Race Coverage
#50 For Payne...
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Monday, 31 July 2017 23:10
CHISAGO LAKES SPRINT XII - We love to witness breakout performances, and the Chisago races never fail to deliver in that regard.
Let's start with the Sprint. On paper, MATTHEW PAYNE's 50th career win appeard to be, as they say, in the bag; as long as he doesn't crash, like he did at HOLT, or make a wrong turn, like he did at Lake Waconia.
Matt would indeed claim his landmark half-century W, but it wasn't easy. In fact, it was hard as heck, thanks to a breakout effort by 2015 Minnesota Junior of the Year NICK KLONNE, who dogged the Payne Plane (he's a pilot, you know!) the ENTIRE race.
When Matt topped the final hill and had only fifty downhill meters to go, the pesky Colorado School of Mines junior was still in his reaview mirror.
Payne had only ten seconds to catch his breath before Nick's timing chip burped for the final time. Klonne proved unequivocally that he is ready to bark with the Big Dogs. Good stuff!
For Payne, 40, his 1:16:33 was a masters record, lowering SCOTT PENTICOFF's 2010 mark by five seconds. Howevr, a glance at the splits suggest that the run was longer than 5K, at east a tenth, perhaps two.
Rounding out the men's podium was a guy who seems to be having breakout performances every time he races this season. We're talking about ANDY WIBERG, who finished only eight seconds behind Klonne (pronounced "Clone -nee")....
Walker & Hoot Lake Coverage...
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Monday, 31 July 2017 06:10
Fun Bringers (L-R) - Tiff, Leanne and Nicole.
WALKER TRIATHLON - Saturday's race, contested under ideal conditions on beautiful Walker Bay, was won by 2016 Rookie of the Year nominee JOEL LAFRANCE, and JACQUELYN BACIGALUPI, whose last name is Italian for "kiss of the wolf." Cool, huh? For LaFrance, the win was the 2nd of his young career. For Bacigalupi, it was her 3rd career W, and her second consecutive victory at Walker.
Joel's closest challenger was, unsurpringly, DAVID LEWIS, who was also 2nd the last time he raced here, which was in 2011. Third place went to THOMAS LOEGERING of West Fargo. He was 7th here in 2016, and more than two minutes faster this time around.
Just as unsurpring was TIFFANY KARI's silver and LEANNE BRONSON's bronze medal efforts. Bronson won the inaugural version of this race back in 2010.
Do you know Tiff and Leanne? They are both HOOTS!
Other outstanding performances were turned in sisters TAYLOR and SIMONE LUNDQUIST. Taylor, 17, took the junior title for the second straight year, and placed 4th overall for women. She also managed to break 1:20, her 1:19:07 the second fastest teen time in the eight-year history of the race. Simone, only 14, finished 6th overall in 1:24:56.
Divisional course records were set by NEIL KING, 67, whose 1:18:43 placed him 11th overall and lowered the 65-69M mark by an elephantine 26:01, JAN HANDLOS, 63, took her own 60-64W mark down from 1:30:14 to 1:28:28, and JOHN ROHDE. Rohde, 72, lowered his own 70-74M mark by a ton. RESULTS ...
The Dreaded "Clench"....
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Saturday, 29 July 2017 23:10
By Mike Ward (mikeward.cool)
Garry Bjorlund Half Marathon Race Report - It was fun to go back to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon after running Grandma’s Marathon the past three years (2014, 2015, and 2016). Leading up to the infamous Grandma’s weekend in Duluth, my training was pretty good. I was running faster and stronger than ever, had a huge bank of running volume from the Zumbro ramp-up in March, and had done a pretty nice job of sharpening up and running fast on top of big miles.
I set a 50 mile PR and a 5k PR both in April, but took a few weeks nearly entirely off shortly thereafter with an achilles tendon scare. Luckily, I nipped any injuries at the bud and felt pretty decent with my half marathon training. My workouts, tempo runs (NMTC spring race series), and long runs were consistent and I felt pretty spry on race week. Long ago, my goal was 1:15. I thought I could break 1:15, but barely, while plotting my racing calendar in January. I thought 1:14:59 would be a great goal time, but started to think I had a sub-73 minute run in me. High expectations....
More Stuff From Last Weekend...
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Tuesday, 25 July 2017 09:10
MOOSE LAKE TRIATHLON - Last Saturday's MLT had 62 finishers and was won by ANDERS BROMAN, a prolific 17-year-old triathlete from Eagan, and MARIA HAUER, 22, of Little Falls. Maria is an accomplished nordic skier and has a standard size poodle that she loves very much. For both athletes, we believe, it was their first multisport victory. Very cool. Anders, who has good taste in music ("Switchfoot," "Maclemore" etc.), is having a fine tri season--at least four divisional wins already this year--and will likely be among those teens considered for a Junior of the Year nomination at season's end. RESULTS
BUZZ RYAN SPRINT - ELAINE NELSON rocked her 15th career multisport victory last Sunday at the 5th edition of The Buzz. She has raced this event four times and been victorious on each occasion. Her male counterpart last weekend was 2016 Junior of the Year, MITCHELL CLAYTON, now 20. The win was the 6th of Mitchell's tri/du career. Approximately 130 athletes finished the Buzz, which included a Super Sprint that was won by DILLON NORGREN (photo) and Timberman co-director AMY DETTMER. Dillon has a six-pack, loves Batman movies and binge-watches "The Walking Dead" (Who doesn't?) on Netflix. Amy is one of the nicest people in the world despite having no patience for people who use their "outdoor voice" in the library. She has skied at the Silver Star resort in British Columbia. RESULTS
SHELL LAKE TRIATHLON - A pair of our state's elite masters popped over to Shell Lake, Wisconsin last Saturday and nabbed the top two spots for the men. Leading the way was DAN ARLANDSON, 41....
A Jurassic Experience....
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Sunday, 23 July 2017 09:10
BERTRAM BLAST II - Most know the gorgeous wilderness area near Monticello as Bertam Chain of Lakes Park. Last Saturday the park was transformed into the disco version of Jurassic Park, replete with dancing T-Rexes (photo).
Seriously cool.
Such was the awesome backdrop for the 2nd annual Bertam Blast Off Road Tri / Du / Trail Run, the brainchild of DR. BRETT ODEN, the man who gave us the Buffalo Triathlon. What he created at Bertram was a true "blast," as in a totally fun experience.
The event celebrated lots of good stuff, like the restorative power of nature, and the healthful and social benefits of a special event where "play" outranked "competition." It was all about fun, and creating wonderful memories.
And it truly did accomplished those things.
Dancing / high-fiving T-Rexes, arguably the cleanest lake in Minnesota, scenic single and double track trails, nummilicious food and great music. The vibe was relaxed and jovial. Jurassic Bertam was a great place to hang out; a great place to recharge one's batteries for a few hours....
Brian's First Win...
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Friday, 21 July 2017 23:10
Storhaug wins first triathlon at the Graniteman-Clearwater event.
By Brian Storhaug
Graniteman Clearwater Race Report - The Graniteman race season is comprised of three triathlons with a choice of sprint or olympic distances. The Buffalo Triathlon is typically held in early June and is the first race of the Graniteman season. The race is held at Sturges Park in the heart of downtown Buffalo, and is one of the most popular triathlons in Minnesota. The Clearwater race is held in early July and takes place at Warner Lake Park. The Graniteman season finishes up in the first part of August in Big Lake, MN at Lake Side Park.
On June 4th, Brian Storhaug participated in the first of the Graniteman races in Buffalo, MN. The route included a 500 yard swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run. He finished 2nd in his age group (25-29 males) and was 7th overall in the sprint race that featured 350 participants.
On Saturday, July 8th, Brian Storhaug navigated an 0.44 mile swim, 14 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run on his way to the finish line in Clearwater, MN. He was first in his age group (25-29 males) as well as first overall among the 166 racers. Brian covered the three legs in 1:08:41, a personal best for this course. ...
