Race Coverage
Competing on a National Stage...
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Friday, 26 June 2015 00:10
By Erin Sontowski (usatriathlon.org)
First and foremost, I would like to start this blog with a huge thank you to USAT for putting on an absolutely amazing race at the Du Nationals this year. I was incredible impressed with the organization and enthusiasm that surrounded every aspect of the race. From the smooth packet pick-up, to the flawless bike check in that morning, all the way up to the cowbell start at 8 a.m., I could not have asked for a better race setup. So kudos to you guys and all the amazing volunteers that helped put it together.
Secondly, I want to congratulate all the participants that day. As a relatively new age-grouper, this race was an amazing display of the talent that our community possesses. From the pros that were incredible to watch, to the last few stragglers like myself who clawed and pushed themselves to cross that finish line, it was a great day to be a multisport athlete. I even noticed early in the morning how fantastic this group...
A Deja Vu Experience...
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Thursday, 25 June 2015 00:10
By Mike Ward (mikeward.cool/blog)
Capitol City Sprint Race Report - Lead up to the Capitol City Sprint was pretty basic. I had a strong run week with a lot of intensity, which was good, but I am feeling it now. Especially with Grandma’s Marathon in five days, the plan is to take it really easy in order to feel as fresh as possible on race day. Either way, despite not a lot of volume, it was good to get some relatively hard running in this last week as a little mental boost for Grandma’s.
I put a little less weight on performing at Capitol City just because it was a sprint race and Buffalo was more of a “where am I at” triathlon tester. I already knew kind of where I was at going into Capitol City, and frankly, Grandmas is more on my mind at this point. So the setup and prep was a little less hectic… I wasn’t as stressed out with having all my gear and just generally less stressed.
On race day, I realized that this was a deep field. According to Minnesota Tri News, I knew it was going to be deep, but it hit me on Sunday morning when I saw a few fast runners setting up in transition. Nothing is scarier than a strong runner. I felt really strong and good to go on race morning. I set up transition and...
Successful Double-Dipping...
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Tuesday, 23 June 2015 00:10
Photo - Megan Erlandson and a guy. Megan was one of several Minnesotans who successfully double-dipped last weekend.
LAKE MINNETONKA DUATHLON – Did you notice how many athletes double-dipped last weekend? We did.
The most successful of those folks had to be Suzie Fox, who used brisk transitions and a superior bike split to keep eventual runner-up Christina Roberts in her rearview mirror during Saturday’s Lake Minnetonka Duathlon.
Yes, duathlon. Early lightning, the threat of recurrence and concern for the safety on the event’s in-water personal motivated the alteration of the event.
Fox, who was coming off a win at Copper Creek in Iowa the previous weekend, covered the one mile run (probably a tad longer than one mile) – 15 mile ride on wet roadways and three mile in 1:05:33, 1:05 ahead of Roberts, who discovered in her du debut at Apple, that she’s pretty dang good at this run-bike-run stuff....
Teen Star Shines Bright at RochesterFest...
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Monday, 22 June 2015 00:10
ROCHESTERFEST TRIATHLONS - Alyson Welch (photo) is only 16 and already is a two-time winner of the RochesterFest Sprint Triathlon. Last year's victory resulted in a junior course record time of 1:03:12. This year she lowered her JrCR to 59:02, becoming only the 5th female to crack the 1-hour mark at this seven-year-old event. Her margin of victory over runner-up Courtney Bledsoe, 37, of Eau Claire, was a hefty 2:27.
Rounding out the women's podium was another local junior, Martha Burket (1:04:00), who is only 15. Thirteen-year-old Arianna Werts (1:04:02), also of Rochester, finished 4th. Three juniors in the Top 5 is unprecedented in this race and perhaps for all Minnesota triathlons. Good stuff, huh?
Two transplanted New Zealanders, David Phillips and Brad Mitchell, respectively, finished 1-2 in the men's sprint. For Phillips, it was his 6th career multisport win. His time (52:37) was the 4th quickest in race history. For the gregarious 41-year-old Mitchell, his 53:50 torched the men's masters record.
The final podium spot for the men was earned by Lakeville's Eric Tessmer, 42. His time was 54:48....
Sunday Race Results...
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Sunday, 21 June 2015 06:00
Photo - Suzie Fox has won three races in an eight day span.
8th annual ROCHESTERFEST OLYMPIC - Highlights include DKT's victory, the 96th of his career, Kevin O'Connor's amateur win and lowering of his own masters record, and Gaby Bunten's triumph over the women's field in the 3rd fastest women's time ever at this race. More words and photos on Monday. RESULTS
7th annual ROCHESTERFEST SPRINT - Junior girls and Kiwi men dominate the overall podium. Words and pics on Monday. RESULTS
24th MANITOU SPRINT TRIATHLON - Suzie Fox wins her second race of the weekend. Chris Tatton outruns talented teen Nick Klonne to claim his first career multisport victory. Capitol City champ Nicole "Heiney "Heininger places 2nd the day after she also placed 2nd at the arduous Toughman High Cliff Half Ironman (4:55:46 ). Good stuff! RESULTS
Anthropomorphic Race Report...
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Friday, 19 June 2015 00:10
By Michael McConkey's Wetsuit, Bike and Running Shoes
LIBERTY HALF RACE REPORT - Michael has been slacking so we decided we would write the Final Stretch 70.3 Liberty Half Ironman race report for him. I am Michael’s 2XU R3 wetsuit, next up will be his Cervelo P2 Tri bike, and finally his Newton Distance 5 running shoes.
Let me get this started, like any wetsuit, I dream of gliding through water, feeling it flow across me as I propel forward stroke after stroke, passing other wetsuits on the way to a glorious swim leg.
Unfortunately, you don’t choose your owner. I got Michael, don’t get me wrong, he tries hard but the guy just can’t swim. Race after race we start out slow and sort of just get slower and by the time we get out of the water and into transition all the other wetsuits are already relaxing and soaking in the sun. Never the less any time I get to race is better than sitting on the shelf so I was excited to be put on and taken for a quick warm up swim. Got to see several other LAM’s wetsuits. Of course Radniecki’s new wetsuit was all “we’re gonna crush this course”, but hey he can bring it so I wished him good luck and wondered if I was the same size? (so what, it’s a wetsuit dream, have you seen him handle a...
