Race Previews

Cinco du Taco...

Monday, 30 April 2012 03:30

Race Preview - A record turn-out is expected for next Saturday's Cinco du Mayo Duathlons at beautiful Square Lake. The races hope to lure 300+ total participants and are well on their way to accomplishing that. And according to The Weather Channel, the high and low temps in the Stillwater area for May 5 are expected to be 72 and 56 respectively under partly cloudy skies, which is the glass-half-empty way of saying partly sunny skies. It the forecast holds, conditions will be perfect for du-ing.

Cinco Du features a long course race (5K-20m-5K), which is celebrating its 5th anniversary on Saturday, and a shorty (2-10-2), that is turning three. The event also features post-race tacos (and other great Mexican munchables) that are nothing short of nummilicious. Not signed up yet? Click on the graphic (L) to go to the race's reg. page.

A glance at the current list of enrollees has gotten us excited. Several of our region's top athletes will be there and, as always, more can be expected to show as race day nears. The women's field looks especially stout, featuring the participation of 2011 Rookie of the Year Ruth Brennan Morrey, two-time Cinco Long Course champion...

Diane Hankee, and Jennifer Scudiero, who placed 2nd last weekend at Falls Du.. They are sure to be joined by several talented late-reggers, perhaps even 2011 Duathlete of the Year, Suzie Fox, 2011 Triathlete of the Year Claire Bootsma, who finished 2nd here last year, 2010 Duathlete of the Year Jenny Wilcox, who owns Cino's LC record, as well as folks like Joanna Hall and Nordica Stocker, who is a totally cool person (they all are, really!), girls who have crashed this party in the past.

Cinco du Mayo is much more than just a wonderful tune-up for our state's older, nationally-competitive spring run-bike-run events. We're talking about the 11-year-old Oakdale Du, the 20-year-old Gear West Du, and The Apple, which will celebrate it's 30th! birthday on May 26. Cinco, like fellow upstart, Falls Du, are growing events that have earned the right to be spoken of with the same reverence as their older counterparts. It's fun and has scenic, challenging courses and an infectious convivial taco atmosphere.