'More than just an Ironman town'

By JERRY HITCHCOCK

Staff Writer

If you can’t get excited about pounding out the miles on asphalt surfaces, you’re not alone.

Dave Dutro has got you covered.

Dutro competed in regional mountain bike series in the 1990s, and after a severe crash, he went searching for another way to enjoy the great Northwest.

“After a knee injury I took a hiatus from competing,” Dutro said. “Eventually I started training for endurance events in the mid-2000s and worked my way up through the distances and did a few Ironmans.”

Dutro said he never became a fan of the running portion of the triathlons. “It was just too boring,” he said. “You have to watch for traffic and that is really about the only stimulation.”

Frustrated, Dutro got a chance to do a trail run at Orcas Island, part of the San Juan Islands, northwest of Seattle. “While doing that run, I noticed everyone was enjoying the experience and enjoying each other.”

After the race, Dutro said the majority of participants stuck around and talked to each other. On the way home, Dutro was talking with local Ironman coach Chris Baker and they determined events like the Orcas run would work well in the North Idaho area.

“Chris didn’t want to start up a racing series at the time, so in 2012, I started a meet-up group and we’d do runs once a week.”

The runs utilized Tubbs Hill, Canfield and other local trail networks. Toward the end of the year, Dutro formed Trail Maniacs and the organization held its first race in early 2013 at Liberty Lake Regional Park.

Dutro said he had enough of a turnout in that first event to cover everything. “We always like to target a high school and get some kids to come out and volunteer with us and in return we donate to their cross-country programs.”

That first race had around 80 participants, and Dutro said now most events sell out. “We cap it at 205 entrants, and even that is a lot to juggle.”

Dutro encourages participants to stay the weekend during the SPS events, prolonging the camaraderie.

“I got a hold of the Orcas run founder and asked what would be a good way to build interest,” Dutro said. “He said to hold a Fat Ass — and I had no idea what a Fat Ass was.”

Dutro learned that Fat Ass was a term used for a free social run, and he began holding them regularly.

“You all run a trail, have a beer afterward and you get to know one another,” he said. “You start to build a community so we started off with that. We started with these free social runs and I’d barbecue and we’d all pitch in to make it as social as possible.”

Dutro holds Fat Ass events when he can fit one into his schedule. They are free to participants and are another chance for the community to socialize afterward.

“(Trail Maniacs has) gotten big enough now, that I have ambassadors in the Spokane area and they hold social runs there, usually weekly.

Over here, I try to handle all the Coeur d’Alene events, along with (Fleet Feet owner) Garth Merrill.” Fleet Feet has been a sponsor from the beginning, Dutro said.

Trail Maniacs holds a paid series called the State Park Series, with events at Farragut, Heyburn and Mt. Spokane State Parks. Distances are 10K, 25K and 50K.

“Originally we had a 5-mile option and half marathon option, but when it comes to trail running they stray away from half- and marathon distances. 25K is a little more bang-for-your-buck. 50K is for ultramarathoners. The 10K is short enough — attainable for beginners, and we have over 110 people registered and half of those are brand new to trail running, which is awesome for me because that means I’m getting fresh people in and that is what I’m shooting for — word of mouth through social media (Facebook, etc.).

“We are so blessed to have such a diversity of trails in this area,” Dutro said. “And we’re proving that this is more than just an Ironman town.”