Race Previews

Tinman Turns 40!

Sunday, 26 April 2026 00:10

2026 MORRIS TINMAN PREVIEW - Minnesota's tri season opener, the Morris Tinman Sprint and Olympic Triathlons, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, May 2. We encourage athletes from our region--MN, ND, SD, IA--to use this fun event to knock off some winter rust. It's been a while since Tinman has drawn more than 100 participants but the early sign-up numbers are encouraging. We hope you help make that happen.

This year's Olympic race should be among Tinman's more competitive editions in recent memory. Here are some of the players who should lead the way:

SPENCER SYVERTSON - Spencer, who won this race in 2024 and set a Sprint record here in '23, has been in the running for Minnesota Triathlete of the Year the last two seasons. He won six of the eight tris he entered last year and we are predicting a course record time for Spencer on Saturday.

MICAH WARNING - Micah only raced twice in 2025, but he won both of those triathlons, one of which was his breakout effort at Timberman Olympic.

SAM HAUCK - Sam only raced once last year, and three times the year before, but he won two of those three events....

The "Long" Weekend...

Friday, 05 September 2025 00:10

With SQUARE LAKE 70.3 and IRONMAN 70.3 MADISON and IRONMAN MADISON happening this weekend, it's a good time to look at the 2025 long distance results of Minnesota's most successful amateur triathletes, many of whom are racing at the aforementioned events. ....

2025 Hopkins Preview - The Women's Field...

Thursday, 28 August 2025 00:10

2025 Hopkins Royal Triathlon Preview - The HoRT will be entering its second decade on Saturday. Once again, it will serve a sold-out crowd. So, you can't register, but you can spectate or volunteer.

Today's preview will focus on the women's competition in the Traditional Sprint portion of the event. Here, in alpha order, are some of the women we will be watching closely:

ADELINE ALTHAUS-KOTILA, 16 - Over the last two seasons, Adeline has separated herself from her teen peers here in Minnesota. She's claimed the outright women's titles in two of the three in-state races she's done this year. We expect a Top 5 from her on Saturday.

SHANNON BRAUN, 42 (photo below) - In two races in 2025, she's finished 5th and 6th against solid competition. Those are the kind of efforts that put an athlete on the MTN radar.

BETHANY COLLINS, 70 - Owner of the women's 65-69 course record, we believe she'll win her AG and perhaps even lower Susan Dragsten's stout 70-74W record....

Minnesota's Most Competitive Tri...

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 00:10

2025 MAPLE GROVE TRIATHLON - One of Minnesota's largest triathlons which also happenes to be its most competitive swim-bike-run, is this 16th-edition classic. Both the Olympic and Sprint races boast deep fields, especially the Olympic, so let's start there....

Northwoods XXII: Records Should Fall...

Wednesday, 06 August 2025 00:10

22nd NORTHWOODS TRIATHLON PREVIEW - This year's men's field is clearly the deepest in the two-plus decade history of this race. On only one prior occasion--2017--had three men managed to break the 1-hour mark on NW's scenic .25 - 14 - 5K course. Five guys could slip under 60 minutes next Saturday. Who are they?

JOSH BLANKENHEIM - NW's defending champ, Josh recorded the fastest rookie effort--58:26-- here in 2024. He's coming off a record-setting performance at Brewhouse, and a win on Saturday, would be the 20th of his multisport career.

MITCHELL CLAYTON - Mitch has been barking with the Big Dogs for the last two seasons. A sub-1 hour effort on Saturday would likely secure a "Most Improved" nomination at season's end.

BROOKS GROSSINGER - Brooks has won this race 18 times, owns the course record (57:38 in 2013) and has dipped under the 60-minute mark 14 times. Enouth said....