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"It's Worth It!"

Friday, 10 July 2026 00:10

By Steven Wert

2026 Fairmont Triathlon Race Report - First off, I want to give a huge thank you to all the organizers and volunteers of the Fairmont Triathlon! This race is incredibly well-run and organized. I would highly encourage any triathlete to make the trip to Fairmont — set the alarm, wake up early, and make the two-hour drive from the Twin Cities. It’s worth it!

Heading into the race, I believed I had a chance to compete, but I also knew it was going to be a battle with Kevin Mitchell all day. And that’s exactly how it played out — with one twist: Kevin started three minutes behind me due to the wave start format and we had to battle in the unknown.

The swim was a quick out-and-back, with Trevor Bauer leading the way. Swimming isn’t my strongest discipline, so coming out of the water 4th was a great little surprise!

After a bit of a struggle-fest in T1, it was time to get on the bike and start chasing Trevor. The mostly flat country roads made for a fast course, but the wind was coming from every direction with nothing to block it. I caught Trevor just before the turnaround, and then the focus shifted to building as much of a gap as possible while keeping an eye on where Kevin was.

At the turnaround, I checked my watch and started watching for Kevin. We passed each other at about 1.5 minutes — multiply that by two, and that’s three minutes. The exact gap between waves. We were dead even.

Having the lead moto in front of me and being the first athlete into T2 was an unreal feeling, but the job wasn’t finished.

Out of T2 quickly and into my strength — the run. I was alone, pushing forward and reminding myself to keep going. I had no idea how fast Trevor could run or how close Kevin really was. (Turns out, Kevin had a 52-second lead leaving T2, but I had no clue.)

I crossed the finish line in first place — but then came the longest three minutes of waiting. I kept watching the clock, wondering: “What if they didn’t actually start three minutes behind? What if the wave gap was longer?”

Three minutes passed, and then a few seconds later Kevin crossed the line. I immediately checked the online results and saw it…

I won by 20 seconds.

It really just happened — I won my first triathlon.

When I started this sport seven years ago, I never once believed I could win a race. My message to everyone is simple: keep pushing, keep believing, ask yourself “why not you?”, and always bet on yourself. One day, some of your wildest dreams might just come true.

"When Training Shows Up on Race Day"....

Friday, 10 July 2026 00:10

By Nick Jasmer

Average Jo Sprint Triathlon Race Recap - There’s something special about the first sprint triathlon of the season.

As race morning arrived, I felt calm and confident. The body and mind felt good, especially after a couple high volume and hard weeks of training, and I knew I was ready to race. I had two goals in mind: break the 60-minute barrier and set a new course PR for myself. I also knew the front of the race was going to be competitive, so if I wanted a podium spot, I’d have to bring my best from the first stroke to the finish line.

When the horn sounded, I got out fast and found some clean water. I was hoping to find a pair of feet to sit on and save a little energy, but it just never worked out. That meant I was on my own for most of the swim. Sometimes that’s just how racing goes. I focused on staying relaxed, keeping a steady rhythm, and making every stroke count. I came out of the water in 9:11 and had a smooth first transition.

Once I settled onto the bike, it was time to go to work.

The first half of the course was exactly what you hope for, smooth pavement and fast riding. My legs felt strong, and I could tell I had good power. As the course turned to head back around the lake, the roads got rougher and a headwind greeted us on the back half. It wasn’t enough to change the plan, though. I kept pushing, stayed focused, and tried to reel in the riders ahead one by one. I rolled back into transition after a 29:30 bike leg sitting in 3rd place overall.

Now it came down to the run.

Heading out of T2, I knew exactly what was on the line. I wanted to protect that third-place spot, but I also wanted to see if I could chip away at the gap to Spencer and Branden up the trail. I settled into my pace, trusted my fitness, and let the miles unfold. The run felt controlled and strong, exactly what you hope for in a sprint race when every second matters.

As I made my way down the finishing chute, I looked up at the clock and saw 59:40.

Mission accomplished. A new course PR. 3rd Overall and 3rd in my Age Group. More than anything, I walked away feeling encouraged. It’s always satisfying when the training shows up on race day, and this race gave me a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the season.

The Average Jo Triathlon continues to be one of my favorite races every year. Whether you’re lining up for your very first triathlon or you’ve been racing for years, it’s an event that reminds you why this sport is so much fun. The volunteers, race directors, spectators, and athletes all make it a special day.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the race happen. Events like this simply aren’t possible without you.

Another race down. Plenty more to come.

On to the next.

Two Great Experiences...

Wednesday, 08 July 2026 00:10

By Michael Clark

Buffalo Triathlon (Sprint) 2026 - It was a beautiful day in Buffalo for the 2026 Buffalo triathlon this year. It was bit on the warmer side, but not the mid July heat we usually have in Minnesota. There was a larger turnout of athletes which really helps to keep you moving when your body is screaming at you to stop!

The lake was a bit low again this year, which caused the first 25 yards of the swim to be a bit weedy, but I found if I just run/walk a bit further out than I usually do I avoided the majority of the weeds and it didn’t cause too much of a problem.

The bike course features some rolling hills, but nothing very steep and I find if I keep my momentum on the downhill there are very few hills that I need to downshift to a lower gear on. (Stayed on the larger front ring for the entire race.) As usual the bike course was well marked with wonderful volunteers and police at the corners to make sure everyone was safe on the course.

For the run this is the second year of this race switching back to the original course that cuts through the town and circles along the lake front road. Run course is very flat with the lone small hill being as your entering and leaving town.

Overall it was another fantastic even put on by the Granitman team with tons of wonderful volunteers and spectators cheering on all the athletes. I would highly recommend this race to any first time triathletes or triathletes that want to start off the season with a more relaxed course

Trinona (Sprint) 2026 - It was another great turnout for Trinona this year with even more athletes coming from all around to Winona to enjoy the fantastic race. 

The weather wasn’t the greatest with overcast skies for most of the race and cooler temperatures, but it was better than the storms we had last year and the lake was warm so it didn’t cause any issues.

The city seemed to add some sand and remove the large rocks that were at the swim start in the past and the coordinators added some mats at the swim launch over the rough ground making it easier for a fast start.

The sprint bike is a short 11 mile out and back course with some hills, but nothing too tough and you can get a lot of speed on the downhills which helps on the climb. (Nothing like the Gavin Heights climb on the Olympic course that I plan to take on one day.) I usually don’t look at the scenery when I’m out on my bike, but a volunteer was encouraging athletes to do so and I got to see some beautiful sights I never noticed in the last three years of doing this race.

The run is a out and back over a flat course that goes along the bike trail around the lake. There is lots of shade along the run so even when the weather is warmer the course is still pleasant with volunteers along the full course cheering everyone on.

Overall, this is another great race with lots of wonderful organizers, volunteers and spectators that help make the event a great experience for new and veteran triathletes alike.

Timberman's Competitive Trends...

Monday, 06 July 2026 00:10

2026 Timberman Triathlon Preview - The 41st edition of the Timberman is happening this weekend, and if you are not already one of the 300ish current registrants, we recommend that you sign up at your earliest opportunity. There is not a swim-bike-run in Minnesota--our state's "Premier Destination Triathlon"-- that we recommend more highly.

Entering it fifth decade, Timberman has experienced what can be called "competitive eras." In the second half of the 90s, for example, four-time winner Doug Davis was the man to beat in the Oympic  distance option. When the 2000s got underway, it was Jan Guenther who set the standard for women, winng five times. Brian Bich, another five-time champ, set the pace for the men during this era. 

Currently, and likely to continue, it is Heather Lendway who appears invincible. She'll be favored to win her 5th Olympic distance title on Saturday.

Have any men dominated the Olympic race in the post-pandemic years? The answer is no. There have been no consecutive winners during this time. Perhaps a new trend will start on Saturday?

The companion Sprint race had been dominated between 2010 and 2017 by Adam Himes, and more recently by Brooks Grossinger. Tara Makinen racked up six Sprint wins between 2009 and 2021. More recently, Bettina Keppers, with seven wins, has led the way for the women

Will the current trends continue? Or will a new athletes start new trends.

We are anxious to find out. Race Website 

"How Could I Not Have Fun in This Environment?"

Saturday, 04 July 2026 00:10

By Amy Preusser

Women’s Trifecta 2026 - June 13th was my first time on the Women’s Trifecta race course in Shoreview. This was my second race of the year - following a DNF on the Tinman bike course in early May. The Tinman was my first race on a new bike. Flatting out that day gave me a lot of anxiety about having a successful bike leg. For this reason, I went into the Trifecta with some nerves as well as no taper. Despite that, my nerves faded as I walked up to the park on race morning - the atmosphere never fails to get me hyped to race!

Walking into transition, I was greeted by LOTS of women. As is its name, the Women’s Trifecta is a solely women’s race. It was inspiring to see women of all ages and walks of life preparing to race: some are moms, some are retired, some are coming back from an injury, and many are doing a triathlon for the first time. The Trifecta’s claim to fame is creating an environment that supports women and gives them an opportunity to be successful by offering three race distances - virgin, sprint and olympic - as well as an aquabike option!

As the race began, the wind was starting to pick up. This made the swim a bit choppy, but the lake was the perfect temperature and. As a bonus - the weeds were minimal! Swim conditions were good, and I led the way around the course. I was happy with my pace, given that it was my first OW swim of race season and the water was choppy.

I came out of the water with another Olympic swimmer and many of the short course athletes. I sped through transition and my husband cheered me on as I mounted my bike. Once on the road, I was hoping to catch a tailwind at some point. This wasn’t the case as the winds were swirly all day! The course is a loop around the lake, which Olympic racers complete twice. I slowed down more than I would have liked, as I made sure that I was taking the correct turns and staying on course. One thing about leading when no men are racing is that you have nobody to follow! I was holding my breath until about mile 20 to make sure I didn’t flat out again, but my worries were unfounded and I had no issues.

I had been in my head a lot during the bike ride - making sure I was taking turns tight enough as I merged with traffic, checking that I was on course, and thinking about my pacing strategy. I got to talk with my husband as I was in transition, and I knew that I was leading the race by a good margin. That being said, I wasn’t really excited to do the run leg. I started off my run at a good clip, but wasn’t having fun. That was short-lived. As soon as I got half a mile out, I noticed how much the women were cheering for each other. Every racer I saw was clapping and cheering for the woman beside her. It was so invigorating! It was empowering to watch these female athletes push themselves and simultaneously uplift those around them. How could I not have FUN in that environment?

I finished my race and hugged my husband immediately after crossing the finish line. Thankfully, he had electrolytes in hand because that run got hot, and the breeze dried me out! I soon discovered that I’d managed to set a course record (my first!!) and I stayed at the finish line to cheer for all the athletes who had inspired me on the run course. There is something special about triathlon, but it was even more exceptional to witness over one hundred women work towards that finish line; encouraging each other every step of the way.