One more way our late winter is still being felt: Organizers of the second annual Blaine Triathlon will decide Friday whether to turn the May 18 event into a "duathlon" by dropping the swim portion. At this past week's end, the waters at Lakeside Commons Beach, where the competitors are to swim 0.3 miles, still were topped with ice.
But the sharp warm-up may melt the problem away. Nate Monahan, program supervisor for Blaine parks, said organizers will check the water at midweek, including taking its temperature, and make their decision after that.
Organizers devised a contingency plan after getting calls from some of the 350 participants (the event is full). It would have competitors run 3.5 miles and bike 16.7, as planned, and then run 3.5 miles again.
But Monahan voiced confidence that the ice will be gone and that swimmers in wetsuits and bathing caps will be comfortable.
"Last year it was 85 degrees on race day," he said. "We're hoping for the mid-50s. That doesn't seem like much to ask."
PAUL LEVY
plevy@startribune.com
