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2020: A Year Like No Other....

Thursday, 03 September 2020 23:10

By Mike Buenting (mikebuenting.wordpress.com)

2020 has been a trying year for us all, full of hope, then disappointment. It’s been the year for us endurance athletes of sign up for events, train and cross fingers just to have the event cancelled/postponed. So how does one stay motivated and fit during these times? How does one keep hope and chasing races that might happen with optimism and focus to be fit and ready? Let’s say it’s not easy, but when your passion is swim, bike, and run and when the world is full of sadness and craziness the chance to go into the outdoors and swim, bike or run is that place we can escape the heartache of the world and just breathe. ...

I’m a 46-year-old “Master’s” athlete here in Minnesota where our season is short enough all ready but I had several big travel races on the schedule that started with 70.3 Galveston, TX and 70.3 Des Moines, IA, USAT AGNC in Milwaukee and so on. Then races in the spring got cancelled I transferred entry to Augusta, GA 70.3 and had that one postpones also.  In August there was a saving grace here in Minnesota Graniteman triathlon series was able to safely host two events! And they produced excellent events! Both races Big Lake and Clearwater were sprint distance events. The other thing about me is my 18-year-old daughter (freshman in college now) is a very accomplished triathlete as well so summers are filled with us training together and racing together. With all the cancellations that was taken from me until early August when Bella and myself got one chance all of 2020 to race together. This might simply be the best day of the summer!  Bella looked strong, had a great race and took 2nd female overall! Dad had a solid race also it was just a beautiful and happy day on the course!

Bella now is gone at Daemen College in Amherst, NY as she is on athletic scholarship to compete in NCAA triathlon for Coach Metz and Daemen College. But like many of us the NCAA championship season has been postponed until the spring so no fall competition for Bella and the team, but they do get a few hours to train together this fall and then fingers crossed we get a championship season in the spring!  READ MORE