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Dear Santa...

Saturday, 16 December 2017 23:10

By Brad Mitchell

Dear Santa,

I am on the MMA selection committee and I really want my job to be easier, next season when selecting the top 10 female and male athletes. Please bring me these things this Christmas (as well as that damn wetsuit you keep promising will make me swim faster)

I give credit to athletes who sign up for tough, competitive races. I DGAS about a 10 win season, where it's all local races and the team Minnesota athlete signs up late after the MNTRINEWS update about how, "we are still waiting to see if any of our state's top athletes will sign up"

Here is when I know you are serious about trying to nab the top spots ...

When, in off-season, an elite athlete posts on their FB that they have signed up for a historically competitive race, or they are named in the race preview. They are saying, here I am - come try to beat me.
When top athletes consistently show up to massive races, where they are not favorite to win. Eg. Wade knew that badass's like Patrick, Kris, Daniel and Sean were going to be at Apple. On paper, before the race, I would have had Wade in 3rd pace. He didn't give a crap, he backed himself and he wasn't afraid to lose. Gaby at Nationals - up against Kirsten Sass and other top national athletes. This was searching out the best, to get the best measure.
Here's the thing. We all know what races have more potential for quality fields. Sign up for these races now and avoid the obvious outcome races. I, personally, want to try to beat people who on paper, are faster than me and I'd like to see our elite athletes do the same (some already do, consistently). I want to be on the course with and have my ass brutally kicked by our state's elite athletes. Regardless of time or placing, it encourages improvement and growth. So don't try to tell me that you thought that there would be a 5-deep elite field at most of our local races. It's just not happening. Many of these races are great for many people, but if you are one of our Team MN athletes and your goal is to make #1or move up the rankings, stay at home and do a hard brick session and sign up for tougher races.

Santa's list.

Better decision making this offseason, for our top women, when it comes to race scheduling.

Please convince Christina Roberts to seek out bigger, more competitive races. She is, absolutely, legit #1 material, but I could not place her ahead of Gaby this year, due to her Race-cation schedule. Damn, it was close. Superior man was a massive effort, but, please send her a lot of IMOO junk mail, so she signs up for that race (I'm guessing that if you can live forever and make reindeer fly, hacking email won't be a problem) . I respectfully disagree with a fellow panel member, who believes that Christina "consistently faced top competition". I believe that she mostly faced competition that we all knew that she would beat. She is better than them, right now. A couple of veterans mentioned were either struggling with injury or pursuing cycling seasons. The rest of the competition were next tier down or up and coming rookies. She raced well, a lot, but the outcomes were predictableand I want to see head-to-heads with Dani V, Gaby, Kortney and Hanna. Apple was the most competitive race, in my mind. Please also flood her inbox with Minneapolis, Trinona (I'd love to see her crush that course - I think she could beat Gaby there and put up a great time) USAT Nationals and IM races.

2. Please convince Hanna to race. Period. We did not see enough of her this year and that would have made a huge difference in the rankings. We need at least 3 great triathlon performances. Maybe plan 5 competitive races. If 2 go to crap/get flats/go off course, you still have 3 potentially great races.

3. Please keep Dani healthy (decline her credit card when she attempts to sign up for Grandma's or any other pre-season marathon) Dani was my sure-fire pick for the #1 spot after Wisconsin 70.3 and it was heartbreaking when she was beset by running injuries, again. She wasn't right for most of the rest of the season, including world's, where I think she could have had a huge result. One thing I love about Dani is how she seeks out the best competition. She also declares her races early. Oh, and like Hanna, race more. As amazing as Dani has been, I truly believe the best is yet to come.

4. Please convince Lisa that cycling is just a cool part of triathlon and that we need to see her racing tris, more.

5. Please bring back ...2014, 2015, 2016 Suzie . She can push everyone, in 2018.

6,7,8. A proper championship series. 1 sprint race, 1 olympic race, 1 70.3 race. Our elite athletes (the rest of us would like to give it a crack, too) go head-to-head to prove who is the fastest and most versatile triathlete in the state. Same points for all three. A fast sprint is better than a slow 70.3, any day. Obviously not compulsory, but showing up to these races would be weighted heavily (by me, at least) and give real clarity to the section process.

9. Someone to step up and provide prize money to try to encourage our top athletes to race each other, in this series. Pro and amateur prize pool.

10. Kevin O'Connor and Matt Payne. I'd like to see Matt roll out and destroy all the 20's and 30's guys (because, we know he can still do that for the next few years). I'd like Kevin to take it easy on the training and not take his season too seriously. Just settle for finishing races this year, Kevin. I aged up for the 2018 season. I avoided Matt in my AG but now race with Kevin, again, for the next 4 years. Like getting picked up off the floor, then repeatedly kicked in the nuts.

Cheers Santa, thats all.