Race Coverage

Big Hats & Avocados...And Other Stuff...

Monday, 04 May 2015 00:10

Photo - Heiney and Hadley's mom looking damn good in their Big hats.

CINCO DU MAYO - Have you ever been to Mexico? It's an awesome place. Sure, it needs paint and that drug cartel stuff isn't cool, but it has given the world some bueno cosa, which is Mexican for "Good Stuff."

Like what, you ask?

Tacos, Guacamole and Big hats, just to name a few things. Coincidentally, all of those great Mexican things were part of the Cinco Du Mayo Duathlons, which happened last Saturday at Square Lake Park. Winners of the event got a sombero, the world's coolest type of hat, a couple of avocados, a tomato, tostada chips, salsa and hot sauce, Margarita mix and a plastic Margarita glass. Sure, none of the stuff actually came from Mexico, which should to be pronounced "Meh-He-Coe," though the avocados, which are either a fruit or a vegetable (noboby knows for sure), are probably from South America, but it was definitely Mexican inspired.

So winners made out like banditos, right? Yup!  ...

What did the other two-hundred participants get? They got tacos. Not just any tacos. Not the Taco Bell kind of tacos which aren't really made with actual food, but foodlike substances, but Casa Lupita tacos, that are real, authentic food-containing tacos.

The participants were also treated to the best weather in the eight year history of the event. Temps at the start were in the low 60s and climbed to about 71 degrees. The day was clear with scattered clouds and light winds. It was a great day for everybody, athletes, volunteers and spectators alike.

So who won hats and the Mexican gift baskets?

In the long course (5K-20 miles - 5K), which is actually USAT Standard distance, approximating the distances that will be used at Du Nationals in St. Paul on June 6, a three-way battle between Brian Sames, defending champ Devon Palmer and Bennet Isabella unfolded, with Sames prevailing in the end. He was beaten by Devon the previous weekend at Falls Du, thus he was able to exact some sweet revenge. It was Same's 16th career multisport victory.

Heiney, aka Nicole Heininger, aka Nikki Jean, like Sames, was a late sign-up who went on to win. It was the sixth career W for the 2013 Minnesota Rookie of the Year. After the race, Heiney smiled a lot and wore her well-earned sombero.

The other podium spots in the long course went to Kelsey Rolf and podium recidivist Stephanie Feakes-Young, who always rocks socks at Cinco. Rolf's effort was a breakout performance and because it doesn't appear that she has raced in three prior multis, may earn herself a 2015 Rookie of the Year nomination if she continues to rock n roll like she did on Saturday.

According to her FB page, Kelsey likes dogs and clean teeth. Her boyfriend is much, much taller than she is.

Rocking runaway victories in the short course du were "Elite DILF" Steve Stenzel, who also won here in 2013, albeit in time that was 2:08 slower than on Saturday, which made him extremely happy, that, and being an Elite DILF, and Lisa Lendway, who placed 2nd overall and set a course record. Lisa is the mother of two daughters, Hadley and the other one, and has raced in two multis thus far in 2015, winning big each time and setting CRs in the process. It appears that this high performances thing is becoming a habit for the 34-year-old sombero wearer.

Finishing 2nd for the women was Shelley Tschida, whose last name is pronounced "Cheetah." No kidding. RESULTS

OTHER STUFF - We're anxious to receive and re-post race reports by Heather Lendway (St. Anthony's on April 26), Cathy Yndestad (photo L), who kicked off her Euro racing season on Sunday at Pays D'Aix 70.3 (7th amatuer), a place in France that has a great fountain and lots of fancy cheese, and Ruth Brennan Morrey, who raced at the North American 70.3 Championships in polygamous St. George, Utah last Saturday. Her splits were VERY un-Ruth-like and we're anxious to hear what she has to say.