Steamboat Lake Triathlon 7/24-7/27

We rolled into Steamboat Springs on July 24th, and let me tell you—it was hot! Summer was in full swing, and while the heat definitely changed a few of our plans, it ended up being an absolutely fantastic getaway.
Here is a quick recap of our weekend in the mountains, from riverside camping to some very surprising wildlife sightings on our bikes.
We decided to set up basecamp at the local KOA. Now, I know some purists might call a KOA "glamping," but when you’ve been sweating in the summer heat, having access to real showers is an absolute game-changer!
The amenities here were honestly fantastic for a relaxing trip. We had access to:

  • A refreshing pool to cool off in the heat

  • Putt-putt golf right on the campground

  • A handy shuttle that took us straight into town

  • A cute gift shop for last-minute needs

The best part of our setup, hands down, was our campsite. We were lucky enough to have our tent pitched right on the edge of the Yampa River.

Unfortunately, the river levels were so low this year that they completely banned swimming and fishing in the Yampa. Campfires were also a no-go due to the statewide wildfire risk. While we missed the evening fires, I was just incredibly thankful that the air stayed clear and we didn’t have to deal with heavy wildfire smoke!
Even with the Yampa off-limits for recreation, we found plenty of ways to stay active and cool.
Paddleboarding at Steamboat Lake Just about a 30-minute drive from our KOA is Steamboat Lake. It was the perfect escape from the heat, and we had an amazing time taking the paddleboards out on the water. The views up there are just stunning.
Road Cycling and... Camels? We also hit the pavement for some road cycling. The routes around Steamboat are gorgeous, but the absolute highlight of our ride was the wildlife. And I don't mean deer or elk—we actually rode past a water buffalo and a camel! Definitely not your standard Colorado wildlife sighting, but it made for a great story.
After all that sun and cycling, we needed a good place to unwind. Lloyd was absolutely thrilled to visit the award-winning Mythology Distillery.
We grabbed a table, ordered some drinks, and pulled out Cards Against Humanity. It is always the perfect game for a group, and it brought us so many laughs as the sun went down.
Also, a special shoutout to their food menu: we tried their bourbon ketchup, which was super interesting and totally delicious! It was the perfect, unique touch to cap off a wonderful, hot, and hilarious trip to Steamboat.

I broke my toe on Wednesday, but there was no way I was missing Camilla’s first triathlon. Carly was awesome too, volunteering on the course all morning!  Camilla and I both took 1st in our age group, and I had to fight for every second, winning by just 5 seconds! 
Racing is always a rewarding test of discipline, but looking back across the years brings the hard work into sharp focus. With the Steamboat Lake Triathlon fresh in the books, I wanted to compare my performance from this weekend against my results on the exact same course from July 2021

Five years and one age group shift later, the numbers tell an incredible story of progress:

 Overall Time: I crossed the finish line in 01:31:47 this year, shaving 4 minutes and 36 seconds off my 2021 time of 01:36:23.


 Podium Finish: Moving up into the 45 - 49 age category, I took 1st place (1/9) in my division—an amazing step up from my 3rd place (3/11) finish in the 40 - 44 division back in 2021.

 Overall Standings: My overall placement jumped to 27/205 (up from 46/186), and I finished 12/130 among female competitors compared to 21/111 previously.


The biggest takeaway here is the bike leg. Dropping over five and a half minutes on the cycle course made the absolute biggest difference in my overall time. While my run was a couple of minutes slower than it was five years ago, gaining efficiency on the swim, transitions, and especially the bike more than made up for it.


It just goes to show that consistency, showing up to train, and trusting the process really do pay off over the long haul. Here is to seeing what the next few years bring!







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