The second event in the LeadmanTri Series take place this weekend, on Saturday, September 22nd, in Bend, Oregon with the 2012 Leadman Epic 250/125 - Bend event. In 2011, LeadmanTri was launched as the Evolution of Triathlon. The event challenged athletes with a course and conditions so extreme, finishing became more about mental toughness than sheer talent. The inagural event took place in Las Vegas in 2011 and again in 2012 but only featured the Leadman Epic 125.
Leadman Bend will truly be one of the most iconic events in the sport of triathlon as it is nestled in the heart of an endurance mecca. One of the largest professional fields among 2012 ultra-distance triathlons will be on-hand for the inaugural Bend triathlon event. It's the only triathlon of its kind, offering participants their choice of 125- or 250-kilometer distances through the awe-inspiring Northwestern landscape.
The event starts at 7:00 AM at Cultus Lake and finishes in the Old Mill District of Bend.
The race will feature nearly 5,000 feet of climbing and a peak elevation of 6,200 feet on one of the most beautiful and challenging triathlon courses in the world. The full Leadman course boasts a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) Swim, a 223-kilometer (138.6-mile) Bike and a 22-kilometer (13.7-mile) Run.
Participants can compete as part of a three-person relay on the LeadmanTri 250 course or on the Half Leadman course, featuring a 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) Swim, 106-kilometer (65.9-mile) Bike and 16.5-kilometer (10.3-mile) Run.
About the Course:
5km/2km Swim
LeadmanTri Bend starts with a brisk swim in idyllic Cultus Lake. A deep, mountain lake at the base of Mount Cultus, filled with crystal clear water that is expected to be approximately 64 on race day. Swimmers in the 250km field will exit the water after the first lap and pass an aid station before returning to the water for lap 2.
223km/106km Bike
One of the most scenic and challenging courses in the sport of triathlon, the LeadmanTri Bend 250 course climbs over the Bachelor pass not once, but twice, with 1.5 laps around Mt. Bachelor. Athletes will have spectacular views of the summit.
22km/16.5km Run
The run course takes you out and back along the Deschutes River, through the majestic Tetherow Golf Club, and into the Old Mill District of Bend. The entire course is known for its old growth large Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and Western white pine, sometimes rising to 120 feet tall.
Professional triathletes scheduled to compete include:
| Paolina Allen | Jen Luebke |
| Christine Anderson | Doug MacLean |
| Jackie Arendt | Tim Marr |
| Karl Bordine | Rachel McBride |
| Haley Cooper | Katya Meyers |
| Linsey Corbin | Angela Naeth |
| Trish Diem | Charles Perreault |
| Derrick Garcia | Jean-Francois Perron |
| Thomas Gerlach | Kristen Peterson |
| Heather Gollnick | Olly Piggin |
| Mathias Hecht | Jordan Rapp |
| Mark Hillers | Bryan Rhodes |
| Heather Jackson | Matthew Russell |
| Nathan Killam | Matt Sheeks |
| Matt Lieto | Erich Wegscheider |
LeadmanTri was born from the legend of the Leadville - and the iconic events that bear the name, including the Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race and Trail 100 Run. The mission of competitors in these events is not to capture a podium spot in their age group and it's not about analyzing splits. It's about getting that buckle. Athletes competing in Bend will have the same opportunity.
Finish in under 11 hours and you get a handcrafted LeadmanTri buckle.
Finish in under 9 hours and you get the BIG LeadmanTri buckle.
For more information about the LeadmanTri Life Time Epic 250/125, including qualification requirements, visit www.leadmantri.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leadmantri.
