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Grinaker Throws Down at Chisago...

Sunday, 29 July 2018 23:10

I get why Toughman wanted Chisago to be part of their brand. What an incredible race! I don’t think I’ve ever participated in a race with so many greet volunteers, and so many city residents cheering all of the athletes on. - Wade Cruser

CHISAGO LAKES HALF IRONMAN - The email we received from Wade yesterday summed up not only his experience last Sunday, but the experience of many, if not most, of those who participated. The weather was favorable, wetsuits were legal and more than eight hundred athletes crossed the finish line. Times were impressive, with a pair of AG records rewritten. Wade set a personal best - 4:16:55--which took a 3:34 bite out of his prior best, but it was not quite enough to land him on the podium.

Defending champ SEAN COOLEY led the way for then men through 68 of the 70.3 miles. As the seconds, then minutes, ticked by after he left T2, it sure looked like Dr. C would collect his sixth career half IM victory. Heck, he might even better the 4:06 he posted here in 2017. His lead over his closest challengers, CRUSER and an unfamiliar guy named MATT HUTCHINSON, 24, from an unfamiliar place called "Ingham," was just under six minutes. Wade is a strong runner, but we soon learned that the unfamiliar guy, is a VERY strong runner.

Hutchinson threw down a 1:18 run split, allowing him to catch and overtake the arguably overraced Cooley with a couple miles to go. Cruser was wilting in the late going, which eventual bronze medalist JOE ADRIAENS took afull advantage of.

Hutch crossed in a brisk 4:06:45. Cooley held on for his fourth sub-4:10 (4:09:25), placing 2nd. ...

Hot Performances at Hoot!

Saturday, 28 July 2018 23:10

HOOT LAKE TRIATHLON - Rookie pro KEEGHAN HURLEY, from Dent, Minnesota, and aspiring ITU pro ANDREA NUNEZ-SMITH (adorable photo), who appear to like each other a lot, led the way at Saturday's Hoot Lake Triathlon, which was celebrating its silver anniversary, which, for those who prefer numbers, is slang for 25th. (Oops! It was actually the 26th annual. According to Google, the event celebated its jade anniversary.)

And they did so in record-breaking fashion. Hurley's 1:01:21 wasn't far off his winning time in 2017 (1:00:38), when the bike course was two miles longer. The performance lowered the men's CR by more than three minutes,

Nunez-Smith, a Texan and graduate of the University of Arizona, kicked off her 2018 season with a win at the Havasu Olympic Triathlon. Her win at Hoot in 1:14:00 lopped more than four minutes off Angie Hop's long-standing women's record.

Andrea works for Clif Bar. Our guess is that Berry Pomagranite Chia is her favorite flavor. She has eclectic musical and cinematic taste, and unashamedly watches "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" and "Sponge Bob."(Who doesn't enjoy Sponge Bob?)...

Turning My Season Around...

Friday, 27 July 2018 23:10

Photo - Newly crowned Timberman Sprint record-holders, John Shelp and Taylor Lundquist.

By Taylor Lundquist (sisterswhotriblog.com)

Timberman Race Report - Well amidst all the rain, Saturday was a beautiful day for a race. The sun was shining, the people were smiling, and the music was rocking. It was an ideal race morning.

I have to say coming into Timberman I knew it was time for a change. June is always an awkward time for me. Track is coming to a close and the triathlon season is just ramping up. I have to admit I always have mixed emotions coming into tri season. Part of me is in a state of what I like to call “track-withdrawal” and the other part of me just can’t wait to race again.

This June was no exception. I went through my “track-withdrawal” and started working 40 hours a week. It was crazy adjusting from a typical school week to now a typical work week, not to mention training....

Finding the Love...

Wednesday, 25 July 2018 23:10

By Simone Lundquist (sisterswhotriblog.com)

Timberman Race Report - A few weeks ago I was asked along with my sister to come to a group of young triathletes and tell them why and how I got inspired to do triathlons and continue to compete in them. What started out as a simple discussion led to a breakthrough in my season that I needed.

When we arrived to talk to the kids, they had just finished biking and running and were ready to listen to what we had to say. We started with a simple introduction of who we were, when we started doing triathlons, and how old we were when we did our first one. It was easy to respond to most of the questions until someone asked me why I loved competing in triathlons so much. At this point in my season I was still trying to figure out this question because it did not feel like I loved to compete. I felt like my determination and my drive to do better was slowly slipping out of my hands and that there was no way to get it back. I felt that I was getting worse instead of better when I would compete which made me wonder why I was working so hard for no reason. At this point in my season I felt sad, slow, unmotivated, and scared that nothing was going to get better....