Hoot Lake Triathlon: 30th Anniversary

Pelican River Pheasants Forever -- Hustle For Habitat

Join us for the 3rd Annual Hustle For Habitat event that includes the Rooster Run 5K and 1 Mile Strut on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Location: Dunvilla Trap Range, 21863 Highway 34 (MN-34), Pelican Rapids, 56572

Directions: From Lakeland General Store (22438 Old 59 Rd, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572), turn west on Highway 34. Turn right into the trap range.

The Pelican River chapter of Pheasants Forever had a blast hosting the Hustle For Habitat event in 2024 and 2025, and we are excited to host it again in 2026! The event includes two races: Rooster Run 5K and 1 Mile Strut. Pheasants Forever is known as the "The Habitat Organization" and each chapter decides how all funds raised will be used to support local habitat. The Pelican River chapter will donate the proceeds from this event to local habitat conservation projects, including the Conservation Education program which was developed to grow an informed public that appreciates and supports wildlife habitat conservation and the benefits it provides to clean water, clean air, soil protection and a healthy environment to live in.

If you ran with us in 2025 ... please note these important changes for 2026: The route now pops up to the gravel road right after the water stop, the route will have more directional signage (especially coming out of the field), and we have already reserved more porta potties! We will also have more copies of the map and schedule at registration to make sure every runner knows when and where things are happening. Note that due to the farm habitat, this is more of a "trail run" than a "road run".

If you ran with us in 2024 and 2025 ... thank you for supporting the Hustle For Habitat! The 2026 event is coming back even better than before! We hope you join us again!

For more information, visit the Pelican River Chapter Pheasants Forever Facebook event.

Join us for the Looney Days 5K—a scenic lakes area run starting and finishing at the beautiful Vergas City Beach!

This fun and unique course takes you along a paved trail before leading you across the iconic floating bridge. From there, you'll head onto Tin Can Alley, a grassy path with natural terrain—watch your footing and enjoy the adventure!

You’ll then circle back over the floating boardwalk and continue along the picturesque shoreline of Long Lake. The final stretch is paved, with friendly volunteers stationed along the route to guide you and cheer you on as you make your way to a strong beachside finish.

Whether you're racing for a PR or just soaking in the views, this is a 5K you won't want to miss! 🏃‍♀️🌊

Swan Lake Resort & Campground is honored to host a gnarly race through the beautiful waters, formidable hills, and rugged trails of Minnesota lakes country. Our intent is to organize a safe and rewarding race experience for everyone.

Triathlon Race Segments

Individual and Relay teams will complete:

• Swim: 1,000 yard

• Athletes will depart from a beautiful sandy beach into serene Swan Lake for a 1,000 yard swim around clearly marked buoys. The course features a maximum depth of 8 ft and typical August water temperatures hover around 70°F. For participant safety, the swim segment will be closely patrolled by the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department and Dalton Fire & Rescue.

• Bike: 18 mile

• The bike route offers a true dichotomy of terrain, with 60% hilly gravel roads and 40% buttery-flat pavement on the Central Lakes Trail, totaling over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Athletes will ride approximately 1/2 mile each way on County Road 29 to access and return from the main gravel roads and Central Lakes Trail loops. Safety is a priority on the county road, with clear signage at all turns, volunteers stationed at crossings, and potentially Sheriff presence to help manage traffic. An aid station at the halfway point in Dalton provides a welcome break after the demanding gravel section and is also a great spot for fans to cheer on athletes.

• Trail Run: 4 mile

• The run course is an out-and-back route that begins on the hiking trails at the resort & campground before emerging onto a gravel road that leads to additional trails and some serious elevation at Ugly Duckling Lodge, where athletes will enjoy scenic views of Swan Lake along the property’s extensive trail system. The course features a healthy mix of gravel road, prairie trail, and dense wooded paths. A small aid station will be located at the turnaround point at Ugly Duckling Lodge.

All Grit, No Chip

This triathlon will be timed manually and casually. We plan to acknowlede Men's & Women's podium finishers, but don't expect to receive detailed time reports. If you are concerned with knowing your splits, plan to time them on your own with a device or friend. Speaking of time, the course is designed to be tough, so don’t expect to move at “pavement pace”.

Schedule of Events

• 7-9am: athlete check-in

• 8am: yoga on the beach

• 9am: Kids Bike-N-Run race

• 9:30am: athlete meeting

• 9:45am: race start

• 12-3pm: live music, sauna, food & drink

Safety & Medical Services

Out of an abundance for caution, we've asked the OTC Sherrif's Water Patrol team to support athletes during the swim segment. On land, we've contracted with Ringdahl Emergency Medical Services for an ambulance and trained technician. In addition, we'll have several trained volunteers from Dalton Fire & Rescue to support on both land and water.

Relay Captains

The captains of triathlon teams should register 1st, pick a team name, pay the full registration fee, and invite any remaining teammates.

USA Triathlon

Note that registration requires a USA Triathlon membership ID, which helps us organize a safe event and cover the cost of event insurance. A single-race membership is free for kids, $9 for relay athletes, and $14 for individuals. It’s all integrated into the registration flow to minimize hassle.

Kids Duathlon Bike-n-Run Race

The kids race will be a short gravel bike loop followed by a mini run on the resort & campground roads. The entire course is on property for kids to remain visible at all times. It'll be a casual, fun race for ages 2 through 12 and parents are welcome to assist the little ones.

We look forward to hosting an awesome event on our little slice of heaven. Whether you’re racing or watching, we hope you leave feeling inspired and appreciative of what the human body is capable of.

Onward,

Swan Lake Resort & Campground

www.swanlake.camp | 218-736-4626 | [email protected]