2nd Annual Back Mountain Triathlon returns to NEPA

HARVEYS LAKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An athletic test of endurance returns to northeastern Pennsylvania.

More than 200 athletes participated Sunday morning in the Back Mountain Triathlon.

“When you’re in the water, you’re very disoriented. So the kayak kelps to guide the swimmers along the course. It’s very important and it helps the swimmers stay safe and stay on track,” said Wendy Narcum from Shavertown.

“It’s very upbeat, so as you can hear the music is definitely loud and pumped, especially at 6:00 a.m.,” Shavertown resident Abby Jacobs explained.

“Well once they leave the beach here, they head out Lakeside Drive, make a left onto route 415. Up to 29, into Noxen, through Noxen. Then they make a right onto Sardoni Hill, Buckweed Hollow Road, and that brings them straight back down to Lakeside Drive. The sprint will come straight in Lakeside and back into the school,” Bike Course Coordinator Tim Tyson stated.

“I was just sitting there, taking it all in, looking at the athletes, thinking about how proud I was of my committee. All these volunteers. I get emotional. I’ve stood on the other side on the speech as a competitor for the Wilkes-Barre triathlon and to see us, bring it back and have the community embrace it like this, yeah I get pretty emotional about it,” said Back Mountain Triathlon Race Director David Bass.

“The only thing better in my life besides getting married would be football and then triathlons,” Wyoming resident Lou Ciampi stated.

“Everybody gets so excited like it’s such a big deal. People that are like aren’t normally into stuff like this come out to support like they know somebody or they’re just amazed by the people. I know the man who runs it, Dave Bass he’s a great guy, so it’s really just a positive impact for the community,” said volunteer Sarah Williams.

“I hope it inspires a lot of people because it looks like it’s hard. But anybody can do it. And this is a great bucket list item if you think man, I want to try something, challenge myself, you can do this. It’s doable,” Bass added.

Sunday’s triathlon raised $20,000 for Back Mountain charities.

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