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David's Blog...
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Sunday, 11 September 2011 03:00
Hy-Vee 5150 Championship
By David Thompson (thompsontri.com)
This was probably the best championship event I've ever raced. Twenty-five of the best triathletes in world qualified to race the Hy-Vee 5150 Championship, and 5 more past champions were invited for a total of 30 athletes. Des Moines was a great city to hold the event - not too big, not too small, just right. Des Moines has great trails, roads, and water for a triathlon, and the people of Des Moines supported the event too. They spectated, volunteered, and put up with an invasion of triathletes. Hy-Vee also got behind the event fully. In addition to the 1.1 million dollar prize purse, the production of the was top notch: grandstands, Jumbo-tron, live video coverage, beer gardens, concerts, and more.
The swim was the defining discipline of the race. It took place in the Des Moines River right in downtown. We swam 3 laps around 4 bouys in a 2-3 knot current by my...
Payne Wins BOUS!
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Saturday, 10 September 2011 14:19
Best of the US National Championship - Matthew Payne of Columbia Heights, and Patrick Parish of Circle Pines went 1-2 this morning at the 7th annual BOUS Champs, which was staged in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Payne covered the flat, fast Olympic-distance courses in a seriously brisk 1:52:45, just 12 seconds ahead of Parish, who had to outrun a passle of dudes. Parish's 10K split was 33:20, which was almost two minutes quicker than the 2nd fastest runner (Payne).
Almost a minute back in 3rd place was three-time BOUS participant, Colin Riley (1:53:52), of Tallahassee, FL.
Payne was 3rd at BOUS '10, which was contested in Mission Viejo, CA....
Square Lake Half Stuff...
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Saturday, 10 September 2011 03:00
(YndeCam Photo - Dan Arlandson winning Liberty.)
Square Lake Long Course Semi-Preview - This year's MMAs will feature a new award category: Long Course Athlete of the Year. To receive consideration for a nomination, one must have turned in at least two elite LC (half IM, 111 and longer) performances this season.
What is an elite level performance?
To illustrate, let's peek at Dan Arlandson's 2011 LC resume. He won the Liberty Half in 4:13:09, the 2nd fastest time in the history of the event. He then won Full Vineman in northern Californian in a course record / PR / Performance of the Year nomination-worthy 9:04:07. These efforts are, in our opinion, elite level. ...
Square Lake Stuff...& Fun Facts...
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Friday, 09 September 2011 03:00
(Photos - Chris Sachs and Jeff Grebner's dog.)
Square Lake Short Course Review - This year's women's race promises to be very cool and exciting, with 7-8 girls battling over the silver and bronze podium spots. The gold step appears to be reserved for clear favorite, Becky Youngberg, who is expected to collect her 8th win of the season tomorrow. (COOL FACT: Becky is between 5'1" and 5'9" tall.)
Can Beck lower Marnie Walth's rather stratospheric race record 1:30:53, which the pretty, mild-mannered North Dakotan set in 2007? (COOL FACT: Marnie's husband Zane, or is it "Shane," owns a porta-potty company.) Becky does possess the event's 2nd fastest women's clocking: 1:32:25 in 2008. And based on the speediosity she...
Can They?
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Thursday, 08 September 2011 03:00
Ironman Wisconsin Preview - Can they?
Can they what?
Can Devon Palmer win Ironman Wisconsin on Sunday? Can Jan Guenther, now 52, win the women's amateur title for the 3rd time? Can Julia Weisbecker win the 45-49W division?
These are compelling questions. At least we think so.
And our answers are: Maybe. Maybe. Sure....
