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Walker & Hoot Lake Coverage...

Monday, 31 July 2017 06:10

Fun Bringers (L-R) - Tiff, Leanne and Nicole.

WALKER TRIATHLON - Saturday's race, contested under ideal conditions on beautiful Walker Bay, was won by 2016 Rookie of the Year nominee JOEL LAFRANCE, and JACQUELYN BACIGALUPI, whose last name is Italian for "kiss of the wolf." Cool, huh? For LaFrance, the win was the 2nd of his young career. For Bacigalupi, it was her 3rd career W, and her second consecutive victory at Walker.

Joel's closest challenger was, unsurpringly, DAVID LEWIS, who was also 2nd the last time he raced here, which was in 2011. Third place went to THOMAS LOEGERING of West Fargo. He was 7th here in 2016, and more than two minutes faster this time around.

Just as unsurpring was TIFFANY KARI's silver and LEANNE BRONSON's bronze medal efforts. Bronson won the inaugural version of this race back in 2010.

Do you know Tiff and Leanne? They are both HOOTS!

Other outstanding performances were turned in sisters TAYLOR and SIMONE LUNDQUIST. Taylor, 17, took the junior title for the second straight year, and placed 4th overall for women. She also managed to break 1:20, her 1:19:07 the second fastest teen time in the eight-year history of the race. Simone, only 14, finished 6th overall in 1:24:56.

Divisional course records were set by NEIL KING, 67, whose 1:18:43 placed him 11th overall and lowered the 65-69M mark by an elephantine 26:01, JAN HANDLOS, 63, took her own 60-64W mark down from 1:30:14 to 1:28:28, and JOHN ROHDE. Rohde, 72, lowered his own 70-74M mark by a ton. RESULTS ...

The Dreaded "Clench"....

Saturday, 29 July 2017 23:10

By Mike Ward (mikeward.cool)

Garry Bjorlund Half Marathon Race Report - It was fun to go back to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon after running Grandma’s Marathon the past three years (2014, 2015, and 2016). Leading up to the infamous Grandma’s weekend in Duluth, my training was pretty good. I was running faster and stronger than ever, had a huge bank of running volume from the Zumbro ramp-up in March, and had done a pretty nice job of sharpening up and running fast on top of big miles.

I set a 50 mile PR and a 5k PR both in April, but took a few weeks nearly entirely off shortly thereafter with an achilles tendon scare. Luckily, I nipped any injuries at the bud and felt pretty decent with my half marathon training. My workouts, tempo runs (NMTC spring race series), and long runs were consistent and I felt pretty spry on race week. Long ago, my goal was 1:15. I thought I could break 1:15, but barely, while plotting my racing calendar in January. I thought 1:14:59 would be a great goal time, but started to think I had a sub-73 minute run in me. High expectations....

Make Short Course Triathlon Great Again...

Friday, 28 July 2017 23:10

By Erin Beresini (triathlete.com)

The eight-race series just kicked off a huge makeover at last weekend’s Minneapolis Triathlon.

In January, IMG announced its Escape From Alcatraz series, five races that gave top athletes slots to the iconic, always-sold-out (and expensive) Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Now Life Time Tri aims to give IMG a run for its money by taking pages from obstacle course racing and Ironman to create its own short course series, culminating in the inaugural Life Time Tri New York City Championship next July. The goal: to make tri friendly and accessible to new triathletes, while getting vets stoked on going short. Here’s how they plan to do it....

Payne Train Bound For Chisago...

Thursday, 27 July 2017 23:10

CHISAGO SPRINT PREVIEW - PATRICK PARISH set the men's race record--1:15:17--back in 2010. Will that mark stand for another year?

Not if MATTHEW PAYNE (photo) has his way.

Payne is a two-time winner of the Chisago Half, and will be making his sprint debut on Sunday. The four-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year is anxious to return to his winning ways. Misfortune has been getting in the way lately. Leading at Lake Waconia last month, Matt made a wrong turn. That was followed by a bike crash at HOLT.

He needs a great performance to get his mojo back. Besides, a win would be a major milestone: the 50th of his tri/du career.

If Matt is on top of his game on Sunday, he might do more than just re-setting the amateur record. If he is able to go faster than 1:13:50, he will have managed to beat the event's pro mark, which was set in 2014 by DAN HEDGECOCK.

It always helps to get a good push when you're aiming at setting records. Based on the last reg. list we saw, a pair of Andys--WIBERG and ZABEL--will be vying for podium spots, as will CHRIS TATTON. 2016 Junior of the Year MITCHELL CLAYTON, who is fresh off his win at Buzz Ryan, could find a place in the Top 5 when all is said and done next weekend....