Race Coverage
Fluffy Cows, Insane Climbs & Mount Rushmore...
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Sunday, 01 October 2023 00:10
By Noah BIllings
Wildlife Loop Triathlon Race Report - When I was younger, I was very shy. When I started doing tri, I got a bit more outgoing. I think that it helped me socially because I liked the feeling of confidence and accomplishment that I gained....
Dreamy Bike Course & Forgetful Legs...
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Thursday, 21 September 2023 00:10
By Dani Treise
Incredible day at 70.3 Michigan!
8th place with an overall and bike PR!
The chilly morning and water temps added a challenge to the swim, but I made it through and I could still feel my fingers by the end!
The bike course was a dream, with pretty roads and the much welcomed company of @astrehlow16 (Annamarie Strehlow). We worked together on the way back to town to keep the gap down to the chase pack and I was thrilled to push my best power and have fun working hard.
My run legs didn’t know quite what to do after that bike unfortunately, but I gave it my best shot and held on and was happy a tight hamstring leading into the race stayed at bay...
Fog & Bittersweetness...
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Tuesday, 19 September 2023 00:10
ONE LAST TRI COVERAGE - Bittersweet. The final tri of the season. This year's OLT Olympic and Sprint participants, 256 of whom crossed the finish line, were greeted with fog and coolish temps. We know that much. We weren't there, but it's fun to analyze results. Here's what we think happened, starting with the Olympic race. Two of our state's fastest guys, actually our state's hands-down fastest guy, PRESTON YOUNGDAHL and perennial podium finisher SAMUEL HAUCK separated themselves from the rest of the field shortly after the start. They swam fast, them Dr. Sam started cranking out 25+ mphs on his bike. Youngdahl started to crank his signature 27+ mphs, but somewhere along the line something went terribly wrong for Preston. He was passed by gaggles of triathletes and would have to run his way into the Top 5.
Meanwhile Hauck, who won this race convincingly --by 9:12--in 2018 in a brisk 1:58:09, was even faster and his margin convincinger than last time. He finished in 1:56:13, and had 18:09 to recover and rehydrate before the runner-up officialized his performance...
Marcus & Katie...
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Wednesday, 13 September 2023 00:10
Photo - Marcus Duval and his wife and another woman.
Square Lake Sprint Coverage - We have yet to gloat about predictions that come true, specifically about athletes predicted to win their first race.
Today, though, we will abort that policy. In our Square Lake Sprint preview, we predicted that KATIE KADERA would win the first race of her multi career. She had been a triathlete for several years, but seemed to, at age 35, be finally breaking through. Well, Katie did in fact win Sunday's race. More impressive were her solid splits across the board. And more impressive than that was that she came out on top by outswimming and out-transitioning her eventual runner-up ERIN WEILER, who was coming off a win at the YWCA Women's Triathlon.
Weiler had to outrun Rapid City, South Dakota's MANDI MEREDITH to earn the silver. The eventual margin between Erin and Mandi was only 18-seconds. Mandi came into the race with at least one 2023 win to her credit (Southern Hills Tri)....
Long Distance Weekend...
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Monday, 11 September 2023 00:10
Photo - Jason Larson at Ironman 70.3 Wisconsin.
IRONMAN 70.3 WISCONSIN - Minnesotans and those with strong MInnesota ties turned in impressive performances last Saturday at Madison 70.3. Leading the way in dominating fashion for the women was former Minnesota Rookie of the Year and Most Improved winner NICOLE HEININGER, who relocated from White Bear Lake to Madison, Wisconsin four years ago. Her time was very brisk--4:32:23--and the victory marked her third half IM win of 2023. On two of those occasions her runner-up was Twin Citizen CARY HERRICK (4:42:59 at Madison), who has podiumed in her last four halves, including a win at Chisago last July.
In addition to her wins at Madison, Milkman and Door County, Heininger also won Sprint Nationals last month. Add these Ws to her regional victories this year makes her, at least in our book, a strong candidate for US Athlete of the Year.
Finishing fifth overall woman her 70.3 debut last Saturday was rising star ELENA HENGEL (4:53:44), whose father CHUCK won the gold medal in the men's 60-64 AG....
Participants Giving Back...
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Wednesday, 06 September 2023 00:10
By Doobie Kurus
If the biggest issue the Hopkins Royal Tri had on race day this year was the lake water level being low forcing an impromptu rest stop on the swim course as sprint athletes walked through the channel before continuing on with their .4 mile swim, then I’ll take it! Everything else was frosting on the cake. Speaking of cake, 85 years young Judy “T-Rex” Rykken was presented with a cake, figurine, and flowers for a recognition of the roughly 200 multisport events she has done over the years. Judy was slated to compete in the tri, but was a late scratch, and decided to come volunteer instead.
People may have also noticed a lot of younger participants this year. People, like Josh Sell, have been making a concerted effort to recruit and prepare the next generation of triathletes. He brought out numerous members of his youth triathlon team..
