Race Coverage
Leaving It All On The Course...
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Tuesday, 28 June 2011 03:20
ED. Heidi Keller-Miler is racing like a banshee this year. Two big wins, a 2nd and a 3rd so far. She is also an "Old Schooler," who loves slobbery aggressive racing and doesn't mind losing when it is clear that she and her adversaries have, as they say, left it all on the course. She loves to push the red line and all the grunting and gasping and distended veins that goes with it. It was this aggressive style of racing that defined what unfolded at the front of the women's pack on Sunday at Lake Waconia XXII. The photos of Becky Youngberg and Michelle Andres were generously provided by Nick of TriJuice.com.
A Race to Remember...
By Heidi Keller-Miler
Unfortunately there normally aren't a whole lot of women racing in the elite wave so it was really a blast to be part of the best & biggest field of the year thus far in 2011. There were 19 women in the elite division at LWT. That is one more than the men had toeing the line, that has to be a first! So it was quite a raucous start with all 37 of us heading out in the same wave. The swim start...
Brisk Racing At Hiniker....
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Monday, 27 June 2011 03:00
Race Coverage - Times were brisk at Sunday's North Mankato Triathlon, and hometowner Todd Landgraff's clocking--57:33--was the briskest of all. It appeared that Todd had managed to lower Sam Janicki's year-old race best by a full minute, but this year's swim course was measured differently than in year's past and believed to be a scosh short.
Landgraff, a delightful fellow, was also victorious here in 2009.
Runner-up Taggart Downare, 41, of St. Cloud, turned in a 58:16. Had the swim been full distance it is quite likely that he would have lowered Dan Friedrich's previous masters record (1:01:00 in 2009). David Hercules Lyon, 49, of Schofield, WI (formerly Mankato) muscled his way into the Top 3 with a totally fast 59:25.
Stellar performances for cinco-genarians Brad Johnson, 51 (North Mankato) and Greg Taylor, 57, of Yankton, SD (formerly Mankato) landed them both in the Top 10. Brad was 6th in 1:01:47. Taylor, Minnesota's Master of the Year in 2010, finished 8th in 1:02:49....
Becky Is So Back & Other Cool Weekend Stuff...
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Sunday, 26 June 2011 13:59
* Lake Waconia - The women's race at the Lake Waconia Triathlon has never been more exciting. It all came down to the run and six girls were in contention for the win. Ya had to be there!
In the end, though, it was Becky Youngberg (photo L) who came out on top, proving emphatically that it won't take the full season for her regain the form that had produced 25+ multi wins. (As some moron predicted in an earlier post.)
There will be lots more words and photos on Monday and Tuesday, and not all of them will be dedicated to the thrilling women's contest. There were plenty of great story lines in the men's race, too. For instance, Dan Hedgecock won for the 6th straight time this season, doing so in course record, and perhaps, Performance of the Year, fashion.
Then there were the Best of the US slots. Minnesota will be sending a truly righteous team of national level stars to the Gulf coast in September. We repeat: Lots more words will be follow. Stay tuned, okay?
Weekend Racing...
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Saturday, 25 June 2011 13:08
(Wally Milbrath Photo - Some of the medicated members of western Wisconsin's Wild River Tri Club.)
Croixathlon VI - Cathy Yndestad's return to racing this morning following a severely dislocated clavicle, resulted in the 48th victory of her storied career. A further bonus for the Minnesota Athlete of the Decade was the fact that she managed to outrace her husband, Kerry, with whom she had a bet: The loser had to buy lunch.
And speaking of lunch, men's runner-up, Dan Cohen, who won this event in 2010 and 2009 and has a new girlfriend who is very pretty and charming, ordered the #10 Hot Wings at Barker's Bar & Grill in downtown Hudson after the race. "Are you sure?" the wary waitress asked when he made order.
Cohen later scarfed up all 12 of the magma-dipped chicken arms, a feat that astounded everyone in the establishment.
Dan is our hero! Totally!....
Capitol Reports...
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Saturday, 25 June 2011 03:00
(Photo - A swimmer in the Potomac who is probably not Patrick Parish.)
ED. Patrick Parish and DKT reached their respective podiums at Washington DC 5150 last weekend. Here are their stories:
ADMIRING THE SIGHTS...
By Patrick Parish
DC was a fun race. I stayed with a couple in Alexandria, which allowed me to bike commute to and from the race venue. They were also avid cyclists and went out of their way to show me around, which made all the difference in my experience.
Leading up to the race, I was worried about the swim in the Potomac. The horrified looks from the locals I asked about it didn't help. Fortunately, my most recent collection of cuts and scrapes healed or scabbed over before the race. As a precautionary measure, I've been pounding vitamin C since the Friday before the race and I have yet to come down with the plague, so hopefully I'm out of the woods in that regard....
People Stuff...
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Tuesday, 21 June 2011 03:20
Newsy Notesy Stuff - Congratulations are in order! According to our records, Duluth's premier multisportsman, Brian Bich (photo L), now 45, recorded his 40th career triathlon win last Saturday at the Dakota Man near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
One of America's most decorated amateur triathletes, Bich is a former USAT Master of the Year (2008), an award he's been nominated for three times, and was US Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention in 2005. He has won nine MMAs, four of which were for Triathlete of the Year, and has cracked the overall Top 10 at Nationals on four occasions. And he has twice reached the podium at the Best of the US National Championship (2005, 2008)....
