Race Previews
Trinona 2014 Preview Stuff...
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Tuesday, 03 June 2014 04:10
RACE PREVIEW - Since its inauguration in '09, TRINONA has been a Top 5 finalist for "Triathletes Choice Race of the Year." In 2010 and 2011 it actually won the award....
Lofty Expectations...
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Monday, 02 June 2014 00:10
(Minnefotamoments PIc - A woman with awesome abs crosses the shady finish line at the 2012 Liberty Half.)
LIBERTY HALF PREVE - We're really excited about next Saturday's Liberty Half, which will be celebrating its 9th anniversary and its fourth year at the Lake Rebecca venue. The field is strong and, weather permitting, we could see overall and several AG course records fall.
There are at least five registered guys that can dip under 4:10, a feat that has never been accomplished at Liberty. In fact, only one dude, Matt Payne (4:07:39 - 2013), has cracked the 250-minute mark in the past. This year, however, we wouldn't be surprised to see Matt, former Canadian pro Danny Morwood (PR-4:07), four-time IM winner Dan Arlandson (PR - 4:06), 2013 Libert Runner-up Patrick Peacock (4:12:06) of Winnipeg, and Brian Sames (PR - 4:16 on a long course), who almost caught amateur champ Payne last year at Chisago, do that.
Jason Crisp, Kyle Serreyn, Justin Manning, John Heinlein and Chap Achen will provide a sturdy push. If all goes well, these guys should post times in the 4:11 - 4:20-range.
We don't expect to anyone to break Kortney Haag's CR-4:35:45, but we do expect a great race with a record number of women breaking 5-hours, which is to say, we think that more than six women will dip under the...
A Cool Event For a Great Cause...
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Sunday, 01 June 2014 00:10
Kids for a Cause Kids Triathlon in Fourth Year, Growing to Support Local, National and Global Causes
By Deb Hess
Kids for a Cause is hosting it's fourth annual kids triathlon. The kids triathlon was started by Barb and Avesh Thukral, in honor of the Thukral’s son, Julius, who was born with bilateral clubfeet and has received therapy treatment at Gillette Hospital in St. Paul and Clubfoot Solutions in Iowa City. The kids triathlon will be held on June 14 in St. Paul. Inspired by the resilience and positive attitude of her son Julius, Barb Thukral founded the kids triathlon as a way to demonstrate to children their strength and ability to make a difference, and as an expression of gratitude to those organizations, like Gillette and Clubfoot Solutions, that have helped her son Julius swim, bike, and run with his peers. ..
Porking Out in Iowa...
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Monday, 26 May 2014 06:10
PIGMAN SPRINT PREVIEW - HIstorically, Minnesotans have comprised a relatively small percentage--less than 10%--of Little Pig's annual enrollment, yet elite Loon Staters have dominated in the overall results. Since the turn of the century, Minnesota men have won 10 of the 13 editions of this event, which richly deserves its reputation at Iowa's premier sprint tri. The three events that weren't won by Minnesotans, were won by professionals, i.e. Dan Bretscher (IN, now of IA) in 2009, TJ Tollakson (IA) in 2007, and Will Smith (WI/NZL) in 2003. The top male amateurs in each of those races were from our side of the border: Brian Bich in 2008 and 2003, Kevin O'Connor in '09.
It should be noted that St. Paul athletes own the men's overall records: David Thompson set the pro record (1:00:57) in 2012, and Dan Hedgecock's amateur mark (1:01:56) was set in 2011. (Prior to the millennial change, Medina's Kevin O'Connor was the amateur CR holder. His time was approximately 20-seconds faster than Hedge's.) And FYI, the men's masters record is owned by Duluth's Brian Bich (1:02:33).....
Buffalo XI Predictions...
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Sunday, 25 May 2014 06:10
Photo - We found this cool art on the Buffalo Triathlon's Facebook page.We had to post it.
RACE PREVIEW - The popular Buffalo Triathlon will enter its second decade next Sunday. Brett Oden has ambitiously crafted an awesome event which consistently lures 1500 participants to beautiful Sturges Park. Though this year's registration is down slightly, thanks largely to our relentless and endless winter, we predict that the current trend of summer-like weather and the fact that Buffalo Lake has been warming up like a banshee will cause a nice bump in the enrollment over the final days leading up to the event.
Yes, we think it will ultimately field 1500 folks. (Help us make this happen, okay!)
Let's make some more predictions:
- Jon Balabuck (Thunder Bay, ONT) and Matthew Payne own the two fastest amateur times at TriBuff. Jon's CR is a 1:56:06, set in 2011. Matt's 1:56:40 was alo posted in '11. Jon and Matt are returning and we believe that they will duke it out for the Top Spot in the men's results. A win for Payne would keep his undefeated streak (in 2014) alive. We think he'll prevail....
Venerable...
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Monday, 19 May 2014 06:10
APPLE XXXII PREVIEW - Here's some historical stuff about our state's oldest (32-years) multisport event:
PRO MEN - COURSE RECORD (5K-33K-5K course, which has been used since 2004) - David Thompson - 1:19:57 (2010) - COMMENT: Since '04, DKT has raced here six times without a loss. He has posted four of this event's Top 5 fastest times. David plans to race in Sartell on Saturday.
PRO WOMEN - COURSE RECORD - Brianna Boehmer(WI) - 1:33:23 (2004) - COMMENT: A super person and former track and XC runner at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), Boehmer raced at Apple three times: 2004, 2005 and 2006. She won two of those races, and placed 2nd in the other....
