West Penn Trail Triathlon returns with combo of paddling, biking, running near Saltsburg

Paddlers, runners and bicyclists are gearing up for the annual Conemaugh Valley Conservancy West Penn Trail Triathlon, set to return on Oct. 9.

Now in its eighth year, the event attracted about 170 participants in 2019 and has at least 100 registered for the upcoming edition, including residents from neighboring states.

“We’re so happy to be able to have it again after having to cancel last year,” said Laura Hawkins, Allegheny Ridge Corporation’s Main Line Canal Greenway coordinator, who works with the conservancy to assist with events such as the triathlon.

Hawkins noted the event course, which is chip-timed, is challenging enough to interest seasoned triathletes yet moderate enough to be welcoming for those with less experience. Participants can choose to complete the entire course as a solo competitor or can focus on the segments they prefer if they register as part of a duo or three-member team.

The first leg introduces a new twist compared to the traditional swimming segment of a triathlon. Participants, who must wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets, will paddle in canoes or kayaks along a scenic 7-mile section of the Conemaugh River, from the Conemaugh Dam downstream to the historic town of Saltsburg.

The dam’s controlled release is an important factor in maintaining mostly flat water at the depth needed for the river portion of the race, according to Barry Tuscano of Ligonier Borough, who started the triathlon with his wife, Kitty.

“The water release is a big selling point,” said Tuscano, a former conservancy board member who continues to help with trail maintenance. “You can’t reliably run these kinds of events is you have to depend on rain.

“We wanted to promote the use of the river and the trail. That was the main motivation for running an event on it.”

The cycling portion of the race has competitors completing a round-trip ride to the dam and back, on a section of the West Penn Trail that includes varying grades. Road bikes, cross bikes, hybrids and tandems are all acceptable; participants must wear helmets.

In the final leg, runners will complete a 5K stretch on the trail, heading along the Kiski River to Blackleggs Creek and back to the finish line.

The rivers and nearby trail provide “an ideal location for this type of event,” said Hawkins. “It’s just a feel-good day.”

“We just want everybody to have a good time,” said Kitty Tuscano.

To register, visit conemaughvalleyconservancy.com and select WPT Triathlon under the “News & Events” heading. Registration fees are $60 for solo racers, $85 for a two-member team and $110 for a three-member team. The fees each will increase by $10 beginning Oct. 1.

The website also provides links to local outfitters that can offer canoe, kayak or bicycle rentals.

Hawkins noted the only pandemic-related requirement for participants is to wear face coverings while riding in a shuttle between points in the race.

Proceeds from the triathlon support maintenance of the conservancy-owned West Penn Trail by volunteers. The trail, which partially follows a former railroad right-of-way, roughly parallels the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas rivers at the border of Westmoreland and Indiana counties.