FEATURES
May 2016 - Athletes of the Month
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Wednesday, 01 June 2016 00:10
Can you believe that the first month of the 2016 outdoor multisport season has come and gone? Time flies when you're having fun, right?
So, who were MTN's ATHLETES OF THE MONTH for May? Based on a minimum of TWO outstanding performances, efforts that compare favorably with overall or divisional standards, set during this period, they are:
OVERALL AOMs - DANI VSETECKA, 32, Rochester, and MATTHEW PAYNE, 39, Golden Valley (photo L)
Thus far in 2016, Dani had set an amateur course record at Falls Du, and placed 2nd at Texas 70.3 (4:34:56) and in her debut at Apple against what might turn out to be the deepest women's field of the year in our state. Matt won both of the races (Gear West and Apple) he's done thus far in '16.
(Honorable Mentions - Suzie Fox, 32, Chaska, Diane Hankee, 39, Lino Lakes, and Wade Cruser, 29, Sauk Rapids, Kevin O'Connor, 44, Medina)
"We All Know That Place, Right?"
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Thursday, 26 May 2016 00:10
By Erin Klegstad (sweetsweatlife.com)
Last week, Timehop reminded me what was happening in my life at this time last year: a lot of running. One-hundred and fifty-six miles of running in fact.
Gee, thanks. Just what I wanted to see when my running mileage is currently zero.
Immediately after reading that post, my mind did that automatic thing that everyone’s mind does: it went to that dark and unhealthy place of comparison.
We all know that place, right? The one that tells us we aren’t doing enough as so-and-so, training hard enough, biking enough, running enough, eyebrows perfect enough. The one that tells us we aren’t good enough. It’s not a fun place to be, inside your head like that, second guessing every little decision. Maybe I if I only did this. Or, maybe if I only did that. Maybe if I had better eyebrow genes! Damn you, mom and dad! (I’m kidding, mom and dad!)
When you stay in your head like that, comparing your journey to someone else’s journey – or even sometimes to your own journey from another point in time – you know what? Your journey suddenly loses its luster and sucks. Because her journey looks so much better! She always makes it look effortless and perfect… pushes so many watts… runs so many miles a week… look at her Strava data! ...
No Pain, No Gain...Seriously?
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Saturday, 21 May 2016 00:10
By Jonathan Angelilli (greatist.com)
The world can be a crazy place, we all know that. And giving in to the fear that is endlessly manufactured by the media is a constant temptation on the path to fitness greatness. It’s also true that sometimes sh!t gets real, and we need to be prepared to adapt instantly. Why? Because…
Life Is a Battle!
But (and it's a big fat booty butt) just because life is a battle doesn’t mean you have to destroy yourself every time you go to the gym. Any serious athlete knows that rest, recovery, and periodization (smartly modifying intensity based on goals, performance, and ability) are absolutely crucial to optimal performance (aka kicking ass). ...
"No Miracle Bounce-Backs"...
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Friday, 20 May 2016 00:10
By Ben Ewers (benewers.blogspot.com)
I cancelled Kona. There, I finally acknowledged that this time my recovery from injury is going to follow a normal slow process. No miracle bounce backs. No finishing the Arizona Ironman 2 weeks following cracking some ribs and lacerating a hand in a fall in the desert. No finishing Kona second in my age group 9 months following Achilles tendon repair. No, this time its different. Finally, 12 weeks following "the accident", 4 weeks following rotator cuff shoulder reconstruction and only 5 months to Kona, I had to admit to the practical. My healing prowess was average at best and not sufficient to make Kona an option. I had held out hopes, holding on to the thought of at least participating in Kona, until it was no longer possible to ignore the obvious....
Only One Hand...
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Thursday, 19 May 2016 00:10
ED. Two-time Minnesota Master of the Year nominee, Christel Kippenhan, a former baby (see photo on page 2), has a new blog. In her inaugural post she reflects on something we all deal with with varying degrees of success: DNFs (including DNSs, 'cuz you can't finish what you don't start).
By Christel Kippenhan (seecktri.wordpress.com)
I have been competing in gymnastics, swimming, track and field, road running, and triathlons ever since my parents registered me in a sports club back in Germany when I was not even 4 years old. And as far as I can think back, I can use the fingers of only one hand to count the times that I missed or did not finish a competition I was registered for. Let’s see …
* Nov 27, 2010 – Turkey Trot 5K, Bemidji, MN – turning cone was missing so I stopped to direct runners > still finished, just after everybody was on the way back, even the walkers > does that even count? ...
