Race Previews

Rock Star Sisterhood and Great Destinations...

Saturday, 13 August 2011 03:00

(Photos - Kort & Boots doing that voodoo, that they do, so well.)

Race Previewette - 1239 women have registered for the 4th annual YWCA Women's Triathlon. A record turnout. More than half of them are tri-virgins. 38 are over 60 years old. That's unbelievably cool! 159 are participating in the Family Competition, i.e. teams consisting of sister/sister or mother/daughter.

This event is about gender empowerment and comraderie, celebrating healthy lifestyles, and important stuff like that. What happens at the front of the race is secondary; a bonus for those of us that like that sort of thing.

MTN likes that sort of thing. A lot. Finds it inspiring. We love and embrace heroes and heroines....

This year's race will feature, we believe, a knock-down-drag-out battle for first place between Claire Bootsma and the finally healthy Kortney Haag. Boots will be gunning for her 5th win of the season. Kort hopes to pick up her first W, and use it as a springboard to what she hopes will be her 2nd career victory at the Pigman Half, which will be staged next weekend. For Claire, a win over a competitor of Kortney's stature will boost her confidence as she heads to Nationals on the 20th.

Good stuff.

Lydia Novotny, who has a bejeweled bellybutton (photo L) owns the event's course record: 1:14:00. What will it take to win on Sunday? Crunching numbers, e.g. 7-8 minute swim, 38 minute bike, 19-20 minute run plus T-times, we think that, weather permitting, we'll see a 1:09.

There are plenty of fast girls who will be pushing Claire and Kort, including Novotny, who is a two-time Y-Winner. Last year's runner-up, Greta Simpson, is returning, as is 2008 champ Laura Swartz, who has the biggest smile in St. Louis Park and enjoys drinking margaritas by candlelight (photo below). Two-time Tri Minnesota Series winner, Brooke Larsen, will also be racing.

Our pick for the final podium spot, however, is Ann Snuggerud, who in addition to being fast, is very, very pretty. Her 20111 resume, which features Top 3s at Lake Minnetonka and Timberman, plus a 4:56 half IM debut at Chisago, is impressive and promises to get even impressiver.

YWCA Women's Tri organizers treat their event's participants like rock stars, and totally cool race director, Nicole Cueno, is, in her own words, "SO psyched....Can't wait!"

We can't wait either. If you're not doing anything on Sunday morning, head over to Lake Nokomis. You'll be glad you did. The atmosphere will bristle with electricity and celebration.