Race Previews

PP in the Desert...

Thursday, 19 April 2012 02:30

Race Preview - The 2012 USAT Duathlon AG National Championships will take place in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley on Saturday, April 28. Minnesota is only sending six athletes this year, but one of them could win the whole darn thing outright.

We're talking about Patrick Parish (photo L), a soft-spoken Dukie who looks great in a suit and is diligent about his dental hygiene. He has won 19 races in four years, and three of those were duathlons. Check out his complete du resume:

2011 - 1st amateur @ Turtleman Du. 2nd @ Gear West

2010 = 1st amateur / 2nd overall @ Gear West. 1st amateur / 3rd overall at Apple.

2009 - 2nd @ Turtleman Du. 7th @ Gear West. 7th amateur @ Apple.

Notice his improvement between 2009 and 2010? Whoa! ...

PP's run and bike skills are as good as any amateur duathlete's in the US, especially now that Dan Hedgecock, who WON the US Elite Duathlon Championship a few weeks back, has got his pro card. OUR PREDICTION: Patrick will totally podium on the 28th.

We've asked Mr. Parish via email to comment on his goals and expectations. We will post his words as soon as we receive them.

Other Minnesotans who are signed up for Du Nationals are: Jasmine Carlson, Ben Ewers, Todd Firebaugh, Derick Podratz (photo L) and Bob Powers.

Jasmine (photo R) is ardently gorgeous and speaks Spanish and American and lives in the minisculian berg of Becida in Hubbard County. We don't know where it is either. She likes to sing and "Despicable Me" is one of her favorite movies ever. She placed 13th overall at Iron Girl last fall.

Ben Ewers is 66 and has twice been named Minnesota Grand Master of the Year. In 2011, he earned USAT GMOY Honorable Mention. He lives in North Oaks and travels a lot to exotic places, suggesting a high degree of financial comfortability. We totally envy him that. He's also a great looking guy for his age, which really isn't that old, is it?

And speaking of handsomeness, Todd Firebaugh has movie star good looks. He just turned 50 and we wouldn't be surprised if he podiumed in his AG. Yeah. He's really good. Firebaugh lives in Woodbury and has a son named Pierce, which is a seriously cool name, don't you think?

Derick Podratz lives in Lino Lakes and is a veteran of Du Nationals and Du Worlds competition. He has 187 Facebook friends and looks really good in sunglasses.

Bob Powers is 88 and lives in White Bear Lake. Gosh, we love this guy. A gregarious fellow, we expect him to make 1300 new friends during his Southwestern sojourn. Bob eats breakfast at Key's (a wonderful eatery on 4th Street in WBL) almost every morning. He typically orders wheat toast with peanut butter,