By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
If you’ve ever dreamed about participating in a triathlon, but don’t want or can’t do the whole thing — Crofton’s Dam Race is the answer. The three-sport event combines kayaking, running and bicycling and kicks off at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area and ends on Main Street in Crofton, where an after-party and “the best dam bloody Mary” awaits competitors and visitors.
The race was started in 2018 by a small group of community members looking to encourage more tourism to their town by the scenic Lewis and Clark Lake. The July event grew from 58 racers in its first year to over 350 racers from 12 states in 2025 — some came as far away as California, Maryland and Florida.
The race is not about competition, said Heidi Marsh, a Crofton volunteer who has been part of the event’s planning committee since the beginning.
“We have elite racers come, and we love them and they’re welcome, but that’s not our target,” Marsh said. “People come because they want a unique racing opportunity and to have a really good time.”
Organizers have made the race as accessible and inclusive as possible, with participants ranging from 14 years old to their 70s. A true grassroots effort, Crofton’s Dam Race is about community spirit, hospitality and getting people outside and moving.
A Race for Everyone
During its inception, committee members wanted to offer a triathlon that would embrace the Lewis and Clark Lake region. The event consists of a 1.5-mile kayak on the lake, then a 5k run through the state recreation area, followed by a 12-mile bike ride into the town of Crofton. The event is unique in that racers have a multitude of options on how they want to participate — organizers are continually thinking of ways to encourage and accommodate racers of different abilities.
“You can do the whole thing yourself — do every leg of the race. Or like a lot of people new to racing, they’ll jump in with a team,” Marsh explained. “You can just do the kayak portion, or you can just do the running portion, or just the bike portion with a team. And often, those teams are made up of family members or coworkers or people you just want to have fun with.”
For example, Marsh’s cousin Kyle is a teacher in Hartington with cerebral palsy. For his 40th birthday, Kyle entered the race with Marsh’s husband, Craig. Kyle was able to race the kayak portion while Craig did the running and biking portions. The 2025 event was the team’s third year of competing together.
Marsh’s daughter, Claire, also raced for the first time when she was 14 years old, training with her dad all summer, and she almost beat him.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Northeast Region Park Superintendent Tyler Wulf’s brother-in-law also did the race after having quadruple bypass surgery. “He set a goal to be able to do the race after surgery, and he did a great job. And he finished,” Marsh said.
Additionally, two more events were added in 2025. Participants have the option to bypass the triathlon. Instead, they can run the half marathon that starts at the state recreation area and ends in Crofton or, they can make the trek by bike — e-bikes are allowed.
The race is also popular among half marathoners looking to run in every state. Marsh remembers a couple of septuagenarians who flew into Nebraska to race several years ago. They wore capes with the map of United States sewn on, with states highlighted where they had run half marathons.
Some participants, such as Crofton husband-and-wife team Jeff and Jolene Steffen have gone so far as handcrafting their own wooden kayak for the occasion. The Steffens have been participating since 2018; their daughter won the female individual triathlon in 2024.
Even younger children are encouraged to join the fun. Crofton Physical Therapy offers a kids race the Friday night prior. Kids ages 8-13 can sign up for a short run, short bike ride and a swim in the Crofton public pool. It’s been a nice add-on for racers who are also bringing their children into town, Marsh said.
“It’s $10 a kid, and they get a goodie bag. The race is untimed, even though my son claims he won last year,” she said.
Unbeatable Hospitality
Organizers do their best to make racers feel safe and welcome, and the sense of hospitality is palpable on race day. Over 150 volunteers make Crofton’s Dam Race possible, and that number includes Crofton’s entire fire department, Yankton County Search and Rescue, an EMT ambulance squad and the support of state and local law enforcement. Because a large portion of the race is on the highway, safety is a top concern.
Also, race announcers, cooks and local families running water stations are integral to the event’s success and charm. The water stations are set at every intersection throughout the race, and volunteers dress up in fun, silly costumes, carry uplifting signs and enthusiastically cheer on every racer to help keep up their morale.
“Time and time again, we hear that people just really appreciate the hospitality of Crofton and that our volunteers are extra special,” Marsh said. “Our community loves this event, and we see the value in it. We love introducing our families to new racers from across the country, and so we welcome them. People just find lots of joy out on the road.”
Race After-Party
On race day, the Knox County town of 800 swells to a lively crowd of 1,300. Racer or not, everyone can partake at Crofton’s Dam Race famed after-party at the finish line. Set on Main Street, racers, family, friends, locals and volunteers gather to celebrate with cold drinks, food, a live band and an awards ceremony. The after-party started after the 2018 race, when organizers realized something was missing.
“My husband was really excited to have that camaraderie of racing. But he felt getting a pat on the back and a tavern sandwich afterward wasn’t enough,” Marsh explained. “And it was at that moment we realized we needed to make this a celebration. If we’re going to invite people to our community, let’s really show them something special.”
Marsh credits locals Doug and Juliet de Shazer, owners of Crofton Haymarket, and Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum for preparing the amazing food that participants get to enjoy at the end of their race — delicious chicken sandwiches, salads, homemade cookies and Crofton’s “best dam
bloody Mary.”
In 2025, Hard Patch Brewery in Hartington also created a special edition beer for the event.
Spirit of the “Jorts” Award
Although competition isn’t the event’s main goal, trophies crafted by Crofton High School’s technical education class are awarded to first place individual triathlon male and female. Winning teams in different age groups also are recognized.
Additionally, “every half marathoner gets a medal, because if you’re going to run 13.1 miles, that’s pretty impressive,” Marsh said, “especially through our river region, which is bluffs and hills. It’s not an easy run.”
The most coveted recognition, however, is the Spirit of the Jorts Award, which was inspired by Crofton local Neal Neuhalfen. Neuhalfen’s son, a cross-country runner, convinced his father to enter in 2018. Although he agreed, Neuhalfen had no interest in buying or wearing new exercise clothing, so he did the entire race wearing cut-off jean shorts — also known as “jorts.”
“I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden a bike in jorts, but it’s really hard,” Marsh said. “Neil is a beloved character of the race. He did it for several years in jorts, and we’ve kind of started to identify him as the spirit of Crofton’s Dam Race. So, several years back, we created the Neal Neuhalfen Spirit of the Jorts Award, and we give that award out every year to somebody who embraces the Neal Neuhalfen spirit of the race.”
The award can be given to someone who might’ve had a challenge during the race but they persevered and finished. Or it could be awarded to a person who stopped to help a fellow racer on the road. Neuhalfen’s original jorts were mounted on a large plaque and each new winner’s name is added to it.
“It’s the most popular award. It’s the last award we give out, and people get into it. They’re excited about it,” Marsh said.
Crofton’s Dam Race 2026 will take place July 25 at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area. To register, visit croftonsdamrace.com. Then read about the schedule, route and get your gear in order before the race
“We’ll bring the fun and the good times otherwise,” Marsh said.
Crofton Dam Race Registration
Thanks to sponsors, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Crofton Community Club and Explorers Credit Unit, organizers have been able to keep registration fees low (fees will increase after July 10):
• Individual triathlon: $70
• Team triathlon: $105
• Youth team triathlon (ages 14-18): $80
• Half marathon only: $70
• Bike race only: $40
Participants may borrow a kayak from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at no cost. However, they must bring their own life jacket, bike and helmet. Register at croftonsdamrace.com.
Fundraising for a Hike-Bike Trail
Registration fees and sponsor donations help raise seed money for the construction of a new walking-biking trail at Lewis and Clark state recreation area. Crofton’s Dam Race committee has pledged $50,000 to the project thus far, said Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area Superintendent Leslie Donner.
The new trail would wind through the Wiegand and Burbach areas and connect the marina, campgrounds, cabins and other park attractions. It would also allow for additional 5k and 3k race options within the SRA. Nebraska Game and Parks recently hired an engineering firm, and permitting, budgeting and a construction timeline are in the works.
“Crofton’s Dam Race brings new visitors into the park and creates a deeper connection to the outdoors,” Donner said. “It’s incredibly exciting to see not only the committee, but also the many dedicated volunteers come together in support of this trail project. This event will be remembered for more than just race day — it will leave a lasting impact on our park and community for years to come.”
