company 1:15:35; 15. Siaven Ravens 1:19:53.