2 down, 23 to go for Dwight

Tim Dwight grew up working out in sweltering Iowa summers.

But until Sunday, the former Iowa City High and University of Iowa standout hadn't trained - or competed - under such conditions lately.

“The weather was a heck of a lot warmer than it was in Coeur d'Alene (Idaho),” said Dwight, who late last month took part in a grueling Ironman Triathlon out west.

Dwight participated in two of his potentially record 25 Iowa Games events Saturday and Sunday in Ames.

He ran in the 5K during Saturday's “Midnight Madness” event, then coupled pushing through the Iowa Games triathlon Sunday morning with coaching at the Rosenfels-Orton football camp at Southeast Polk High School the rest of the day.

He finished the 5K in 23 minutes, 2 seconds then placed 17th in the 35-39 triathlon age group in 1 hour, 22 minutes and 30.3 seconds.

Dwight, en route to California late Sunday, said the once familiar humidity affected him as he swam a quarter-mile, biked 13 miles and ran five kilometers.

“It reminds you of those August days in helmets,” he said.

As in two-a-days?

“Yeah,” said Dwight, who played in the NFL for 10 seasons. “Those were no fun.”

Dwight's Iowa Games odyssey continues Friday when he takes part in a preliminary cycling event and runs the last leg of the torch run to touch off opening ceremonies.

Saturday his diverse docket includes basketball shooting, horseshoes and archery.

“It starts out with some stuff that's not going to be super tiring,” said Dwight, who turns 36 Wednesday. “But it's definitely going to take some skill. I haven't shot three-pointers in a while, so I'm going to hit the gym.”

By Rob Gray, correspondent