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Two Great Experiences...

Wednesday, 08 July 2026 00:10

By Michael Clark

Buffalo Triathlon (Sprint) 2026 - It was a beautiful day in Buffalo for the 2026 Buffalo triathlon this year. It was bit on the warmer side, but not the mid July heat we usually have in Minnesota. There was a larger turnout of athletes which really helps to keep you moving when your body is screaming at you to stop!

The lake was a bit low again this year, which caused the first 25 yards of the swim to be a bit weedy, but I found if I just run/walk a bit further out than I usually do I avoided the majority of the weeds and it didn’t cause too much of a problem.

The bike course features some rolling hills, but nothing very steep and I find if I keep my momentum on the downhill there are very few hills that I need to downshift to a lower gear on. (Stayed on the larger front ring for the entire race.) As usual the bike course was well marked with wonderful volunteers and police at the corners to make sure everyone was safe on the course.

For the run this is the second year of this race switching back to the original course that cuts through the town and circles along the lake front road. Run course is very flat with the lone small hill being as your entering and leaving town.

Overall it was another fantastic even put on by the Granitman team with tons of wonderful volunteers and spectators cheering on all the athletes. I would highly recommend this race to any first time triathletes or triathletes that want to start off the season with a more relaxed course

Trinona (Sprint) 2026 - It was another great turnout for Trinona this year with even more athletes coming from all around to Winona to enjoy the fantastic race. 

The weather wasn’t the greatest with overcast skies for most of the race and cooler temperatures, but it was better than the storms we had last year and the lake was warm so it didn’t cause any issues.

The city seemed to add some sand and remove the large rocks that were at the swim start in the past and the coordinators added some mats at the swim launch over the rough ground making it easier for a fast start.

The sprint bike is a short 11 mile out and back course with some hills, but nothing too tough and you can get a lot of speed on the downhills which helps on the climb. (Nothing like the Gavin Heights climb on the Olympic course that I plan to take on one day.) I usually don’t look at the scenery when I’m out on my bike, but a volunteer was encouraging athletes to do so and I got to see some beautiful sights I never noticed in the last three years of doing this race.

The run is a out and back over a flat course that goes along the bike trail around the lake. There is lots of shade along the run so even when the weather is warmer the course is still pleasant with volunteers along the full course cheering everyone on.

Overall, this is another great race with lots of wonderful organizers, volunteers and spectators that help make the event a great experience for new and veteran triathletes alike.

Timberman's Competitive Trends...

Monday, 06 July 2026 00:10

2026 Timberman Triathlon Preview - The 41st edition of the Timberman is happening this weekend, and if you are not already one of the 300ish current registrants, we recommend that you sign up at your earliest opportunity. There is not a swim-bike-run in Minnesota--our state's "Premier Destination Triathlon"-- that we recommend more highly.

Entering it fifth decade, Timberman has experienced what can be called "competitive eras." In the second half of the 90s, for example, four-time winner Doug Davis was the man to beat in the Oympic  distance option. When the 2000s got underway, it was Jan Guenther who set the standard for women, winng five times. Brian Bich, another five-time champ, set the pace for the men during this era. 

Currently, and likely to continue, it is Heather Lendway who appears invincible. She'll be favored to win her 5th Olympic distance title on Saturday.

Have any men dominated the Olympic race in the post-pandemic years? The answer is no. There have been no consecutive winners during this time. Perhaps a new trend will start on Saturday?

The companion Sprint race had been dominated between 2010 and 2017 by Adam Himes, and more recently by Brooks Grossinger. Tara Makinen racked up six Sprint wins between 2009 and 2021. More recently, Bettina Keppers, with seven wins, has led the way for the women

Will the current trends continue? Or will a new athletes start new trends.

We are anxious to find out. Race Website 

"How Could I Not Have Fun in This Environment?"

Saturday, 04 July 2026 00:10

By Amy Preusser

Women’s Trifecta 2026 - June 13th was my first time on the Women’s Trifecta race course in Shoreview. This was my second race of the year - following a DNF on the Tinman bike course in early May. The Tinman was my first race on a new bike. Flatting out that day gave me a lot of anxiety about having a successful bike leg. For this reason, I went into the Trifecta with some nerves as well as no taper. Despite that, my nerves faded as I walked up to the park on race morning - the atmosphere never fails to get me hyped to race!

Walking into transition, I was greeted by LOTS of women. As is its name, the Women’s Trifecta is a solely women’s race. It was inspiring to see women of all ages and walks of life preparing to race: some are moms, some are retired, some are coming back from an injury, and many are doing a triathlon for the first time. The Trifecta’s claim to fame is creating an environment that supports women and gives them an opportunity to be successful by offering three race distances - virgin, sprint and olympic - as well as an aquabike option!

As the race began, the wind was starting to pick up. This made the swim a bit choppy, but the lake was the perfect temperature and. As a bonus - the weeds were minimal! Swim conditions were good, and I led the way around the course. I was happy with my pace, given that it was my first OW swim of race season and the water was choppy.

I came out of the water with another Olympic swimmer and many of the short course athletes. I sped through transition and my husband cheered me on as I mounted my bike. Once on the road, I was hoping to catch a tailwind at some point. This wasn’t the case as the winds were swirly all day! The course is a loop around the lake, which Olympic racers complete twice. I slowed down more than I would have liked, as I made sure that I was taking the correct turns and staying on course. One thing about leading when no men are racing is that you have nobody to follow! I was holding my breath until about mile 20 to make sure I didn’t flat out again, but my worries were unfounded and I had no issues.

I had been in my head a lot during the bike ride - making sure I was taking turns tight enough as I merged with traffic, checking that I was on course, and thinking about my pacing strategy. I got to talk with my husband as I was in transition, and I knew that I was leading the race by a good margin. That being said, I wasn’t really excited to do the run leg. I started off my run at a good clip, but wasn’t having fun. That was short-lived. As soon as I got half a mile out, I noticed how much the women were cheering for each other. Every racer I saw was clapping and cheering for the woman beside her. It was so invigorating! It was empowering to watch these female athletes push themselves and simultaneously uplift those around them. How could I not have FUN in that environment?

I finished my race and hugged my husband immediately after crossing the finish line. Thankfully, he had electrolytes in hand because that run got hot, and the breeze dried me out! I soon discovered that I’d managed to set a course record (my first!!) and I stayed at the finish line to cheer for all the athletes who had inspired me on the run course. There is something special about triathlon, but it was even more exceptional to witness over one hundred women work towards that finish line; encouraging each other every step of the way.

Lessons to Build Upon...

Wednesday, 01 July 2026 00:10

By Micah Warning

IRONMAN 70.3 OMAHA - Race recap and personal grades - This race was all about execution. A lot of positives, but also several lessons moving forward.

 Swim – 28:00 | Grade: B

Felt strong but could definitely go faster. Still exited only 2:15 down from the leaders.

 T1 – 4:18 | Grade: F

Costly transition. Unique setup with gear bagging and no flying mounts. Chose to run in road shoes through wet grass, slipped, crashed, dropped nutrition, and had a chain issue that required assistance. Turned a small deficit into a much larger one.

 Bike – 2:17 | 24.5 mph Avg | 278W Avg | 299W NP | Grade: B

Toughest 70.3 bike course I’ve done with ~3,000 ft of climbing. Stayed focused riding solo and came away with a power PR. Progress on the bike.

 T2 – Grade: B

Clean and uneventful.

 Run – 1:25 | 6:30/mile | Grade: C-

Running is my strength, but I overcooked the first mile (5:38) and paid for it. GI distress started around mile 3 and impacted the rest of the run.

Overall, mixed execution across the day. Encouraging progress in areas I’ve been targeting, but clear lessons in others. Looking forward to building on it.

Thank you to everyone who supports the journey, and TerraLocoMN for the support with shoes, nutrition, and everything in between.

Back to work.

Syvertson and Wellman Excel at Average Jo....

Sunday, 28 June 2026 00:10

2026 Average Jo Coverage - Seeing his name atop the final leaderboard at yesterday's Average Jo Triathlon, we became excited and anxious to read Spencer Syvertson's upcoming race report. This is because his goal was to chase clear favorite Brandon Scheel, a seasoned pro (and respected tri coach!) with the kind of run credentials that elite amateurs like Spencer seem doomed to envy from afar, and trim some of the time that separated the two men at last year's race. Instead, he won by the thick margin  of 2:55.

Spencer's clocking--54:18--is likely an amateur race record, and featured terrific bike and run splits.

On paper, Scheels runner-up time--57:13--looked solid, albeit  five-plus minutes off his pro CR set here in 2023. Brandon's signature 5:15-5:20 per-mile running pace was absent yesterday morning and we are anxious to know why. Injury? We hope not. A training day? A day more focused on athletes he coaches than on himself?

We're anxious to find out because we are big Branden Scheel fans.

But wait a minute! Are we selling Syvertson short? After his huge bike split (28-mph), his lead was unchallengable, even by a former Div. 1 runner.

Like we said in the opening paragraph, we can't wait to read Spencer's race report.

Finishing 3rd for the men, and rounding out the predicted Top 3, though with 1st and 2nd flip-flopped, was two-time Average Jo amateur winner NIck Jasmer, who's 59:40 was a personal best on this course. On Facebook, Nick credits his performance to the excellent coaching he receives from guess who? Yup. Branden Scheel.

We mentioned in our preview the AG battle between fifty-genarians Brett Lovaas and David Lewis. It was Lewis who came out on top on Saturday, taking 4th overall to Brett's 6th. We extend extra applause to Brett, though, because Average Jo marked the beginning of his 40th! season of triathlon racing. How cool is that!

The women's race yesterday featured a truly fine performance by Alexis Wellman, a 19-year-old who is an avid runner and nordic skier with limited tri experience. She's from the tiny hamlet of Erhard, Minnesota, and though she only raced in two prior triathlons, she finished 2nd overall woman both times. Her splits yesterday, though, demonstrated significant improvement as a cyclist and a runner. 

We are anxious to follow Alexis' tri career.

So you know, Wellman's time at Average Jo was 1:13:05, which very likely is a junior record and her margin of victory over 2nd placing Audrey Davison, 31, of Detroit Lakes, whose resume boasts impressive performances at Buffalo Sprint (11th in 2026) and Lakes Country (5th in 2024). Davison's 1:15:24 was more than seven minutes faster than her last Average Jo appearnce in 2024.

Heather Lund, 45, of Horace, ND, rounded out the women's overall podium.

The last 100+ finisher edition of Average Jo was back in 2016, that is until yesterday when exactly 100 athletes (97 individuals, one three-person relay) crossed the finsh line. RESULTS - https://www.mtecresults.com/race/leaderboard/20974/2026_Average_Jo_Triathlon-Individual_Results