Off to the races

An Adirondack summer wouldn’t be complete without a few things. A good book, a seat by the lake, some fishing… and a triathlon to kick off the season. Each summer for the past 42 years, the Tinman Triathlon Race stakes its claim on Tupper Lake, seeing hundreds of athletes flock to the region to show off their months of hard work through swimming, running, and biking.

The clear lakes, winding footpaths, and biking trails that have been etched into the sides of mountains for generations make the Adirondacks the perfect playground for those who come to race here. It's no wonder athletes love to frequent this tranquil haven season after season, as athletic history pumps through the lifeblood of the Adirondacks. Since the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, athletes have chosen the Adirondacks as their training facility, battleground, and best-kept secret for the sweetest relaxation. 

Every summer after parting with wintertime treadmills and swimming pools, athletes can launch onto the terrain of the Adirondack trails and lakes in triathlons across the region. You may have heard of the Ironman Race that takes place over in Lake Placid, the Tinman is very similar! The difference? The Tupper Lake Tinman makes up roughly half of the Ironman's mileage on each leg of the race, which makes the Tinman an attractive test run for athletes in anticipation of the Ironman Race in July. The Tinman is Tupper Lake’s triathlon, bringing both seasoned athletes and first-time triathletes eager to push their limits, all in front of the majestic backdrop of Adirondack scenery. As the crisp mountain air fills with anticipation again this season, we got a chance to take a peek inside the action and talk shop with two contestants for the 2023 Tupper Lake Tinman Race, RJ Boergers and Samantha Davies, with additional stories from past Tinmen, Jonathan Harris and Paul Mullen.

Meet the racers

Richard (RJ) Boergers is an athletic trainer at the collegiate level from Jersey City, New Jersey. Samantha Davies is an accountant with the town office of Tupper Lake and is local to the area.  

At the time of this article's publication, both were training for the Tinman Race on June 24, 2023. The two were among an estimated 700 participants in different legs of the race. 

Jonathan Harris is an avid triathlon athlete and a resident of Virginia who visits the Adirondacks when he can. Paul Mullen and his wife relocated to Tupper Lake in 2021 after 30 years on Long Island and purchased property across from Little Wolf Campground, of which he is now the caretaker. 

A Tinman race by the numbers includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 26-56 mile cycle, and a 3-13.1 mile run, depending on which course a racer selects. For comparison, the Ironman is a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run. 

So why are athletes choosing smaller-scale races like the Tinman rather than more popular courses around the country? A few reasons. For RJ, appreciation for the region factored in. “I love going up to the Adirondacks to train, giving support for local races, and it's also challenging and falls at the right time.”  

Jonathan's reason? Getting up close with Tupper Lake. "I like going to new places and experiencing events like triathlons, (he's completed 5 Ironman Races) you get a good sense of the place, running through town, especially the bike ride, you’re getting a feel for the region, spending 6 hours exercising in that environment. Even though I’m familiar with that area as a tourist, it's a great way to experience the town and the area."

Paul's journey to the Tinman became a family affair. "In 2002 after finishing my 1st NYC marathon I decided to dedicate myself to training for the 2004 Lake Placid Ironman. Having never done a tri before I thought I should find a half somewhere in the Adirondacks. In 2003 I packed up my family in our brand-new camper for its maiden voyage 7 hours north to Little Wolf Campground to participate in the 2003 Tinman. After a wonderful race experience, and my family falling in love with this amazing campground with heavenly views, we decided to return for both the 2004 Tinman and again for the 2004 Ironman. For the next 14 years, we never missed coming up to Tupper Lake for our summer vacation at Little Wolf Campground."

For Samantha, local support and familiarity with the race made the decision. “The Tinman is right in my backyard, I know every aspect of the course from the sprint to the full 70.3 distance. Also, my family and friends can come to cheer me on here.” The Tinman is also the perfect warmup for races like the Ironman, as RJ and Samantha were prepping for the Ironman race as well. Samantha competed in the Lake Placid Ironman in July, while RJ was training for the Ironman race in Mont Tremblant, Canada, in August. Completing the Tinman race is all part of the training process.  

Training

While it may be slightly shorter in distance, the Tinman is still a long and challenging race, comprising long distances in three legs of racing. The opportunities for injury and fatigue are everywhere, making a large part of the training focused on keeping athletes healthy and injury-free, no matter where they are in the course. 

As an athletic trainer and co-author of the book Finish Strong: Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes, which was also made available to athletes upon the year of its release, RJ is no stranger to the importance of proper training and prep. With a training plan consisting of training the three disciplines of the race mixed with strength training and yoga exercises, injury prevention and endurance training are at the forefront of RJ’s approach. “The importance of integrating planned strength and mobility exercise throughout a triathlon season to keep someone healthy and participating is the main message I teach and what I focus on in my training. Focus on the 80% rule, the week before if you’re tapering for the race with your swim, bike, and run, you can also taper your strength training, to ease into that racing mode.”

Jonathan has adopted his training as a way of life. "Triathlons become a lifestyle, five to six days a week I swim bike, or run, it's a great way to stay in shape, and having the goal of a race is super helpful."

Samantha participated in the aqua bike portion of the race, including a 1.2-mile swim and a 56-mile cycle. Living in the Adirondacks and fitting in outdoor exercises like swimming and cycling year-round can be challenging so until temperatures rise, pools and indoor training take the place of a lake swim or trail ride. At the time of our interview, Samantha was looking forward to finally swimming in the lake at the end of May. “Lots of time on the bike and outdoors now that the weather is getting nicer. I am training more than the half-distance swim and bike, so I will surely be prepared for this. It will be a training day for me.”

Fond memories

Part of the charm of the Tinman race is the community support and stories from the day. With hundreds of racers come hundreds of volunteers (400 to be exact) with leagues of supporters coming from all over to cheer on participants on racing day. 

Action-packed race days can generate memories that last a lifetime. RJ remembers his favorite moment from the race last year. “I’m part of an athletic club from Hoboken, New Jersey, and there were seven or eight of us competing last year. It's just awesome to see your teammates on the race course. Last year I was just starting to get on my bike and start the race and I saw my girlfriend Janine who was also in the race, and I just kissed her and wished her a good ride, and it was just an awesome memory. My friend Rich caught a photo of it which was awesome. It was more of a stop-and-smell-the-roses moment.” Samantha remembers her favorite memory from her past races when she completed her first sprint distance at the race. 

Jonathan recounted his favorite race memory. “Halfway through the run there was another runner, a young woman from Montreal, I passed her at the 6-mile mark, we were right along that long dirt path by the rec center, and this woman and I were passing and falling behind each other until our paces ended up matching. For five or six miles we ran the race together. It’s super helpful to have somebody pace you, super cool to meet someone from Montreal, helps your morale to finish with somebody." Finding community on the course is what Jonathan recalled. "It's funny because she's a stranger, but you find an unspoken bond like we’re gonna do this together."

Paul passed down the tradition of the Tinman to his daughter, getting to spectate her race. "In 2018 my daughter, (who was 8 when we first visited Tupper Lake) competed in the 2018 Tinman, making me the proudest father in the world." The effect the race had on Paul didn't stop there, however. "In 2019 we purchased property across from Little Wolf where we decided we would like to retire and chase "the perfect sunset". After a 3-year process of navigating trying to get a house built during, (and post) pandemic, in 2024 my wife and I moved into our dream home across the street from Little Wolf on the Tinman course. I am now the caretaker at Little Wolf Campground and have the Tupper Lake Tinman to thank for this."

Race day

The Tinman Triathlon Race takes place on June 28, 2025. Make sure to come and cheer on athletes like RJ and Samantha and get in on the action! Sign up for the race, become a volunteer, or simply join the crowd cheering on racers as they complete the course. Make your reservations for your stay, call in a table at any of the restaurants around town, or if you take Samantha’s advice, celebrate the end of the race with a beer!