Race Coverage

"This Run Course is so Darn Fun"...

Sunday, 30 August 2026 00:10

By Paige Schulz

Maple Grove Triathlon Race Report: I had bad luck the last two years at MG. In 2024 I got a flat that didn't seal, so had a DNF. In 2025 I somehow managed to miss the first buoy of the swim and turned myself in for a DQ. I didn't realize I cut the course until after the race when I looked at my GPS data. That was the biggest heartbreak I have ever felt in tri. This year was going to be my redemption year and get to the finish line with a smile. 

There were 8 ladies who signed up in the elite field for 2026. Yes, girls! Before we started, the race director led us through the swim course and pointed out exactly which buoys we were targeting. So that talk was for me specifically LOL. Once I saw Heather at the starting line, I knew that second place overall was the most likely scenario. In an olympic distance race, you cannot hide a weak swimmer. I came out 2+ minutes behind the rest of the elite ladies and a full 7 minutes behind Heather.

Split: 26:08

1:39/100yds (watch pace)

This bike course always feels like such a grind to me. I was trying to push huge power, but I am in the middle of training for Ironman, so there was a bit of a disconnect in the legs. The roads were smooth, and the traffic control was nice. I rode with one bottle on my bike, which had 90 grams of carbs in it. I drank about 2/3s of the bottle and had one gel at the beginning of the ride. I am very curious why others had so many bottles/cages on their bikes for an Olympic. How do you get that much fluid down? Coming out of the swim late meant I passed a bunch of girls. I got off the bike in second place behind Heather. 

Split: 59:30 - 23.3 mph

There is nothing better in a triathlon than the run. And this run course is so darn fun. It is very easy to break into chunks: transition & finish line, huge hill & park, first neighborhood, straight away, and second rolling hills neighborhood. The first lap was mostly solo, but the second lap was where the magic happened because the sprinter and first-lap olympic athletes were filling the course. There was music and cheering everywhere. My husband and kids were on course. I get second place a lot in races, and my oldest son made it very clear when he saw me on the first lap that I was not winning. :) I will happily take a second place to the legendary Heather Lendway.

Split: 37:47 - 6:04 min/mile official (the course is short; 6:15s watch pace)

Final Time: 2:07:43

The highlight of the day was talking with all the girls after the race. Triathlon is such a huge lifestyle common ground that it feels like you can instantly be best friends with everyone. Next up: Ironman 70.3 WI and then Kona!