Race Previews

Turtles & Tube Steaks...

Friday, 12 August 2011 03:00

* Kevin O'Connor has set hot dog distribution records at the T-Man. Over the years, tens of thousands of tube steaks have flown off Kevin's grill. At times his right hand, the one that works the tongs, is a blur. In one bleary motion, perfectly cooked doggies are lifted and bunned, while uncooked weenies are grabbed and placed on the spots just vacated by their grill-striped brothers (hot dogs are boys). It's a beautiful thing to behold.

* Many of our state's best triathletes have had breakout performances at Turtleman. Sam Hauck (2008), Dan Cohen (2007), Brett Lovaas (2006), Mary Beth Tuttle (2007), Heidi Keller-Miler (2007), Doug Davis (2000) and Matt Payne (2010) have referred to their victories here as the highlight of their respective careers. Hauck's come-from-way-way-behind-to-win in 2008 led to a Most Improved award and a Triathlete of the Year nomination. The field of women that Keller-Miler beat in '06 was by far the deepest of that year. Cohen was winless until T-Man '07. He's won 11 more races since then. Good stuff.

* This year's race features a stellar men's field, including 2010 US AOY HM, Patrick Parish, defending champ Matt Payne, 2009 US Duathlete of the Year Kevin O'Connor, Chad Millner, Steve Sander and a bunch of other totally fast guys.

The women's field is not quite as deep, as Sunday's YWCA Tri has lured many of our state's fastest girls. Still, we expect a super race at Turtle Lake Park.