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Mayoral Selfies, Super Soakers & Mindfulness...
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Thursday, 03 October 2019 23:10
By Erin Lahti
Augusta 70.3 Race Report - In order to understand what this race meant to me, you must first understand what I went through to get here. My “A” Race was supposed to be Ironman 70.3 Madison. However, 5 weeks before race day I was rear-ended and herniated 3 discs in my lower neck. I pulled out of the race altogether. My coach and I decided to switch gears and focus on short course. My next big race of the season was Nationals in Cleveland in August. I got a flat tire early on the bike. So, that is 2 big races of the season where I didn’t see a finish line. I got the go ahead from my doctor to pick another 70.3. Other races were selling out. I pulled the trigger on Augusta and bought a plane ticket....
Masters Women Rule! ...
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Wednesday, 02 October 2019 23:10
2019 was the "Year of the Masters Women."
Several of our state's most accomplished female multisport athletes "aged-up" in 2019, most notably CATHY YNDESTAD, KORTNEY HAAG and ELAINE NELSON. And several other 40-plussers had stellar seasons, as well. Between them, 12 Minnesota female Masters had amassed 25 wins in 2019.
And there are others, like ANDREA MYERS, 42, JULIA WESIBECKER, 52, CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 53, and AMY WOOLSEY, 53, who didn't post outright wins, but performed brilliantly in 2019 nonetheless.
Put into perspective, no more than two Minnesota Masters women had ever earned berths on Team Minnesota in any given year. This year, however, it is reasonable to assume that 4-6 over-age-40 women will make the team.
Cool, huh!
Here are the Minnesota Masters women who won races this year:
JACQUELYN BACIGALUPI, 42, Baxter - 1st @ Lakes Country
SARA CARLSON, 41, Brainerd - 1st @ Young Life Olympic
JENNIFER FITZHARRIS-FUNK, 44, Minneapolis (photo L) - 1st @ YWCA Women's Triathlon, plus 4 other podium finishes....
Last Chance to Vote For 2019 Race of the Year!
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Tuesday, 01 October 2019 23:10
RACE OF THE YEAR - What was your favorite Minnesota multisport racing experience this season? Let us know by clicking on the VOTE button on the Right side of this homepage, okay? Or click HERE.
Please know that only race participants and directors are eligible to vote, and can only vote once.
Voting will conclude on October 31 and the Top 5 finalists for '2019 TRIATHLETES CHOICE RACE OF THE YEAR" on November 3. The winner will be announced on November 8.
"Race of the Year" was inaugurated in 2000. Here are the past winners: ...
Cool Words From Last Weekend...
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Monday, 30 September 2019 23:10
ED. On Monday we received an email from Mike Murray. He said his wife would kill him if he contacted us, thus we HAD to post this. In case you didn't know, Judy is a terrific multisport athlete. Her resume features five consecutive AG titles at Apple, and an age group win this year at Chisago. She had also won her division in past editions of Maple Grove Olympic, Green Lake Olympic, Buffalo Olympic and the Graniteman races.
Hi MTN,
My wife Judy (photo) would kill me if she knew I contacted you but she qualified for Kona this past Saturday at Ironman Maryland, so I thought I had to. She battled breast cancer in 2009 and competed in triathlons with her bald head, so she has come a long way. IMMD was hot and humid and the swim was a mine field of jellyfish.
Dani Vsetecka
Tough day on the playground at #ironmanaugusta703. Caught a cold and woke up feeling a bit feverish race day 🤒🤧, but felt good enough to give it a go. Felt ok on the swim cruising down the Savannah River 🏊♀️and was smiling at the start of the bike 🚴♀️, but soon enough...
Season Finale...
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Sunday, 29 September 2019 23:10
FALL CLASSIC DUATHLON - Midwestern summers are the best! Midwestern autumns are awesome, too, and Saturday's Fall Classic Duathlon was staged in perfect autumnal conditions. Sunny, breezy and crisp (50ish).
The 14-year-old event, the last on our state's 2019 calendar, was won by a decorated cyclist with limited multisport experience, and a veteran whose 36 career wins feature vistories at Apple, Gear West and Oakdale, as well as a 2nd at Long Distance Du Nationals in 2014, and a 4th that same year at Standard Distance Duathlon Nationals.
STEVEN DECKERT, a tall attorney from Loretto, cracked the Top 10 at Gear West against a talented field in June. His next effort--Maple Grove Sprint Triathlon--was less successful because it included swimming. He needed the fastest bike split in order to slip into the Top 15.
Deckert's large lead heading into T2 at FCD was necessary to hold off his primary challenger, KOLE SEILER, the fastest runner in the field. Though Seiler, a medical professional, outsplit Deckert in the final 2.8ish final run by 2:29, Deckert was able to claim a 44-second victory.
Breakout efforts for both guys. Good stuff. ...
