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Fun Battles & Heartwarming Stuff...

Tuesday, 01 September 2026 00:10

2026 Lakes Country Triathlon Coverage – Raindrops teased race participants in the pre-race moments, but didn't stick around. What followed were cloudy and mild conditions that were ideal for racing.

The favorites going in were two-time Triathlete of the Year Spencer Syvertson, and 2025 LCT women's winner Mata Agre (photo on FB), and they did what they were expected to do, winning handily. For Spence, who will undoubtedly earn yet another TOY nomination, the goal was to break the one hour mark, which was easier said than done considering that road construction demanded that this year's bike course be lengthened by three kilometers. 

He would have accomplished that goal with 15-20 seconds to spare, but instead of sprinting across the line, he scooped up his toddler son Vinnie, gave him a kiss then they walked across together. He still cracked the 60-minute mark, albeit by just nine seconds. 

It was heartwarming stuff!

For Mata to outrace her 2025 winning performance (1:13 and change) here she'd need a 1:18. She threw down a 1:17:56.

Spencer and Mata were not the only ones to live up to their favored status. Rising star Jeron Hall, 20, who won his first race three weeks ago at Big Lake Sprint, was the best bet to take 2^nd to Syvertson. He did that with plenty of time to recover before the eventual bronze medalist arrived.

Or should we say bronze medalists. Nick Jasmer and David Lewis have been battling each other all season long, with Nick outracing David twice, and David outracing Nick once. Did Nick, who started one wave ahead of David survive the three minute wait in order to go 3- 1?

When David finished it was clear to everyone paying attention that it was too close to call, and so we waited for the results printout. Though Nick was listed in 3^rd and David 4^th, their times were identical: 1:05:51.

And theirs wasn't the only head-to-head battle that deserves verbiage. The race for 2^nd in the women's race was between talented Grand Masters Mary Deeg, who came into the race with six AG titles this season, and former Minnesota Grand Master of the Year and last season's runner-up here, Lisa Hines. Hines outsplit Deeg in the water and afoot, but Deeg rocked a superior bike split, one that resulted in her placing 2^nd overall women just ten seconds ahead of Hines.

MTN and LCT race organizers want to thank Maple Grove for not staging their race on the same weekend this year. It certainly affected attendance positively. While the number of registrants (221) was not a record, it represented a satisfying post-pandemic rebound.

RESULTS - https://www.mtecresults.com/race/leaderboard/21387/2026_Lakes_Country_Triathlon-Individual_Results

"This Run Course is so Darn Fun"...

Sunday, 30 August 2026 00:10

By Paige Schulz

Maple Grove Triathlon Race Report: I had bad luck the last two years at MG. In 2024 I got a flat that didn't seal, so had a DNF. In 2025 I somehow managed to miss the first buoy of the swim and turned myself in for a DQ. I didn't realize I cut the course until after the race when I looked at my GPS data. That was the biggest heartbreak I have ever felt in tri. This year was going to be my redemption year and get to the finish line with a smile. 

There were 8 ladies who signed up in the elite field for 2026. Yes, girls! Before we started, the race director led us through the swim course and pointed out exactly which buoys we were targeting. So that talk was for me specifically LOL. Once I saw Heather at the starting line, I knew that second place overall was the most likely scenario. In an olympic distance race, you cannot hide a weak swimmer. I came out 2+ minutes behind the rest of the elite ladies and a full 7 minutes behind Heather.

Split: 26:08

1:39/100yds (watch pace)

This bike course always feels like such a grind to me. I was trying to push huge power, but I am in the middle of training for Ironman, so there was a bit of a disconnect in the legs. The roads were smooth, and the traffic control was nice. I rode with one bottle on my bike, which had 90 grams of carbs in it. I drank about 2/3s of the bottle and had one gel at the beginning of the ride. I am very curious why others had so many bottles/cages on their bikes for an Olympic. How do you get that much fluid down? Coming out of the swim late meant I passed a bunch of girls. I got off the bike in second place behind Heather. 

Split: 59:30 - 23.3 mph

There is nothing better in a triathlon than the run. And this run course is so darn fun. It is very easy to break into chunks: transition & finish line, huge hill & park, first neighborhood, straight away, and second rolling hills neighborhood. The first lap was mostly solo, but the second lap was where the magic happened because the sprinter and first-lap olympic athletes were filling the course. There was music and cheering everywhere. My husband and kids were on course. I get second place a lot in races, and my oldest son made it very clear when he saw me on the first lap that I was not winning. :) I will happily take a second place to the legendary Heather Lendway.

Split: 37:47 - 6:04 min/mile official (the course is short; 6:15s watch pace)

Final Time: 2:07:43

The highlight of the day was talking with all the girls after the race. Triathlon is such a huge lifestyle common ground that it feels like you can instantly be best friends with everyone. Next up: Ironman 70.3 WI and then Kona!

Lindsay's Journey...

Friday, 28 August 2026 00:10

Lindsay Nauen to Participate in Worlds

After 20 years of triathlons and several times competing at Nationals, Lindsay Nauen of St. Paul,MN, will be part of Team USA in the World Triathlon Championship Finals being held in Pontevedra, Spain in September. She will compete in the 75–79 age group of the Sprint Tri. This will include a 750-meter river swim, a 20 km bike leg, and a 5 km run.

In 2006, Lindsay was struggling with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and facing severe health risks. She decided to make serious life-changing commitments and has followed through, losing almost half her body weight and keeping it off. This became the basis for her book, “No Quick Fixes: A Fitness Journey for the Real World.” Today, she is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

Lindsay began her triathlon journey at an Alexandria, MN, event in May 2007. Since then, she has competed in over 100 triathlons, plus duathlons, 5 and 10 k runs, half marathons, and other road races. She just returned from competing in the Age Group Nationals in Milwaukee of August 9 . 

“My goal in Spain is personal,” Lindsay said. “But the message I bring back is universal. Your goal doesn’t have to look anything like mine. It just has to be yours.”

Follow her journey on LinkedIn.com/in/lindsaynauen and Instagram @Lindsaynauencoach.

Emptying the Tank...

Wednesday, 26 August 2026 00:10

By Nick Jasmer

Northwoods Sprint Triathlon Race Report - What an absolutely picture-perfect day to race! The swim started hot and fast, but I was able to find some feet early, settle into a good rhythm, and put together a swim I was really happy with.

Once I hopped on the bike, it was time to get to work. I knew there were guys ahead of me I needed to catch and some strong athletes behind me that I needed to create a gap on. So I put the hammer down. With fresh pavement on the course, it was FAST, and I ended up putting down probably one of my best power outputs ever in a sprint triathlon.

Coming out of T2, I knew Spencer (set another course record!) was up the road and out of sight, but as I turned onto the Heartland Trail, I could see Brett (Winkelman) ahead. I settled into my pace and slowly started closing the gap. 

At the same time, I knew David (Lewis) and Andrew (Moen) were behind me and could RUN. At one point I looked back and could see David closing. Once I hit the turnaround, I knew there was absolutely no letting up.

From there it was all gas. Empty the tank and get to that finish line.

Those final minutes honestly felt like an out-of-body experience with how deep I was digging, but I was able to hold on and cross the line 2nd overall out of 170 athletes! 

Splits: 

Swim - 7:02

Bike - 33:52

Run - 19:14

Finish - 1:02:17

Place -  2nd Overall

Such a phenomenal day racing against some amazing triathletes. One of the things I’m most thankful for in this sport is the friendships it has given me. It was also awesome sharing the course with teammates from Branden Scheel Racing. Everybody crushed it!  Huge thank you to the race directors and volunteers who make this event possible. Thanks to my coach, for pushing me and believing in me.

And the biggest shoutout to my wife Abby and my little guy Noah for being there from start to finish cheering me on. Racing has a whole new meaning for me now. Every time I cross that finish line and get to see my little boy there looking up to me, I’m reminded that this is about so much more than a finishing time or a podium. 

What a day! 

Preston, Heather, Kyler & Bette...

Sunday, 23 August 2026 00:10

2026 MAPLE GROVE OLYMPIC CAPSULE COVERAGE - In 21 starts on Minnesota soil since his return to the state in 2022, Preston Youngdahl has only been beaten twice, and yesterday's  race at  Weaver Lake Park was not one of them. It was his fourth MGO title and his margin of victory over fellow elite / runner-up Joe Adriaens was 2:17.

Placing 3rd overall was the ever-amazing Heather Lendway, who was coming off her 4th (!) National Championship victory in Milwaukee the previous weekend. Her time was insane: 2:03:03, bettered only on this course by her 2:01:30 record set back in '22. 

Finishing 2nd for the women was last year's Minnesota Women's Triathlete of the Year Paige Schulz. Her time was a fine 2:07:43.

The final podium steps for each gender were earned by two-time Green Lake Olympic winner Jacob Niemann (2:03:20) and 2025 Most Improved nominee Amy Preusser  whose time (2:14:07) kept her slightly ahead of Trinona Olympic winner Jessica Taylor (2:14:22) and arguable the #1 female Grand Master in the country, Juliia Weisbecker, 60 (2:14:47).

We'll also mention 6th placer Elena Jasper, who is 18-weeks pregnant. Though formal records aren't kept, Elena's 2:15:26 has to be the fastest "Pregnant Lady" time in the 17-years of the Maple Grove Olympic Triathlon.

MAPLE GROVE SPRINT CAPSULE COVERAGE - Brian Sames' course record 56:59 has stood since 2014. It was taken down yesterday by emerging national talent Kyler Williams, 17, of Zimmermann. His time was 56:21, 38-second fater than Sames' clocking and a chucky 6:20 in front of MGS runner-up Michael Headlee. Before this season we knew that Kyler was good, we just didn't know how good. That became clear last weekend in Milwaukee where he dominated his AG and finished 13th overall in the brilliant time of 1:58:49. 

Bette Rowley's Maple Groove Sprint Debut yielded a victory and a 1:08 margin over 2nd-placing Adeleine Althaus-Kotila, 17, who was nominated for Junior of the Year in 2025 with another nomination likely to come her way at season's end. She has podiumed in all three of her in-state starts this year.

Placing third in the Sprint yesterday were Eau Claire's Trevor Bauer, 17, who has race often and successfully on this side of the St. Croix this season, and South Dakota's Brigitte Setness.

Almost 1200 athletes registered for this years Maple Grove Triathlon. RESULTS