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Coyotes, Semis and Super Good Sandwiches...
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Tuesday, 13 October 2020 23:10
By Noah Billings
TRI BY KNIGHT RACE REPORT - I was interested in Tri by Knight at Wartburg College because their reschedule date, October 10, 2020, fit perfectly between mountain bike races and looked to be a way to get one more race in before the end of season. I liked the distance proportions. It had a short 300 swim, a nice 15 mile bike, then a 3 mile run to finish.
We left at 4:45 AM and drove to the college. We almost hit a coyote. Because of Covid, there were a lot of extra rules about spectators and who could go into the fieldhouse, but they had a ton of student athlete volunteers so there were a lot of people to help. Also, my tri friends from Rochester- Kevin Proud, Lael Daire, and Sarah Hunter- were all there so I hung with them pre-race.
I was a little nervous for this race. My mom got covid at her work and we had to quarantine for 2 weeks and my doctor and coach said I should not train at all during that time. I was released from quarantine and allowed to exercise 1 week before the race. I was worried about whether I would still be fast.
Border State Honorees...
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Saturday, 10 October 2020 23:10
2020 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Later this week we will begin the process of posting nominees for this year's MMHs, which will feature two athletes--AJ MANNING (Fargo, ND) and PATRICK ALLAIRE (Marshfield, WI) that reside in border states. Since 2000, the MMH Committee has been rewarding those visiting athletes who meet the criteria for consideration, and at least nine of those talented multisporters have taken home awards, including SARAH KOLPIN (photo), who won the Rookie of the Year and Duathlete of the Year in 2005, and was ranked 1st on Team MInnesota. She is the only rookie in MMH history to captain the Team.
They are:
ROBERT GILLES, Fargo, ND - 2001 Triathlete of the Year, 2001 Duathlete of the Year, 20o1 Performance of the Year, 3 x Team MInnesota (photo below)
SARAH KOLPIN, River Falls, WI - 2005 Rookie of the Year, 2005 Duathlete of the Year, 2 x Team Minnesota....
Frozen Fingers, Possums & Coke Zero...
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Thursday, 08 October 2020 23:10
By Darin Westphal
Tour to Duluth
With my daughter now a freshman at University Minnesota-Duluth, I thought this fall would be the perfect time to ride from Plymouth to UMD to meet her for lunch. I’ve never worried much about excuses for making long rides, but this seemed like the perfect reason! Plans were that I’d start riding early in the AM and my wife would start driving up at mid morning and we’d all meet for lunch mid afternoon.
Knowing that I’d be solo for the entire ride plus doing some night time riding, I stopped into Gear West to make sure the bike was ready to roll and I had everything I needed to make the trip up with as little interruptions as possible. Lights, spare tubes, new arm warmers...now I don't have any excuses to not complete the ride!
4am Saturday I was wheels down and headed north. My phone said it was 43 degrees so I was dressed in between that “I’m going to be warm when the sun comes up and holy crap it’s going to be cold until then”. For the first 3:45 minutes of the ride the temp hovered in the mid/upper 30's which was cold. Couldn't feel my fingers until about 10am. I'm quite a sight as I'm standing at a gas station trying to text...
"It's Shameful"....
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Tuesday, 06 October 2020 23:10
Defending a Legacy
By Michael Weissenborn
“Mikey... you look like a bum.”
I wasn't even mad. He was right. He was always right. I'd strolled in to his office with a scraggly neckbeard, hair long enough to chew on, and a two-size too-large leather jacket. “Bum” was being kind.
I had just switched majors again, this time during my fourth year. I had no clue what I was doing, no idea where I was headed. My life now mirrored my appearance – directionless.
The words above were uttered to me by Roy Griak. The man was a living legend. He served in the South Pacific theater during WWII. He made it home, became a teacher, and dedicated the rest of his life to supporting kids. He coached of the University of Minnesota men's track and cross-country teams for 33 years....
Flying Dismounts & 30-Watt Cowardice...
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Sunday, 04 October 2020 23:10
By Michael Weissenborn
FALL CLASSIC RACE REPORT - Race morning is always a bit of an existential crisis.
When that alarm hits at 6:00 AM on a Sunday, I begin questioning every decision which has led to this point. I was in bed by 8:00 PM last night. I binged Star Trek reruns until I fell asleep. I'm now conscious, my cat (not conscious) is draped across my face, and I'm about to voluntarily subject myself to 90 minutes of torment. Why am I doing this? Then I remember: ...
