Home
"...The Point Where Things Got All Jacked Up."...
-
Saturday, 18 November 2017 23:10
JA Race Report: Ironman Florida
Let's take a step back. In 2010, I weighed 230 pounds at my heaviest.
I was unhealthy, unhappy, and kind of lost. I realized I needed to make a change. That's when I met Emma. She caught my attention from the second I set eyes on her. Infectious personality, happy, fit, and beautiful. We started hanging out and I learned quickly that I wanted to get into better shape not only for myself, but also to get her attention. That was the start of my new lifestyle. I started running with her and felt a sense of peace within myself. I was happy in my own skin. The weight melted off, my attitude 180'd, and I was getting fit. As years passed, Emma got me into triathlons and 2012 marked my first ever triathlon. From that moment on, I was hooked. I want to give a special thanks to my wife, Emma, for saving my life and introducing me to my passion. I love you babe.
Enough of the sappy stuff. Fast forward to this year. At the beginning of the season, Emma and I talked about what it would take for me to take triathlon more seriously and actually race. For the past 5 years, I had been participating in triathlons. This was the first year I would be seriously racing all distances and utilizing a coach to drive our training with data and measuring tangible improvements that would ultimately culminate with an Ironman race in the fall....
Career Change....
-
Friday, 17 November 2017 23:10
By USA Triathlon
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — U.S. Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen today announced her plans to officially transition from professional triathlon and pursue a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the marathon. Jorgensen, who last year in Rio de Janeiro earned the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport of triathlon, makes the announcement after not competing in the 2017 season to give birth to her first child in August.
“Gwen will be forever remembered crossing the finish line in Rio to claim the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics, a true watershed moment in the history of USA Triathlon,” said Barry Siff, President of the USA Triathlon Board of Directors. “But she has also personified the ultimate role model for all athletes by continually giving back to the sport through efforts like the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship. On behalf of every triathlete in the U.S., I wish Gwen – as well as her husband Patrick, and their new son Stanley – great joy, success and happiness in every possible way.”
“USA Triathlon brought me into this sport, and now I’m incredibly privileged to step away at the top, with an Olympic gold medal. Though my near-future training will be focused on winning gold in the marathon in Tokyo, I will always be a part of the USA Triathlon family and look forward to embracing every opportunity to help grow the sport of triathlon. In fact, I hope this new adventure in running will play a big part in doing exactly that,” Jorgensen said.
Almost Perfect!
-
Thursday, 16 November 2017 23:10
By Anne Wagner (ywcampls.org/our_voices)
Pretty Close to Perfection
I don't believe in perfection. But I have to say the experience of the YWCA Minneapolis Women's Triathlon came pretty close to perfect. And for me it was a culmination of a year and a half of living life differently, as well as a catapult into a lifetime of prioritizing health, empowering others and building community.
Could I Complete a Triathlon?
Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would train for and complete a triathlon. I never considered myself an athlete and had not been able to find a positive, fun way of incorporating regular exercise into my life. For much of my life I've struggled with self-esteem and weight maintenance, and after having my first child I struggled with postpartum depression....
Why Diane?
-
Wednesday, 15 November 2017 23:10
2017 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS – The next category needing explanation is female MASTER OF THE YEAR, which was won by DIANE HANKEE (40, Lino Lakes). Her challengers were Christel Kippenhan (52, Bemidji), Andrea Myers (41, Plymouth) and Julia Weisbecker (51, Mendota Heights).
Let's compare the resumes:
-
CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN – This was Christel's third MOY nomination. Her highlights included an overall women's win in Masters record time at Superior Man 41.5 and a overall 3rd at Brewhouse Sprint. Her loss to fellow nominee Julia at Liberty Olympic didn't help her chances here.
-
ANDREA MYERS – Another excellent year; another MOY nomination. Finishing 12th in the Team Minnesota voting made her the clear runner-up for the award this year. Her resume featured two outright wins (Liberty Olympic and Hopkins Royal), plus overall women's podiums at Timberman and Green Lake Olympic, and a Top 5 at Heart of the Lakes. She excelled in dus, as well as tris.
-
JULIA WEISBECKER – Like Myers, Julia also was an MOY nominee in 2016. Based on racing volume, the former Dartmouth tennis star appeared to be out of the running for a nomination. She announced after her Masters record effort at Superior Man Half that her tri season was over, but changed her mind and entered the Square Lake Triathlon two week later, where she finished 2nd overall. Check out her final resume: 2nd overall woman @ Liberty Olympic, 2nd overall woman @ Square Lake, 5th woman @ Superior Man - MR, 7th woman - 1st Master - @ Minneapolis. Very nomination-worthy stuff....
"What an Experience!"
-
Tuesday, 14 November 2017 23:10
JA Race Report: Ironman 70.3 World Championship
By Joe Adriaens (triad. triadriaens.com)
I qualified for this race back in June at Madison 70.3. With that being said, I was super pumped for this race! I get the opportunity to race against the best 70.3 athletes in the world, what an honor! Based on this race being on US soil, Emma and I decided that I had to do it. It caused quite a bit of race shifting (ultimately moving my full ironman scheduled in the fall from Louisville to Florida), but more on that later.
Lead Up
Emma and I decided to get into Chattanooga a few days early as we were road tripping there. We left on Wednesday morning to break up the drive over two days and arrived in Chattanooga on Thursday afternoon.
Emma and I both brought I trainers with in order to get the last key bike session in at the hotel on Wednesday night. No rest for the wicked!
For destination races in the future, I don't think we will be driving. I had a pretty stiff back and legs all week leading to race day. At any rate, I got checked in and we settled back in the hotel....
