Special to The PREVIEW
A decade with the DU — 2016 marks the 10th annual Pagosa Duathlon, supporting the Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program (ACVAP).
For 10 years runners, bikers, extreme athletes and rising athletes have come out to test their strength and endurance on our trails. A few years ago, the average duathlon wasn’t enough we had to add the Double Dirty for the most extreme athletes to complete the course twice.
And all of it has been to support victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. In years past, we have had more than five states represented at the race and ages from 5 to 75. This truly is a race that has something for everyone.
2016 DU
Violence is a dirty word; get dirty with the ultimate Pagosa Duathlon experience. This year’s Pagosa Duathlon — the Dirty Du — will take place July 9.
Three epic races are offered, all for the single-track trail enthusiast — the Dirty Sprint (3-mile run, 8-mile mountain bike), the Dirty Du (6-mile run, 14-mile mountain bike) and, for you extreme racers, the Double Dirty (12-mile run, 28-mile mountain bike).
Start times for the races are as follows:
Not a runner? Not a problem, you can enter any race as a two-member relay team (one runner, one biker). Or, take them on solo in the women and men’s divisions.
For our rising athletes, we have the exciting Dusty Kids Gravel Growler. This untimed, fun race is a 1-mile run, 2-mile ride “gravel-growler” dirt road race. Your budding star will love getting dirty at this race.
• Double Dirty — 7 a.m. start.
• Dusty Kids Gravel Growler — 7:30 a.m. start.
• Dirty Sprint and Dirty Du — 8:15 a.m. start.
This year for our 10th anniversary, we are celebrating the Dirty DU in style. As the racers come in, we will have local vendors with booths, music, food and the Dusty Kids Activity Tent. Stay, play, eat and celebrate 10 years of an amazing race — and 20 years with an amazing organization. That’s right; ACVAP has been serving our community for 20 years.
For registration, race information and course maps, visit www.pagosaduathlon.com. We’ll see you at the DU.
Come celebrate with us.
Proceeds benefit ACVAP, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes the belief that all people have the right to live free from violence. Serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault for 20 years, advocates are available all day and night to support and provide comfort for those hurt by violence.
Your entry fee will help ACVAP pay for its 24-hour hotline or counseling for a victim or child who have been abused. It will help a family relocate to a safer home or help a victim file for a protection order.
ACVAP is an all-inclusive agency, providing comprehensive and reliable victim support services 24 hours a day.
Get dirty and be a part of ending the violence in Archuleta County.