Race Coverage

Big Du-ings in Orono...

Tuesday, 22 May 2012 03:00

(Chris Crocker photo - Some Mankato Multisport Club guys and girls who made the trek to Orono last Sunday.)

Race Coverage - What kind of race was Sunday's 20th annual Gear West Duathlon?

It was a fast and furious one. Super competitive and super fun despite weather that, according to Race Director Kevin O'Connor, "would have sucked if this were a triathlon, but was just fine (misting, mid 50s, breezy) for a du." ...

Back to the fast and furious stuff. How else would you describe a match-up between the reigning pro and amateur National Champions, Dan Hedgecock and Patrick Parish respectively, not to mention the presence of Ruth Brennan Morrey, America's hottest and arguably fastest female duathlete--pro or am--right now, and Suzie Fox, 2011 Minnesota Duathlete of the Year and USAT DOY HM, whose racing has improved substantially in 2012. Heck, Ruth and Suzie have to be two-thirds of America's Top 3 amateur du girls (along with South Carolina's Gail Kattouff).

Wait, these were only four of a plethora of national-level run-bike-runners, including Chad Millner, Brooks Grossinger, Julie Hull, Scott Myers and wife Andrea, and uber-masters Tony Schiller and Jan Guenther, who raced in Orono two days ago. The only notable absentees were 2009 US DOY O'Connor, who was kinda busy, and Du Nationals podiumer Matt Payne, who was busy winning the amateur crown at Florida 70.3 on Sunday.

Hey, does all this suggest that Minnesota may be the most talent-rich du state in the US right now?