Race Previews

A Cool Event For a Great Cause...

2013-Finishers.gifKids for a Cause Kids Triathlon in Fourth Year, Growing to Support Local, National and Global Causes

 

By Deb Hess

Kids for a Cause is hosting it's fourth annual kids triathlon. The kids triathlon was started by Barb and Avesh Thukral, in honor of the Thukral’s son, Julius, who was born with bilateral clubfeet and has received therapy treatment at Gillette Hospital in St. Paul and Clubfoot Solutions in Iowa City. The kids triathlon will be held on June 14 in St. Paul.  Inspired by the resilience and positive attitude of her son Julius, Barb Thukral founded the kids triathlon as a way to demonstrate to children their strength and ability to make a difference, and as an expression of gratitude to those organizations, like Gillette and Clubfoot Solutions, that have helped her son Julius swim, bike, and run with his peers. ..

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Porking Out in Iowa...

pigman-bike-and-run.gifPIGMAN SPRINT PREVIEW - HIstorically, Minnesotans have comprised a relatively small percentage--less than 10%--of Little Pig's annual enrollment, yet elite Loon Staters have dominated in the overall results. Since the turn of the century, Minnesota men have won 10 of the 13 editions of this event, which richly deserves its reputation at Iowa's premier sprint tri. The three events that weren't won by Minnesotans, were won by professionals, i.e. Dan Bretscher (IN, now of IA) in 2009, TJ Tollakson (IA) in 2007, and Will Smith (WI/NZL) in 2003. The top male amateurs in each of those races were from our side of the border: Brian Bich in 2008 and 2003, Kevin O'Connor in '09.

It should be noted that St. Paul athletes own the men's overall records: David Thompson set the pro record (1:00:57) in 2012, and Dan Hedgecock's amateur mark (1:01:56) was set in 2011. (Prior to the millennial change, Medina's Kevin O'Connor was the amateur CR holder. His time was approximately 20-seconds faster than Hedge's.) And FYI, the men's masters record is owned by Duluth's Brian Bich (1:02:33).....

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Buffalo XI Predictions...

frog.gifPhoto - We found this cool art on the Buffalo Triathlon's Facebook page.We had to post it.

RACE PREVIEW - The popular Buffalo Triathlon will enter its second decade next Sunday. Brett Oden has ambitiously crafted an awesome event which consistently lures 1500 participants to beautiful Sturges Park. Though this year's registration is down slightly, thanks largely to our relentless and endless winter, we predict that the current trend of summer-like weather and the fact that Buffalo Lake has been warming up like a banshee will cause a nice bump in the enrollment over the final days leading up to the event.

Yes, we think it will ultimately field 1500 folks. (Help us make this happen, okay!)

Let's make some more predictions:

- Jon Balabuck (Thunder Bay, ONT) and Matthew Payne own the two fastest amateur times at TriBuff. Jon's CR is a 1:56:06, set in 2011. Matt's 1:56:40 was alo posted in '11. Jon and Matt are returning and we believe that they will duke it out for the Top Spot in the men's results. A win for Payne would keep his undefeated streak (in 2014) alive. We think he'll prevail....

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Venerable...

granite-apples.gifAPPLE XXXII PREVIEW - Here's some historical stuff about our state's oldest (32-years) multisport event:

PRO MEN - COURSE RECORD (5K-33K-5K course, which has been used since 2004) - David Thompson - 1:19:57 (2010) - COMMENT: Since '04, DKT has raced here six times without a loss. He has posted four of this event's Top 5 fastest times. David plans to race in Sartell on Saturday.

PRO WOMEN - COURSE RECORD - Brianna Boehmer(WI) - 1:33:23 (2004) - COMMENT: A super person and former track and XC runner at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), Boehmer raced at Apple three times: 2004, 2005  and 2006. She won two of those races, and placed 2nd in the other....

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Carolina Road Trip...

cary-du.gifUSAT LONG DISTANCE DUATHLON NATIONALS - The 2014 Long Course Duathlon National Championships will take place in Cary, North Carolina next Saturday. The event, consisting of a 32-mile bike leg bracketed by 5-mile runs, will qualify American duathletes for the Zofingen (SUI) Long Course World Champs next September.

Several of Minnesota's best duathletes will be racing in Cary.

Who?

Suzy Fox, Diane Hankee, Brendon O'Flanagan and Patrick Parish. Maybe others.

Fox was the Minnesota Duathlete of the Year in 2013 and was arguably the fastest amateur female run-bike-runner in the US last season. After her mechanical DNF at Oakdale last weekend, she is anxious to race....

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Mud, Blood & Maybe Beer...

GWD-LOGO.gifRACE PREVIEW - The 22nd annual Gear West Duathlon will take place in Orono next Sunday. It has always been one of the premier dus in our region and one of the most competitive run-bike-runs in the US. Is it on your racing schedule? If not, there's still time to register.

Check out the champions and their times during this millennium. You'll notice that David Thompson (7), Dan Hedgecock (3), Brooks Grossinger (2 amateur titles) and Robert Gilles (2) are multiple winners on the men's side. On the women's side, Cathy Yndestad has three victories, and 2006 ITU Duathlon World Champion (Amateur) Sarah Kolpin has two.

2013 - GWD #21 - (2.8 - 16.6mi - 2.8) - Dan Hedgecock (P)- 1:13:37 / Brooks Grossinger (AM) - 1:16:44 & Suzy Fox - 1:27:32

2012 - GWD #20 - (2.83 - 17.4 - 2.51) - Dan Hedgecock - 1:09:33 & Ruth Brennan-Morrey - 1:17:52.....

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