FEATURES

Transition No-Nos...Don't Do These Things!

Friday, 17 May 2019 13:10

By Evan Rudd (triathlete.com)

Race like a savvy triathlete by avoiding these mistakes in transition.

Race like a savvy triathlete by avoiding the seven biggest mistakes in transition.

Prepping your transition bag before a race can feel like gearing up for a month-long backpacking trip, and your mental checklist can quickly overwhelm clear, methodical preparation. Take note of these seven transition blunders to ease your nerves and, most importantly, to avoid becoming the target of your training buddy’s jokes.

Matt's Mission...

Friday, 03 May 2019 23:10

Photo - Matt is the tall guy on the right.

By Matt Wiitala

As a 3-sport athlete in high school (baseball/basketball/football) and a college football player after that, I never dreamed I would now be as dedicated to a life-style of swimming, biking and running. After meeting some amazing people who have participated in multi-sport events, I started participating in 2015. My goals one December was to sign up for an event (of course an Olympic distance), to not stop to rest and to finish. Small goals, but goals nonetheless. I accomplished that and did it again in 2016 and now have 6 events on my schedule for 2019. I am hooked! Just being at events and being around people of all ages and ability levels is so inspirational. ...

Daily Check-in...

Thursday, 25 April 2019 23:10

ED. We got this wonderful note from Tim Timmerman last weekend. Please check it out, and his new tri blog, too.

Hey MTN Guys,

So last winter I had just started training for triathlons after getting convinced to do it by some of my friends. However I didn't really do ANY of the sports. I had taken up swimming just a couple of years before, but I didn't own a bike or really do much running. But I guess that didn't stop me. So in hunting for triathlons I discovered Minnesotatrinews.com. It was a great resource for finding potential triathlons.

Then I actually started reading it. The names didn't mean anything to me, but the stories were interesting. Then as I continued to read the stories, the race recaps etc I started to learn the names. It turned out the woman I had been swimming with at the Y was none other than Elaine Nelson. I had no idea I was swimming alongside someone "famous". Ted Triese and I share a coach so I started following him. After Superiorman (I did the 41.5), I pointed out people to my wife that I knew from the website. It was fun to feel like I was hanging around with "stars." ...

Tridentity Crisis...

Friday, 19 April 2019 23:10

Let’s give ourselves permission to redefine what it means to be a triathlete .....

By Kelly O'Mara (triathlete.com)

If you run, you’re a runner. That’s all it takes: a few laps around the park a couple times each week. If you ride a bike, is something you need to call an exterminator about.
But if you…what…you’re a triathlete? If you triathlon? Our identities as triathletes are closely tied to racing. Too closely sometimes. You can swim and bike and run all you want for fun, but until you complete an actual triathlon, with a start and finish line, it’s often hard for you to consider yourself a triathlete. (And let’s not even start with the triathlon snobs who... 

Taught Not to Wait...

Monday, 15 April 2019 23:10

By Erin Lahti

I decided to take a trip by myself to Puerto Rico. I chose PR for a few reasons. It’s a tropical island, but still in America. I didn't have to worry about changing currency or different driving rules, and most of the people I talked to could speak at least a little bit of English. Also, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, they need our tourist money. In addition to this be a soul searching trip, I wanted to get some ocean water swimming experience. An ocean water Triathlon is on my bucket list.

I flew into San Juan, rented a car, and drove 85 miles, across the entire island to a town called Aquadilla. It’s much less touristy on this side of the island. I rented an adorable little Airbnb right on the beach. My first morning, I drove a few miles to Crash Boat Beach. I was there by 7am and there were only a few people on the entire beach. I was at the end of the little pier, talking myself into doing my first ocean water swim, when a man walked up. He was wearing an Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico hat. As he approached, I immediately said hello and confirmed that he was a triathlete. He introduced himself as Edwin and he had just done his first 70.3 last week in San Juan. I asked him if he planned on swimming here today. He was there to meet others for a swim. He invited me to join them. Are you kidding me? Is this actually happening? What are the odds that with in a couple hours of my first day of my trip, I would accentually meet other triathletes to swim with? ...