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JOHAN’S TRIFEST SELECTED FOR MID-EAST REGION’S SPECIAL QUALIFIER AND MID-EAST REGIONAL CLUB RACE SERIES

The popular Johan’s Trifest, now in its 9^th year, has been selected by USA Triathlon and the Mid-East Region to host this year’s Mid-East Regional Special Qualifier and as one of 18 regional races comprising the Mid-East Region Club Race Series (MERCRS). The top 1/3 of finishers in each age group will qualify for a slot in USA Triathlon’s Age Group National Championship. All finishers are also eligible to score points for their club in MERCRS. An Olympic distance event, athletes swim 1.5 kilometers (.93 miles), ride a 40 kilometer (24.8 mile) bike loop and run 10 kilometers (6.2) miles to the finish.


Johan’s TriFest is a tribute to local triathlon legend Johan Visser. The popularity of this event, which is limited to 500 participants, can be traced back to Visser himself and a core committee of his racing buddies that set out to create a tightly organized race that would safely challenge athletes amidst picturesque and spectator friendly surroundings. The organizers approached Sandy Pines Resort on Lake Monterey in Allegan County, Michigan for a protected swim and run course. Sandy Pines, which consists of some 800 acres of lakes and woodland interspersed with well established campgrounds and full-width 14 foot paved trails, agreed and quickly adopted Johan’s TriFest as their own. Once that relationship was forged, Visser and the core race committee scoured the surrounding area and carefully mapped out a bike course that is equal parts rollers and quiet country roads with one challenging climb around mile 9. A race created for athletes by athletes was born. Sadly, Visser succumbed to brain cancer in 2002 but Johan’s TriFest continues to celebrate his life and the triathlon lifestyle he loved while also raising funds for Hospice of Michigan and Van Andel’s Hope on the Hill Foundation.

According to race director Dan Schroeder, the relationship between Sandy Pines and Johan’s TriFest is a big part of what has made the race so popular among athletes in the region. Athletes swim Lake Monterey, a fairly small man-made and relatively shallow lake with an average depth of only 12 feet. Because the lake is small and relatively shallow water temperature, even in June, is always comfortable. Yet the water quality is good due to river flow through the lake. The start and transition is also ideal due to the well established sandy beach that is part of Sandy Pines Resort. The rectangular shaped course is swum counterclockwise with buoys always on the swimmer’s left. The race has a guaranteed wave start.

 

Leaving transition, the bike course heads out onto seldom traveled roads and into a series of deceptively challenging rollers. What Visser and the core race committee originally envisioned during a long training ride as the ideal bike course often leaves uninitiated athletes wondering whether they battled headwinds the entire length of the ride. But it’s not the wind, it’s the hills that will challenge riders and they come early in the course.

The run course, in contrast to the bike, is flat and fast. A looped course through the 14 foot wide and paved trails of Sandy Pines Resort, the run is one of the most distinctive highlights of Johan’s TriFest. Campers come out in large numbers to cheer and support the athletes. There is not a lot of shade on these paved trails and some campers use water hoses to spray runners with cooling water, a welcome relief. Then there is a unique gauntlet at the finish where campers line up golf carts on both sides of the course to create a finish chute effect back toward the beach area that many racers really love. Johan’s Trifest culminates with good and plentiful post-race food and awards.