Race Coverage

"The Volunteers Are the Best"....

Saturday, 22 August 2020 23:10

By Mario Minelli

YOUNG LIFE TRIATHLONN RACE REPORT - Carin and I spent a few days in Detroit Lakes this past weekend, 8/14-8/16.

Always love going to this area. I did the Younglife Triathlon for the third time. I've done the Olympic distance twice before. This year they had just one distance, a Sprint, which was a 500m swim (my Garmin measured about 900 yds), 20k bike, 5k run.

The organizers never fail to put on a great race! The water is so clear in Big/Little Detroit Lake, the bike route circles the lakes, and the run is a nice little out-n-back. The volunteers are the best at the YL Tri too. They are fully engaged in making sure you are on course and I don't think anyone gets by them without being cheered on....

This was maybe the third or fourth tri that was able to go on this year in MN, and my first and likely only for 2020. COVID has really put the brakes on everything for everbody one way or another. I feel very fortunate to have been able to participate and had no issues or mechanicals. They took every precaution due to COVID in order to host the event. I think as a result, some good can come of this. I didn't mind the time trial start which kept us from gathering in a tight group rushing into the water; facemasks were required in the transition area before and after the race; they didn't want us hanging out in the transition area after we finish (which we shouldn't anyway--keeps it clear for participants coming and going); they didn't provide water stops (it was a sprint distance so you should be able to support yourself or carry what you need); and no post-race food.

Do we really need to be provided with food afterwards? We did, however, get a couple of bars/fruit snacks and a bottle of water in our race bag. Overall, everything went pretty well.

Results:
https://www.mtecresults.com/…/2020_Young_Life_Triathlon-Sum…
Video from the results people:
https://www.mtecresults.com/runner/show…

Editor: Mario finished 4th overall. Yes, he is a much better triathlete than he is a fisherman.