Ironman Tahoe officials eye smoke patterns; Sunday’s race still a go

Despite the region choking on smoke from the nearby King Fire, Ironman officials expect Sunday’s Lake Tahoe triathlon to occur as scheduled.

“At this point in time, we are monitoring the fire and smoke situation with Calfire, our medical team and other local authorities,” Keats McGonical, operations manager for Ironman, wrote in an email on Wednesday. “As the smoke pattern changes throughout the day — and the fact that we are still four days from the event — we are not planning on making any changes at this time.”

In Carson City and Northern Nevada the air quality was projected to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, meaning people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

As of press time Wednesday, the King Fire had burned more than 27,000 acres near the south fork of the American River, about an hour or so west of South Lake Tahoe.

It was at 5 percent containment. According to Calfire, more than 2,400 structures were threatened, and evacuations were in effect for 2,150 people.

Heavy smoke has filtered into the Tahoe-Truckee region since Sunday, and more is expected today, according to the National Weather Service.

However, patterns are expected to shift Friday, pushing smoke into the Central Valley; sunny skies are expected this weekend, according to NWS.

The 2014 Ironman Lake Tahoe triathlon is scheduled for the morning of Sunday, Sept. 21.

when more than 2,500 athletes will attempt to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles in succession throughout the North Shore/Truckee region.

Learn more at ironman.com.