Lake Tahoe Marathon Offers 20, 35 and 72-Mile Bike Events

The Lake Tahoe Marathon isn’t just about running. In keeping with its theme to provide a variety of events throughout Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Week (September 24-28), the organization is now hosting the 20, 35 and 72-Mile Bike Races scheduled for Saturday, September 27.

“Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Week is all about getting outdoors and getting active,” said Race Director Les Wright. “These bike events give our cycling friends an opportunity to compete or enjoy a friendly ride around the country’s largest alpine lake.”

The 20-Mile Bike Race begins in Incline Village, Nevada (North Shore of Lake Tahoe) at approximately 9 a.m., and participants ride clockwise around Lake Tahoe. As with the 35 and 72-Mile Races, this is not a closed course and riders should use caution and obey traffic rules at all times.

The 35-Mile Bike Race takes place in Tahoe City, California (also on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe) behind the Fire Station at Commons Beach and begins at 8:30 a.m. after the first dozen of the 72-Mile Bike Race participants pass.

The 72-Mile Bike Race starts 7 a.m. in Zephyr Cove, Nevada, near Stateline, and will also have racers moving clockwise around the lake. Police will escort the pack through the first nine miles and 24 stoplights. The last eight miles of the race is downhill or flat.

There are three water stations located at Emerald Bay, Tahoe City and Incline Village. There is an additional $500 purse for breaking the current 72-Mile record, which was set by Jeff Schalk, of San Francisco, in 2004 with a time of 3:01:21. Rumor has it champion cyclist Greg LeMond did it in 3:15 as a high school student, while growing up in Reno.

Runners and walkers have a host of events to choose from during the Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Week (September 24-28), including the Marathon, coined “a Sunday morning run you’ll never forget,” that winds down the West Shore from Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe for a post-run bash; Tahoe Triple (three marathons in three consecutive days); Marathon Relays; Half Marathon; Three-Day Triathlon; 10K; 20- Miler Run, Jog and Walk; 5K; Kayaking events; free Kids Fun Run and Speed Golf.

For more information or to register (fees vary for events), call 530-544-7095 or visit the Lake Tahoe Marathon website at www.laketahoemarathon.com. The website is also home to a course map and profile and event descriptions.