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Safe Distance When Walking, Running, Biking...
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Wednesday, 08 April 2020 23:10
By Jurgen Thoelen (medium.com)
What is a safe distance when running, biking and walking during COVID-19 times? It is further than the typical 1–2 meter as prescribed in different countries!
In a lot of countries walking, biking and jogging are welcome activities in these times of COVID-19. However, it is important to note that you need to avoid each other's slipstream when doing these activities. This comes out of the result of a study by the KU Leuven (Belgium) and TU Eindhoven (Netherlands).
The typical social distancing rule which many countries apply between 1–2 meters seems effective when you are standing still inside or even outside with low wind. But when you go for a walk, run or bike ride you better be more careful. When someone during a run breathes, sneezes or coughs, those particles stay behind in the air. The person running behind you in the so-called slip-stream goes through this cloud of droplets....
The Bright Side...
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Sunday, 05 April 2020 23:05
By Jan Guenther (posted on gearwest.com - March 30, 2020)
Those of us who have choices right now are very fortunate. I have the options to put the phrase ‘look at the bright side’ into reality, if I choose.
Yes, we had to close the Alpine store and the Run / XC ski store and I have never been in my office surrounded by a tomb-like silence.
BUT the bike store IS OPEN and we can work and service the amazingly cheerful and respectful customers that choose business with us. Being open means we can ‘curbside’ a ski or two, and a run shoe or three. The GW bike staff are really excited to see how well we can do business in this new way of restricted access, focused cleanliness, parking lot deliveries and more.
I am certainly learning new skill sets. Some may not be super transferable, like figuring out which piece of the Gov’t ‘recovery’ program best fits the Gear West family. Each week brings its new rules and requires immense flexibility by me and staff to absorb the changes and carry on cheerfully. I am certainly working on my flexible decision-making skills to consider everyone’s fears, home and financial situations when determining how to remain in business for these next couple of months. Not fun. Nor have I ever run a retail store where we were not marketing for the future; everything is on hold. But I am so lucky, I do not face moral life-threatening decisions like my physician and nursing friends do. Their lives have been turned inside out....
CoVid-19: Thinking Long Term
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Friday, 03 April 2020 10:06
Dear MN Multisport Community,
We all know how important triathlons, duathlons, and other similar physical activities are to our health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, we are all in a state of limbo and uncertainty, with no crystal ball to give us clear answers or much needed comfort.
Numerous event directors recently met (virtually) to discuss the impact CoVid-19 is having on the upcoming racing season. As many groups/activities are already doing, we are monitoring the situation as best we can. We are cautiously optimistic that some events will still occur this season, but obviously cannot, nor should not be making any guarantees. At this point in time, each organizer is still making their individual decisions about their respective event(s). In any case, know that this process is not easy, but will be made with your safety being a priority.
We hope you also realize that for many events, numerous hours and dollars have already been invested into them, well in advance of the actual event. Our goal and vision, just like that of most athletes is to think long term. By doing so, we will be able to continue to put on quality, memorable, and safe events for years to come, as well as all get through this pandemic together (albeit 6 feet apart for the foreseeable future).
Sincerely,
The Race Director and planning committee for:
- Hopkins Royal Triathlon & SWIM-off to Summer (Doobie Kurus)
- Lake Minnetonka Triathlon (Kendra Minser)
- Minnesota Tri News (Jerry MacNeil)
- WingMan Triathlon (Sam Tift)
- Midwest Multisport Races (Judi Fluger)
- Bertram Blast (Brett Oden)
- Younglife Triathlon (Jason Loney)
- Anderson Race Management (Mary Anderson)
- Northwoods Triathlon (Nancy Lewis)
- Trinona (Lindsey & Scott Sherman)
- Moose Lake Triathlon (Craig Pruhomme)
- Heart of the Lakes Triathlon (Jeff Holmberg)
- Superior Man Triathlon (Kenny Krell) dba: 3 Disciplines
- Green Lake Triathlon & Green Lake Kids Tri (Dan Hubbard)
- Brewhouse Triathlon, Buzz Ryan Sprint & Root Beer Kids Tri (Matt Evans & Rod Raymond)
- IGNITE SwimRun (Jay Peluso & Danny Serpico)
- Great Up North Triathlon (Ashley Hall)
- CycleHealth (Tony Schiller)
"It's a Girl!"
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Tuesday, 31 March 2020 23:10
ED. MTN congratulates 2019 Minnesota Rookie of the Year Page Schulz on the upcoming birth of her second child.
By Paige Schulz (strava.com)
The biggest news of my second trimester: It's a GIRL. Wow, did I ever have to wrestle mentally with this news. I am so happy and excited baby is a she now, but it took me a bit to come around to the news. It was no secret that I was team boy. I am so smitten with my adorable little bouncing two-year-old boy who gets excited about the simplest things in life. I pictured getting another version of him and his future best friend. I just assumed that since Brennen and I each are one of three of the same sex, we would have a same sex sibling family too. (Not how this works.)
Brennen on the other hand has been team girl for years, even before Jack’s birth. I asked him what he is looking forward to most with a daughter, and he said the teenage years. LOLOLOL. He clearly didn’t have a sister and must have had fabulous high school relationship experiences. (Cough, me and one other girl. Ha. I wonder what my MIL would say about this. 😉) The teenage years are what I am most terrified for (besides a potential early age obsession with Disney princesses). He thinks our family dynamic will be different since she will have an older brother to keep her in line. Fingers crossed....
When Adulthood Gets in the Way....
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Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:10
By M
itchell Clayton (2016 Minnesota Junior of the Year)
Minnesota has one of the nation’s strongest triathlon communities. It’s one where each summer weekend has several races and where athletes, both seasoned veterans and first timers, come together to challenge themselves and accomplish a common goal. The Minnesota tri scene also has a strong history for developing elite juniors, many of whom often challenge for overall podium spots at local races and who race competitively on the national and world stage. Recent speedy teens include the Swenson siblings, Nick Klonne, the Lundquist sisters (photo below), Isabella Buenting, and several more who provide depth to the roster of fast, young racers. However, history has shown that the majority of elite juniors do not continue their racing careers into adulthood. What changes, and why do many of Minnesota’s best up-and-coming triathletes put what was once a passion of theirs on hold?
College
School is a big reason why many young triathletes stop racing. Some focus all of their efforts on academics, taking time away from training and racing. Some continue their high school sports, often swimming or running, into college and are forced to commit more time to one discipline than to the others that comprise the sport of triathlon. Not to mention, social life changes. Not many teens want to be “that guy” or “that girl” who’s dorm room stinks from having their trainer set up all winter, or “that person” who doesn’t go out with friends because they have a 6:00am brick workout on Saturday morning....
