Athletes compete in 17th Annual Lake George Triathlon Festival

“You can dream about things your whole life,” says Phyllis Crosby of New York City, “but dreams have a shelf life.” As her 66^th birthday approached, Crosby says she knew, “I needed to get it done.” Crosby entered her first race, the Alpha Sprint, as one of several 100 athletes competing in the 2023 Alpha Win Lake George Triathlon Festival, a series of three, multi-discipline races held this Labor Day Weekend on the Southern end of Lake George.

The Alpha Win 70.3 race kicked off at 7 a.m. Saturday with swimmers entering the lake from Lake George (Million Dollar) Beach and completing a 1.2-mile water route. Competitors then crossed Beach Road into Battlefield Park, many stripping away their wet suits as they ran, where they mounted bikes and began a 56-mile ride that brought them up to Warrensburg and along the Schroon River to Brant Lake. The route circled Brant Lake and returned to Battlefield Park to begin the third leg of the race, a 13.1-mile run along the Warren County Bike Path.

The Lake George Triathlon Festival continued Sunday with the Alpha Sprint — 750-meter swim, 12.4 bike and 3.1-mile run — and the Alpha Olympic — 1,500-meter swim, 24.8-mile bike and 6.2-mile run. “We aim to provide our athletes with a safe and challenging course that is perfect for both the beginner and experienced triathlete,” says Tommy Struzzieri, President and CEO of Alpha Win. Alpha Win’s tagline is, “A distance for everyone.”

For Crosby, making it to the start of the race was the realization of a dream. Of course, she wanted to finish the race, but making it to the starting line was a goal. “It’s so much to prepare for getting to the starting line. Starting is the big deal.” During COVID, Crosby says, she started working on her fitness and began with indoor workouts. She then moved to outdoor sports. Race training, she says, “naturally followed.” She says she was a little apprehensive about the bike route that includes some uphill pedaling as she trained in very flat Central Park. She had a lot of support — encouragement from her husband, the gift of a bike and people providing her with coaching and training plans.

“The Lake George Triathlon festival remains a magnet for elite athletes, generating a substantial economic influence in the region,” says Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB Executive Director Gina Mintzer in a press release. “What sets this triathlon apart is that participants have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the finest elements of our community. They can relish swimming in the pristine waters of Lake George, cycling along the scenic routes through the towns of Lake George and Queensbury, and completing the run through the Village of Lake George. Furthermore, they have the privilege of engaging with the local volunteers and spectators who passionately support and encourage the athletes.”

The Lake George Triathlon Festival will return for Labor Day Weekend, Aug 31-Sept 1, 2024. Registration for next year’s event is open at the Alpha Win website.

Note: The Lake George Examiner can report that Phyllis Crosby, Bib #714, not only made it to the starting line, she crossed the finish line and placed third in her division. Visit My Race Results for all Lake George Triathlon Festival results.