Race Previews

Minnesota's Awesome Spring Du Season is Here!

Monday, 23 April 2012 11:00

Falls Du Preview - Minnesota's multisporters will be scattered across the US landscape this weekend. Some will be in St. Petersburg, Florida, competing against 3500 others at the 29th edition of St. Anthony's Triathlon. Others will be in Tucson, Arizona, competing at USAT Du Nationals. Most will remain in-state, racing in Morris (UMM-Tinman), St. Peter (Take the Hill Triathlon), Mankato (MSU Spring Tri), or in Cannon Falls at the 4th annual Falls Duathlon.

Produced by the great folks at Final Stretch, the FD launches what we think of as "Minnesota's Awesome Spring Duathlon Season", which consists of five well-established and totally excellent run-bike-runs:

* Falls Duathlon (Cannon Falls - 4/28)

* Cinco du Mayo (Square Lake - 5/5)...

* Oakdale Duathlon (Lake Elmo - 5/12)

* Gear West Duathlon (Orono - 5/20)

* Apple Duathlon (Sartell - 5/26)

The combined ages of these events is 70 years, which is the equivalent of 490 Dog Years. How cool is that!

Also, there's a new du this spring in Fergus Falls. It's called the Central Lakes Duathlon and we'll magnanimously encourage you to race there even though that event does not advertise on MTN.

Minnesota also has an autumnal du season, which starts the last week of August and currently consists of five races.

Back to Falls. As this is written, approximately 250 people have enrolled. We'd love to see that number swell into the 300s by race day.

Based on current sign-up, the men's fave will once again be Chad Millner, who is a totally decent human being. He'll be going for his 3rd consecutive victory here. 2009 champ Jesse Nelson, also a heckuva guy, is also enrolled and expected to reach the podium.

At this point in time it appears that Jennifer Scudiero, who had an awesome du season in 2010 (she placed 2nd at Falls that year), is the women's favorite, though don't be surprised if any of following fellow studettes are among the late registrants: Julie Hull (2010 winner), Ruth Brennan Morrey (2011 winner), Joanna Hall, Brooke Larsen and 2011 Duathlete of the Year, Suzie Fox.

Will you be making the trek to Cannon Falls on Saturday? Race director Mark Bongers hopes so. And so do we. INFO & REGISTRATION

ALSO:

PRESS RELEASE - Gear West Duathlon is rapidly approaching on May 20th, 2012. Don