Race Previews
It is Better to Suck at Three Sports Than to Excel at One....
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Thursday, 14 July 2022 00:10
9th BUZZ RYAN SPRINT PREVIEW - A great feature of the Buzz Ryan (and Brewhouse) application process is that registrants are asked to leave comments about themselves. The cooler ones can be used on race day by the announcer.
Reading this year's comments we learned that in addition to being a talented triathlete (4th woman at Brewhouse Olympic in 2019, 7th last weekend against a strong field at Timberman Sprint), KATIE BENZIGER "is a heart doctor and mom to Theo and Marit." We also learned that WYATT COOK, 19, is a confident young man. He's registered for the Elite Wave though Buzz is his "first ever triathlon." We then learned that BRAD IRWIN, 59, is a philosopher. He asserted that "It's better to be bad at three sports than good at one." Let''s all ponder, which is what philosophers do, that for a moment.
Some participants used the comment feature to voice their political views. One nameless guy thinks a certain prominent politician is a "Poop Head."
There were lots of great comments and it's hard not to smile when reading them. The point of doing this is to remind participants that they matter and that the goals of the event are fun and personal enrichment...
Bertram Blast VI History...
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Thursday, 07 July 2022 00:10
BERTRAM BLAST - This awesome six-year-old event, which is happening next Sunday (June 10) is Minnesota's only off-road tri and du event (It also includes a bike race). Very cool. It is staged at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park near Monticello. BB is a laid-way-back, nature-celebrating experience that has a bit of a hippy vibe. It's one of those events that reminds you why you love this lifestyle. ...
Minnesota's "Resort Triathlon"...
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Tuesday, 05 July 2022 00:10
TIMBERMAN PREVIEW - Minnesota's original "Destination Triathlon," Timberman can also be called our state's "Resort Triathlon." For thirty-seven years athletes have booked lodging at Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge expecting and receiving a true "racecation" experience. Few entrants pop in just for the race. Most stay for the full weekend or longer, availing themselves of the resort's amenities and the area's breathtaking beauty....
Graniteman XIV Preview...
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Wednesday, 22 June 2022 00:10
GRANITEMAN CLEARWATER - Online registration for the "original" Graniteman event, which started at it's Rockville venue in 2004, then relocated to it's current Clearwater location in 2009, has closed. (Race day registration is available!) The event started as a sprint, but added a wonderfully bike-heavy Olympic race in 2015.
We haven't seen the final list yet, so the preview we're posting here is based on sign-ups through last week. When we see the new list we will update this post.
Also, because the list we have does not delineate which event--Sprint or Olympic--that individual athletes are doing, our comments will be rather general, and certain to contain some "guessing."
Here are some athletes we expect to excel in the 19th Graniteman Triathlon, Clearwater version:
MORGAN BELL, 19 - Morgan won her AG at Buffalo Sprint, finishing 8th overall. She was her division's silver medalist here last year, but we think she'll take the top prize on Saturday.
JEFF GILMER, 63 - He's our pick to win his division in, we suppose, the Olympic race. As for the Sprint, we suspect that CRAIG PETERSON, 60, if he decides to register, will take his AG in the shorter race....
LMT XVIII Preview...
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Sunday, 12 June 2022 00:10
18th LAKE MINNETONKA TRIATHLON PREVIEW - The LMT is one of a precious handful of Minnisota triathlons that have proven to be downturn and pandemic proof. Non-immune events are either leaving the calendar or resigning themselves to lower turnouts. LMT is still getting its target numbers, and filling well in advance of race day. This means that the organizers (Ross and Tina) have done, and continue to do, albeit with new directors, something right. In other words, the Rogney's legacy is going strong.
Lake Minnetonka has always been an exciting and competitive race, and that will not change in the near term. We've looked at the list of registrants and are excited to make some predictions, choices that are not intended to be taken too seriously. Instead, their purpose is to generate interest, discussion and spectatorship.
The women's race promises to be fast, as three of the frontrunners have rocked the LMT route before. There is also a relative newcomer in the mix that could shake things up a bit. ...
Buffalo XVII Preview...
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Wednesday, 01 June 2022 00:10
BUFFALO TRIATHLON PREVIEW - The 17th edition of the Buffalo Triathlon will take place at scenic Sturges Park on the eastern shoreline of Buffalo Lake next Sunday. Weather Underground forecasts favorable conditions and an early look at the registration list tells us that,once again, Buffalo will be one of the most competitive races of the season. Let's talk about that, starting with the Olympic event....
