Race Coverage

Feeling More Like Me

Wednesday, 18 July 2018 23:30

By Erin Klegstad

Liberty Race Report - When I compare 2017 to this year (so far anyway) – there’s really no comparison. My head was buried deep last year and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t come up for air. Looking back now, after a long restorative offseason and realizing that triathlon isn’t everything – or the only thing that defines me – it probably would have been smart to let it go for a year and come back fresh. But there’s no way I would have admitted that then. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? ...

That said, I feel more like me this year – and that feels pretty damn good. It’s made training and racing a million times better, too.
Case in point: recently racing Liberty 70.3, one of my favorite local tris.

Conditions weren’t ideal – it poured with thunder+lightning the entire race except for the swim (go figure), and the run was shortened to a 10k. Despite that, though, I smiled – genuinely – nearly the entire time and kinda enjoyed getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, things I can’t say about training and racing last year. 

And the best part? Seeing my sister, brother-in-law and niece in T1. I had no idea they were coming to cheer – and it totally made my day! High-fives from Finley at the finish line, too ♥

official results // 3:53:49, 3rd woman (33:56 – PR / 2:31:19 / 44:17)

Big thank yous + high-fives to my tribe – Nick ♥, coach Andy, team Coeur Sports, Argon 18 Bike, ROKA Sports, HOKA ONE ONE, Sound Probiotics, and pure clean powder. I couldn’t race happy and healthy without you! 

ED. Check out all the postings on Erin's outstanding blog at sweetsweatlife.com. 

ALSO - MTN congratulates the 300+ participnats of last Saturday's GRANITEMAN CLEARWATER races. Despite oppressive conditions, impressive performances were turned in by long course winners JOSH MORK and SHEENA DAUER. Mork's margin of victory was substantial--4:27--and his total 2018 scorecard points to a Most Improved nomination, and probably a spot on Team Minnesota, at season's end. Dauer is now a three-time winner here, with Saturday's victory marking her 11th trip to a multisport Winners Circle since 2014.

The Clearwater Sprint course race was won for the second consecutive year by Alexandria's ripped BRIAN STORHAUG. The women's Sprint winner was MARIANE WALLIN.

Photo - G-Man Clearwater Sprint's women's podium (L-R) - Mariane Wallin, Jane Peterson and Meghan Henry.