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Tuesday, 27 June 2023 00:10
20th GRANITEMAN SPRINT COVERAGE - Sometimes the difference between winning and losing comes down to how fast one gets in and out of transition. On Saturday, 2018 Most Improved (Female) winner EMILY GAGE (Photo), seemingly recovered from her 70.3 effort the week before, recorded what might have been the finest performance of her tri career, winning Graniteman Sprint in 1:14:28, one of the event's Top 5 fastest times ever. Still, it almost didn't happen. Two-time champ CHERYL ZITUR, owner of two of the Clearwater times that are faster than Gage's, had launched in a later wave and was the only one who could rob Emily of the win.
Cheryl's run split would be faster than Gage's, and enough to close other gaps along the way. However, Emily spent less thime in T2 than Cheryl did, 24-seconds less. When Zitur crossed the finish line, the 1-2 outcome needed Uncle Randy's computer to uncover. Emily, as we know did win, but the margin was only 20-seconds.Could Cheryl have shaved 21-seconds off the 1:25 she spent in T2? It's fun to think about.
In any case, both women raced hard and well and both deserve genuine congratulations.
Emily (5th) and Cheryl (6th) cracked the gender-nonspecific overall Top 10, as did 2021 winner BETTE ROWLEY, who placed 8th in 1:15:18....
Leanness and Meanness...
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Monday, 26 June 2023 00:10
Jason Larson Photo - Graniteman women's runner-up Bridget Tetmeyer.
GRANITEMAN OLYMPIC COVERAGE - PETER WIKMAN is looking lean and mean these days, and he's racing that way, too. The clear frontrunner for 2023 Most Improved (Male), Peter came into Saturday's Olympic-plus race as a Top Two pick alongside reemerging JOE ADRIAENS. Wikman had two 2nd-place performances under his belt this year, finishing behind established elites ERIC ENGEL (at Buffalo) and SEAN COOLEY (at Trinona). That Peter finished ahead of Adriaens at Buffalo made him the male to beat at Clearwater.
The men's race unfolded as expected, with Joe leading after the swim and Peter making up a chunk of the deficit on the bike. It was the run that determined the Gold/Silver outcome. Advantage: Wikman.
Peter was victorious here in 2021, his 2:11 a sweet result over a course with four miles of extra cycling. Last weekend he shaved almost two minutes off that effort, his 2:09:58 the fourth fastest men's time ever at the Clearwater Graniteman venue.
Adriaen's lock on 2nd place was not as secure as it may have original seemed. North Dakota transplant BRANDON LEE, 41, made up a ton of lost time after the swim by posting the fastest bike split, followed by a speedy run. In the end, only twelve seconds separated him from Adriaens. Lee's time--2:12:55--was a Clearwater Olympic Masters record...
Washed Bikes, S-Pattern Swims and a Gem of a Run Course...
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Saturday, 24 June 2023 00:10
By Tim Brown
Ironman Des Moines 70.3 Race Report - Ironman Des Moines has been vacillating between a half and full distance Ironman event. This year was a 70.3 and timing was just about perfect for my planned build up to the full distance Ironman Wisconsin in September. I was pleased to see the event sell out resulting in tight quarters in transition. The weather was a bit unsettled with rain giving the mandatory checked bikes a good washing the night before the race. Race morning was cool and windy with gusts in the 25 MPH range.
The swim takes place in Grays Lake Park. A great location, although remote parking results in a half mile walk while loaded with gear to transition. Once you’re transition is set-up, there’s another walk to the far side of the lake to the swim start. Grays Lake was protected enough from the wind to remain fairly calm. The cool weather just barely allowed for a wetsuit legal race. The point to point swim makes a “S” pattern around the lake with a self-seeded time trial start.
The bike is a bit of a patch work of out and backs and turn arounds. Crews were out days before the race patching roads. There were a few rough patches and sections road construction to navigate but the biggest challenge was...
Record Turn-out at SWIM-OFF...
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Thursday, 22 June 2023 00:10
By Doobie Kurus
SWIM-OFF to Summer - It was a gorgeous day for a swim, with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s/lower 90s for the 4th annual SWIM-Off to Summer open water challenge that took place on Saturday, June 3 at Shady Oak Beach. This event attracted nearly 200 participants from 7 different states, and as far away as Texas, California, and Oregon. Although people could choose from 3 triathlon inspired distances, the majority (120) opted for the 1.2 mile swim. As in past years, people were asked to self identify as a "triathlete" or a "swimmer" while registrating to help us determine who "rules the open water!"
In the 1.2 mile distance, Christina Roberts was not only the top female, but the 3rd overall, and retained the title on behalf of Team Triathletes. She edged out (swimmers) Margaret Werba, who came in 2nd place, and Lauren Rose, of Fort Worth Texas, who came in 3rd. All 3 had sub-30 minute swim times. In the men's category, Team Swimmer, swept the podium, with Tyler Schultze, Seth Baetzold, and Zach McCarty coming in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively....
2023 Clearwater G-Man Preview...Updated..(Again)
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Tuesday, 20 June 2023 00:10
Graniteman Clearwater Preview - The historic 20th anniversary of the orginal Graniteman Triathlon will happen next Saturday and we hope you will be there for the celebration. And if you can believe it, the event has been at it's Clearwater venue for 14 of those years. Outgrowing its original site in Rockville, it relocated to Warner Lake in 2010.
The event consists of a Sprint (.44-14.33-5K) and bike-heavy Olympic (.9-28.66-10K) races and opens with a very cool swim across Warner Lake.
Who will be setting the pace on Saturday? Here are some of the credentialed athletes competing. Note that we got this list last week and expect many more compettive athletes to enroll.
- EMMA ADRIAENS (O) - Emma is coming off a 3rd place finish at Buffalo Olympic.
UPDATE: JOE ADRIAENS (O) - Joe's last two results in MInnesota races--2nd @ Chisago '22, 3rd @ Buffalo Olympic '23--make him one of the frontrunner.s on Saturday.
- MATA AGRE (O) - Mata cracked the Top 5 in both of the tris she did in 2022. A three-time Top 10 finisher here.
- BROOKS GROSSINGER (Sp) - Winner of at least 39 tris and dus, Brooks was 2nd here in 2022.
- DAVID HOLDEN (O) - 3rd here in 2022. David cracked the Top 10 at the Iowa State Triathlon Chamionships earlier this year....
