Race Review: 2004 Devil's Challenge

The "2004 Devil's Challenge sprint-distance triathlon was held on September 19, 2004 in scenic Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo, WI. Unlike 2003's monsoon, the day dawned cool, clear and bright. The counter-clockwise swim in Devil's Lake was a bit choppy; the water temperature borderline wet-suit territory. (I made the decision in favor of the added buoyancy.) Describing the bike route as "hilly" is a bit of an understatement. Several grinding uphills and 3 long, smooth, fast downhills made for an interesting and challenging course. The run takes place mostly in the park, winding through a campground before returning to the finish line. Some campers were there to cheer racers on; others were obviously just rolling out of bed and wondering what the fuss was all about.

The Devil's Challenge is a great end-of-season race for Great Lakes-area triathletes: well-organized, a challenging course, gorgeous surroundings and nice people. A must-do next year.