FEATURES

"There is a Lot to be Grateful For"...

KidsonElaine1.jpg

ED. A perennial member of Team MInnesota, Elaine Nelson has been Duluth's most successful female triathlete for the last decade.

By Elaine Nelson (April 22)

This morning, my kindergarten son’s school art assignment was about “Gratitude”. He was to draw a picture illustrating what gratitude means for him. He drew a picture of our garage / house fire and the firemen putting out the fire. It’s been almost 2 years since that event. Our attached garage and mudroom have been rebuilt, for which we are truly grateful. Then COVID-19 turned everyone’s lives upside down. Fortunately, we are still healthy, but we realize how devastating this virus can be as we read stories online and have a coworker’s family affected with this disease.

At first, I assumed that school would be cancelled through the rest of the school-year and things would get back to “normal” by summertime. Even though the YMCA closed and I couldn’t swim in the pool, I wasn’t too concerned. (No, I’m not brave / crazy enough to swim in frigid Lake Superior in the spring!) I hoped that we would still be able to train and race as usual. Then the race cancellations began: Grandma’s Marathon, Lutsen Spring Trail Race (in May), Apple Duathlon and Buffalo Triathlon, etc. With each cancellation, it quickly became apparent that our summer wouldn’t be the same.

I have still been working, but only 2 days a week, because my husband and I needed to switch off working and taking care of the kids. Our son, Micah (6.5y) is in kindergarten and our daughter, Annalise (3.5y) is in preschool. Learning how to navigate Distance Learning while keeping both kids occupied and entertained presents it’s own sets of challenges and frustrations. Training is also more challenging with both kids. Gone are the days where I would put baby/toddler Micah in the chariot and go for a 2 hour bike ride during his...

Read more ...

More Honors For Grinaker!

GrinakerDL.jpg

By Robert Williams (dl-online.com - Photo by Brian Basham)

anna Grinaker is one of seven inductees to this year’s class of the Detroit Lakes Athletic Foundation’s Hall of Honor.

Grinaker is a rarity for the Hall in the fact that she is still competing.
At Detroit Lakes, Grinaker was a two-time state cross country runner-up and dominated every regular season ...

Read more ...

Safe Return....

SAFERETURN.png

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced its Safe Return to Multisport initiative, a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach that will outline racing and training guidelines and recommendations for the multisport community to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first two documents in the series, “USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines” and “Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors,” are available now. 
...

Read more ...

Building Flexibility...

flabbybike.png

By Jan Guenther

The “wow!” stage has moved on. We remember the day, the hour when the World Cup at Wirth Park was cancelled and that was just the beginning. “We are all in it together” is a supportive phrase, but after a few weeks, we truly are in it “individually” as well. My personal and business challenges as a result of the Covid pandemic are different than yours. Similarity lies in the fact that 90% of ALL our lives are mightily affected; it is the details which are unique.

For me to discuss how the pandemic affects us is like suggesting a book to describe WW2. Too many differing plus sorrowful threads. Emotionally, physically, and economically, in micro (family and business) and macro (political and societal) Covid is reshaping all that is familiar and taken for granted. So, I will sidestep another discussion over Covid consequences and suggest that if possible, we look ahead to what CAN be accomplished during this unique time when much of life is suspended....

Read more ...

"This Shall Pass"...

 

cherylvenice.pngED. Owner of Worlds and National Championship medals, Cheryl is a three-time Minnesota Master of the Year. She's been to Venice.

By Cheryl Zitur

It has certainly been a crazy time lately. While I am not much of a writer here are a few thoughts about my quarantine.

On March 16th I went into work at Life Time like any other Monday but things were already starting to happen. The week before the Boston Marathon was cancelled which I began training for last January. Wow-now what do I do? At least I have Tri season to look forward to and my job. The club was eerily quiet on the 16th reminding me of what it felt like the day after 911. That night we were closed down and I was without a job to go to. In my adult life I have never had this much free time without either raising kids, healing from an injury or surgery, working or going to school or usually a mix of all of the above. This was all new to me....

Read more ...

2024LakesCountrySquare
GWHalf2024
2025ACM380
GmanMerch380
2024GLT180
2024GMClearwater180
Timber180-2024
2024HRT18-
MooseLT180x