It’s not often that you can go to a race and have every person who enters win a prize.  Such is winter triathlon in Montana.  Or perhaps anywhere.  There are not many folks who are willing to run, bike, and ski back-to-back.

What made this event even more interesting is that it was the 2013 Winter Triathlon National Championship!  So the top three athletes in both the men’s and women’s division took home cold cash for their efforts.

This is definitely not an event for the masses.  This is the fifth year for this race and there has never been more than fifty people entered.  Weather seemed to keep a few folks away this year.  Driving from Bozeman to Homestake Lodge outside of Butte, Montana at 6:30 AM with the bike racks, prize money, and assorted other required items was as close to white-knuckled driving as I’ve had in a long time.  The roads got better about 20 miles out and the race weather was perfect.  Here’s some select shots.