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Feelin' the Payne...

Monday, 18 November 2013 00:10

Long Distance Athlete of the Year - To win this award, Matt Payne had to beat out fellow official nominees, Michelle Andres, Diane Hankee and Emily Kratz. Cathy Yndestad, who's LD resume received a boost from her late-season victory at the Soma Half in Tempe, Arizona, was not in the "official mix," but probably should have been. Certainly her resume was strong enough.

Why did Matt win? Or should we ask why did Michelle, Diane or Emily did not?

In either case, here's a peek into the Committee's rationale.

Payne's resume featured five long course performances, only one of which--70.3 Worlds--was uncharacteristically medium-dazzle. He won two halves, one in course record time and placed 2nd in another. In that one, he earned the POY award for turning in the fastest amateur 70.3 time ever by a Minnesota amateur male. Also, his ultra-distance debut--Leadman Bend 250--resulted in a 2nd place finish in 9:08:11. Hard to beat.

How did his fellow nominees stack up? ...

Zoloft or Lexipro...

Sunday, 17 November 2013 00:10

Anatomy of a Lousy Season...

By Devon Palmer (palmertri.wordpress.com)

2013 will be a season to forget. I went into the year more focused than ever before on my training and racing. I had done far more work and far more workouts than ever before so how did it wind being a lousy season?

Training

The most interesting thing I, and maybe others, can learn from my experience this year is that even if you are racking up good numbers it is still possible for that work to be counterproductive. This was the first year I sustained 25-30 hours ...

Breaking Tape...

Friday, 15 November 2013 06:10

By Jenn Scudiero

USAT National Duathlon Championships - We arrived in Arizona at about midnight Thursday night/Friday morning. It was our first time away from parental duty and our daughter, Katelyn (2 years old). I thought that since I didn't have an alarm set, maybe I could actually sleep in. Nope. I was up less than 6 hours later. I guess even while away from my daughter, I still have the ‘mother alarm’. Oh well, up and at ‘em. After the first of several breakfasts at a local haunt recommended by Jasmine Carlson (photo below), I met up with her for packet pickup, a bike and then a run.

Things were feeling pretty good, but it was a lot warmer, drier and a bit more elevation in Tucson than at home. I also learned something very important on that bike ride. We were traveling down the highway and I saw a very pretty bush with flowers that was sticking out into the road. I didn’t think twice about letting it brush up against me. It turns out that everything in the desert wants to kill you. I thought that branch was going to take me right off my bike! The rest of the day was pretty...

Controversial Category...

Thursday, 14 November 2013 09:10

(Photo - Two-time Minnesota Duathlete of the Year, Suzie Fox.)

Duathlete of the Year - Selecting Athletes and performances of the year is an inherently controversial enterprise. The category generating the most controversy this year was Duathlete of the Year.

It started when the selection committee initially named only three nominees. It was felt at that time that the guys vying for the fourth nonimation--Mike Buenting and Dan Arlandson--were so evenly matched as to nullify each other. It was also hoped that a fourth nominee would emerge from USAT Duathlon Nationals, which took place almost three weeks ago. That didn't happen. Neither Mike nor Dan raced in Tucson.

Some may have been stunned by the announcement that Suzie Fox had won the award, believing that Jenn Scudiero was more deserving. After all, Scudiero had raced in eleven duathlons in 2013 and won seven of them. She won Duathlon Nationals, for cripesakes! Right?

How can a national champion, who incidently, is the frontrunner for the US Duathlete of the Year award, NOT be named her state's premier run-bike-runner? Moreover, how can a person with seven wins, lose to a person who had only three?

Kevin Vs Greg...

Wednesday, 13 November 2013 09:10

Master of the Year - Men - As with the women in the MOY category, wherein Jan Guenther edged-out Julia Weisbecker for the prize, the men's winner, Kevin O'Connor (photo L), won by a slim margin over Greg Taylor, who took home the MOY trophy last year. Kevin won it in 2011.

Before we explain the Committee's rationale for selecting O'Connor, we'll mention that the other two nominees--Brian Bich and Tony Schiller--also raced brilliantly, but their resumes lacked relative volume and long distance success. Kevin and Greg raced more often and excelled in both long and short races.

Let's look at their impressive resumes:

KEVIN O'CONNOR, 42, Medina -

1st amateur @ Pigman Sprint

1st overall @ Liberty Olympic - Course Record

1st overall @ Manitou Duathlon...