Race Previews

Duathlon Day 2015...

Monday, 11 May 2015 00:10

Sunday, May 17, should be called "Du Day '15." On that morning, Minnesota's multisporters have three great run-bike-runs to choose from. Here are the choices. We certainly hope that you pick one of them.

GEAR WEST DU - This event will be 23-years-old on Sunday. It starts and finishes at Orono HS and features great cross country run courses. The GWD is arguably the most competitive non-championship duathlon in the US, and this year's field is going to be as talented as ever. We're especially excited to see who comes out on top of the Patrick Parish/Matt Payne and Suzie Fox/Elaine Nelson head-to-heads. It's important to understand that this is much more than an arena for elites. Everyone is welcome with open arms and the amenities are abundant. RACE WEBSITE

ESPRIT De SHE - This women-only event in Lakeville will be celebrating it's 3rd anniversary. Participants are treated royally and you won't find better gifts or giveaways anywhere. Check out these words we purloined from the event's...

website:

Get ready to run and ride through the countryside at the Gildan Esprit de She Lakeville Duathlon, beginning and ending across from King Park at Life Time Fitness Lakeville.

Once you reach the finish, the Gildan Esprit de She signature post-race rendezvous awaits! Salute your success with a drink at our Bubbly Bar and enjoy tasty tapas and energetic tunes while browsing our bustling, community market showcasing fresh produce, local artisans, creative projects and more! Plus, the pool at Life Time Fitness Lakeville will be open to participants and their friends and family for a finisher's pool party. MORE INFO

ALBERT LEA DUATHLON - Also known as the Land Bewteen the Lake Du, this 2nd year event is the offspring of the LBTL Triathlon, which launched in 2005. This event is "intimate," i.e. it's smaller than the Esprit De She (700ish entrants) and Gear West (300ish entrants) races, but it has a lot going for it. The small town pride is palpable, the vibe is laid back and the courses are scenic and not exceedingly challenging. We encourage everyone, especially those who reside in communities south of the Twin Cities to check out this Big Hearted event. You'll be glad you did. RACE WEBSITE

ALSO: The MTN Guys want to help USAT make it's June 6 Duathlon Nationals in St. Paul the best it can be. An event of this magnitude needs lots of enthusiastic volunteers. Here's what we posted on Facebook:

Hey Everyone, If you're not planning to race on June 6, please consider volunteering at the USAT National Duathlon Championships in downtown St. Paul. Every event needs volunteers, and it takes even more of them to produce a major championship. Please think about it and encourage your friends to get involved, too. For info on volunteering, link here: http://www.usatriathlon.org/…/duathlon-natio…/volunteer.aspx