Race Previews
Apple Juice...
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Friday, 18 May 2012 02:30
Apple History -There isn't a finer duathlon in the US than The Apple. There just isn't! The oldest ongoing multi in Minnesota, this event will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Saturday, May 26. Cool!...
GWD Turns 20!
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Tuesday, 15 May 2012 02:30
Race Preview - The Gear West Duathlon will celebrate its 20th anniversary next Sunday. Cool, huh? Hey, don't you think you should be on hand for the celebration? If you haven't registered yet, we suggest you do so at your earliest opportunity.
Historically, the GWD has been the first major race on the Minnesota multisport calendar. As the annual launch of the Midwest Multisport Series, arguably the most competitive amateur multi series in America and has been since its inception in 1998, it draws an outrageously deep field. On several occasions in the past decade, the GWD has assembled the most talent-rich amateur field of the entire Minnesota season....
Blaine Tri Stuff....
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Monday, 14 May 2012 02:30
Race Preview - For the last seven years the Albert Lea Triathlon was the first multi on the Minnesota calendar that featured a lake swim. Earlier races were either duathlons or the swim portions took place in pools.
That changes this season. The inaugural Blaine Triathlon on Saturday, May 19, the day before the 8th annual Albert Lea Tri, is a cycle-heavy race consisting of a .3 mile lake swim, two 8.35 mile bike loops and a 3.5 mile run.
Race organizers established a 300-participant enrollment ceiling, which was reached several weeks ago. How cool is that? MTN sends our hearty congrats...
Land Between the Lakes Stuff...
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Sunday, 13 May 2012 03:30
(Photo - 2011 LBTL women's champ, Jen Neuman, who is one of the coolest people we know.)
Race Preview - The Albert Lea Triathlon, aka "Land Between the Lakes," has never been a large event, averaging approximately 150ish race day attendees. That's too bad. Sure, it is a bit of a drive from Minnesota's tri hotbeds in the Twin Cities, Duluth and, to a lesser degree, Rochester. And the fact that the May water in Fountain Lake can euphemistically be called "invigorating." These factors certainly keep some folks away.
And then there's the issue of Legacy. Small races tend to stay small because folks unthinkingly assume that small races deserve to be that way.
That's a goshdarn shame! There many small races that are actually GREAT events. The Apple Duathlon comes immediately to mind. So does Croixathlon.
And so does Land Between the Lakes....
Fergus Falls Has It Going On...
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Thursday, 10 May 2012 02:30
Race Preview - There are plenty of good reasons to do the inaugural Central Lakes Cycle Duathlon on Saturday.
"Name seven!" a guy shouted challengingly.
Hokey dokey.
- First of all, the event is UNIQUE! Launching with a 19.6 mile bike portion (TT start), then followed by a 3.9 mile run and concluding with a 6.9 mile bike, this is unlike anything that most multisporters have ever heard of, much less participated in. And if you can't get enough saddle time, this event is definitely for you. Most tris have in the neighborhood of a 4-1 bike-to-run ration. Standard dus are in the 3-1 range. The CLCD has almost a 7-1 bike/run ratio. Cool, huh!...
Avuncularity & Manpris...
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Tuesday, 08 May 2012 02:40
Event Preview - Lake Elmo Park Reserve is an ideal place to stage a duathlon, and for the past decade some of our region's most exciting and competitive run-bike-runs have been contested there. The courses are scenic, fast, well-designed and easy to manage. A Win-Win situation for athletes and event producers alike.
The 11th edition of the event of which we speak--the Oakdale Duathlon--will take place on Saturday and between 400 and 500 folks are expected to race. A glance at the current start list has us anxious to do some prognosticating. So, without further ado:...
