Race Previews

74 Newbies & Captain Upright...

nistler.gifED. Last weekend we asked Hopkins Royal Triathlon Founder/Director Doobie Kurus if we could peak at his entrants list so we could post a race preview. The race is next Saurday (August 30) at Shady Oak Park. This was the Doobster's reply:
 
A couple of interesting notes:  The race sold out back in July at 315 people.  Devon Palmer and Kortney Haag are our guest emcee/announcers.  Over 60% of the field are women.  The oldest competitor is 84 (John Markham) and the youngest is 12.  We have 15 each competing as Clydesdales and Athenas.  We have 74 trying the Newbies distance.  We have 4 sisters, daughters of retired triathlete, Charles "Bud" McJilton (over 90 years old now) in the field, one coming from Seattle, WA.  We have a Chaska school teacher, Josh Sell, who is doing triathlons to raise awareness and money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for kids w/ cancer. 
 
The best story yet is Heather Nistler (photo L), a school nurse from McGregor, MN.  She had reconstructive shoulder surgery, and her doctors told her she might never swim again. Early on her road back to recovery, she couldn't even swim one length in the pool without stopping to reach for the wall in pain.  She trained all summer, and finally built up to a 1/2 mile swim...

Read more ...

The "Fun Size" Equalizer...

kris-and-gaby.gifLIFE TIME TRI - MAPLE GROVE - According to Gaby Bunten's Facebook page, Kris Spoth (pronounced "Spoath") is like the best boyfriend ever.

We'll take her word for it because we've met him and he seems to be a great guy. Besides, we really like the shirt he's wearing in the photo (L).

And what are those long things sticking out of their tropical drinkie-poohs? Back scratchers?

We digress.

Kris is a two-time winner of the Maple Grove Triathlon's Collegiate competition. On one of those occasions (2012), he won the race outright. His 2:03:07 is the fastest amateur time at MGO.

Gaby (pronounced "Gabby") is also a past collegiate champ here.

Because the Maple Grove Olympic Triathlon is the third and final event in Life Time's Minnesota Series, we thought it would be totally cool to employ a Life Time-esque "Equalizer" to determine if the boyfriend outraced the girlfriend ...

Read more ...

Another Superior Experience...

duluth-park.gifSUPERIOR MAN III - The MTN Guys are giddy with excitement about next Sunday's Superior Man races. A companion event, the "41.5" has been added and we love its bike-heavy distances: .5 mile swim - 35.4 mile bike - 5.6 mile run. The format is reminiscent of the short-lived, yet awesome, TriStar event that used to be associated with the Maple Grove Triathlon.

Before we make some predictions about the half IM, which was named "Triathletes Choice Race of the Year" in 2013, we will say that our picks to win the "41.5", based on last week's list of entrants, are YWCA Women's Tri director Nicole Cueno and Kiwi transplant David Phillips.

A decorated distance runner, Cueno is a parttime triathlete who tends to win or place highly every time she shows up, which is rarely more than once a year. In 2014, however, she has already raced twice, winning on both occasions with fast times....

Read more ...

Lake Marion Tri Stuff...

katie-buhr.gif(Photo - Elysian winner Katie Buhr, at podium hopeful at Lake Marion Olympic next Sunday.)

7th Annual LAKE MARION TRIATHLON - Approximately 400 participants are anticipated for the 7th edition of this great event. Not a bad turnout considering that the LMT shares the weekend with six other Minnesota tris and Iowa's Pigman Half and Olympic.

This event's Lakeville venue is outstanding and its athlete (and spectator!) perks are plentiful.

Here is some history, including past champions and the AG records on the current Olympic and Sprint courses:

Olympic Course History (2011 - 2013):

2013 - 1.  Dennis Dane - 2:05:22- Course Record & Cathy Yndestad - 2:15:57

2012 - 1. Kye Serreyn - 2:05:58 & Cathy Yndestad - 2:15:41

2011 - 1. Josh Blankenheim - 2:06:40 & Cathy Yndestad - 2:14:12 - CR

AG Records:

00-19: Nick Traxler - 2:33:26 (2011) & Elizabeth Hartell - 3:14:36 (2013)...

Read more ...

DKT Gunning For #10....

dkt-wetsuit.gif17th Annual PIGMAN HALF - A victory for David Thompson (Cool YndeCam Photo L) next Sunday at Big Pig would be a milestone, marking the 10th time he has won our region's first half IM. It will also be his 19th career win at the 70.3 distance and the 93rd (!) first place finish in his multisport career.

Winning is not a foregone conclusion, though. He'll be facing fellow pro Adam Bohach from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Our records show that DKT has faced Bohach on several occasions and has yet to lose to him. Still, Adam will be a force to be reckoned with. He has raced in two halves this season, breaking 4-hours both times. And he placed 2nd (3:57:03) behind Thompson (3:54:17) at Pigman last year.

David is still our pick to win. He has rest--he hasn't raced in the two weeks leading up to Sunday's race--and muscle memory on his side.

Once again, our pick to win the amateur title is Kevin O'Connor, who set a masters CR (4:07:52) here in 2013. Like DKT, KO has creds and muscle memory in his corner.....

Read more ...

Minnesota's Premier Spectator Triathlon...

claire-and-carrots.gif(Photo - Triathlete/nurse/farmer Claire Bootsma is a three-time YWCA Women's Tri champion.)

7th Annual YWCA WOMEN'S TRIATHLON - This year's YWCA race promises to be the most competitive yet, and will undoubtedly have a major impact on MMA nominations. The favorite, of course, will be two-time USAT National Champion Heather Lendway, who is undefeated in 2014 and the clear frontrunner to win the US Athlete of the Year award. Records fall every time she races and her elephantine margins of victory are reminiscent of those of the 2006 ITU Amateur World Champion: A woman named Chrissie Wellington. You may have heard of her.

Wellington, of course, got her pro license in 2007 and went on to an undefeated record in Ironman races.

Claire Bootsma has won the YWCA Tri the last three years and owns the course record, a 1:07:25, set last year. We predict that HL will break 1:05. We also...

Read more ...

2024SwimOffSquare
2024ChisagoSquare
2024AppleMSSquare
TimberSquare2024
2024TrinonaSquare
https://alexandriatriathlon.weebly.com
2024GLT180
2024Apple180
2024GMClearwater180
Timber180-2024
Trinona180
2024HRT18-
2024Chisago180x300
MooseLT180x