Race Previews
Hanna and Patrick...
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Monday, 02 December 2019 23:10
2019 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Today we reveal the PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR:
Female POY Nominees:
HANNA GRINAKER - 2nd US amateur @ Hawaii Ironman World Championships - 9:55:57
HANNA GRINAKER - Win @ Buffalo Olympic - Course Record - 2:06:57
DANI VSETECKA - Win @ Texas 70.3 - 4:23:56 (fastest women's 70.3 time in 2019)
CATHY YNDESTAD - Win--her 8th!--@ Minneapolis Olympic - Course Record - 2:05:33
WINNER - HANNA GRINAKER's 2nd US amateur @ Kona - 9:55:57
Though Hanna received all five 1st place votes here, there were strong arguments for all the performances, plus a few of Becky Youngberg's, as well. In the end, it was
Ironman's "Super Bowl" mystique that prevailed here.
"I'm Fine"....
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Thursday, 10 October 2019 23:10
By Hanna Grinaker(thefitspace.com)
I was chatting with a friend of mine a couple weeks back about my nerves leading into Kona. As a coach, he offered some invaluable advice--"Why don't you write yourself a letter?" He suggested I start to question what I would tell myself to do when negative thoughts start to intrude (cause they almost always do for everyone), and how I would coach myself to respond. In thinking of myself as the athlete I was coaching, rather than just the voice inside my own mind, I became more compassionate, calm and clear, giving me the peace and reassurance I know I needed.
Dear Hanna,
You've made it! It's the Ironman World Championships. An event you have looked forward to for over an entire year. That's a long time to be focused on something. I know you're nervous. How could you not be for something you have put so much of your time, energy and resources into? I also know you are worried. You are anxious. You are worried about feeling dizzy (sometimes this has happened to you and we haven't figured out why). You are worried about getting body slammed in the swim and losing your focus. You are worried about mechanical issues and wind on the bike, and finally, you are worried about staying focused and consistent (and not fading too badly) on the run, or even not finishing for that matter. With a 9 and a half hour day in front of you, these concerns are valid, but giving them weight and energy doesn't help you either. ....
2019 Most Improved Men....
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Wednesday, 09 October 2019 23:10
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - There are several guys who have yet to earn a spot on Team Minnesota, but are vying for spots this year. We suspect that two or more of the guys we are profiling here will make the 2019 Team, but only one of the them will receive the "MOST IMPROVED" designation.
Four men from the following list will receive official MI nominations. Here, in alpha order, are those men and their 2019 racing highlights:
JACOB KEEHAN, 30, Maple Grove
2019 Highlights:
3rd @ Gear West Duathlon
4th @ Minneapolis Triathlon
5th @ Lake Minnetonka
11th amateur @ Ironman Wisconsin - 9:33:07
COMMENT: What impressed us most about Jacob was his race selection. He chose our region's most competitive races, and raced admirably against established elites.
Triathletes Need to Eat A LOT!
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Tuesday, 24 September 2019 12:10
By Hanna Grinaker (thefitspace.com)
As a dietitian, and triathlete, I get asked what I eat in a day, A LOT. I think most people assume that because I went to school for nutrition and am highly active, I must eat perfectly. I wish I could say that were the truth but it is most definitely not. Like anyone, I can sometimes eat too much (or not enough), choose the wrong snacks at the wrong time (that don’t energize and/or satiate me), and forget to drink water. And believe me, I have done all of these, and I will do them again. And again. However, I can’t get away with these seemingly small mistakes as much as I used to. Now, if I am not fueled well or hydrated enough, my workouts suffer massively. And when I am asking my body to show up for me day after day, I can’t afford to get behind.
Even after a solid 20+ year athletic career, I am still learning what works best for me. As a former runner, I remember very clearly focusing on what I could remove from my diet, rather than add, to get faster. Leanness was the goal. I didn’t strive for thinness for the sake of vanity, although there might have been some of that, but I thought you had to be thin to be fast. That belief created some pretty negative eating...
Minnesota's Last Tri of the Season...
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Tuesday, 10 September 2019 23:10
ONE LAST TRI - For most Minnesota triathletes, the 2019 season has concluded. For others, training continues in preparation for Kona or Ironman races in Tempe or Panama City. Others have their sights set on upcoming 70.3 events, like Augusta, Cozumel or Tempe.
There are others, however, that are not ready to retire the wetsuit and racing wheels until next year, and are hungry for at least one more close-to-home race.
The good news is that there is one more triathlon (and one more du after that) on the Minnesota schedule. It is appropriately named One Last Tri, and it's 14th edition is happening this Sunday at Ramsey County Beach on the northern shoreline of majestic White Bear Lake.
The event features Olympic-esque and Sprint races, with an Aquabike option as well.
Typically, we would mention some of the athletes that will be racing, but we haven't seen an entrant list. We do expect hometown folks like "LEVEL 7" TOM COUILLARD, ever-smiling MICHEL SANDERS and likely Grand Master of the Year nominee LUKE HARNED to be there.
And DANI VSETECKA, winner of eleven of the 18 multis she's done in her elite career, including the OLT in 2016, told us that she was entered, thus we know one of the favorites.
We wouldn't be surprised in Dani's fiance, rookie pro TED TREISE (pronounced "Try -See") also decides to race....
Square Lake & IMOO Notes...
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Tuesday, 03 September 2019 23:10
SQUARE LAKE WEEKEND PREVIEW (Sort of) – The Square Lake Short Course Triathlon will celebrate its 20th anniversary next Sunday. The Square Long Course race, now a full 70.3, will turn 19 on Saturday.
We have not seen an entrant list for the shorter race, thus we cannot comment on the competition.
We haven't seen a list of 70.3 participants either, but we know that three of state's true elites will be competing, two of which—JOSH MORK (photo) and KORTNEY HAAG--are coming off huge victories at Chisago, and the other –BECKY YOUNGBERG—has been the runner-up at Chisago the last two years.
Josh's breakout 4:09:52 back on July 28 puts a target on his back. Though he probably won't be able to match that time on Square Lake's seriously challenge course, he can be expected to beat last year's winning time, JESSON KEENE's 4:22:21. But, by how much? We predict a 7-10 minute lowering.
Becky had this to say, via Messenger, about her match-up with Kortney:
“...to beat her she needs to swim bad and I need to have a great day in all 3 disciplines 'cause I can’t match her on the bike, and 56 miles is a long way. If it’s cool weather I race really good though! Should be a good one. We have had some epic battles over the years!
