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Spencer's Best Ever...
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Monday, 11 August 2025 00:10
Photo - In order of height: Mitchell Clayton, Spencer Syvertson, Nicholas Jasmer
22nd NORTHWOODS TRIATHLON COVERAGE - We predicted that an unprecedented five guys would dip under the one-hour mark last Saturday at Northwoods. We were wrong. Sort of. This is because three of the predicted men were no-shows. The two that raced, though, raced brilliantly, starting with SPENCER SYVERTSON's Performance of the Year-level effort. He came into the race undefeated in four starts before turning in what was arguably his finest performance ever, thanks largely to his breakout DKT-like bike split (27 mph). When he arrived in T2 at just over the 38-minute mark, everyone watching knew that something special was happening. It became clear at that time that BROOKS GROSSINGER's 2014 course record--57:06--would finally be seriously challenged.
When Spencer came into view approaching the finish line, the crowd knew that Syvertson would come away, at the very least, with the second fastest time in race history. Syvertson dug deep, not allowing...
2025 July Athletes of the Month...
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Friday, 08 August 2025 00:10
By Bonnie
With only six in-state triathlons on the 2025 Minnesota racing calendar in July, Clyde and I couldn't insist that athletes race two or more times during the month to be eligible for AOM recognition. Instead, we are posting our selections for Performances of the Month in four categories: Overall, Juniors, Masters and Grand Masters.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH:
SPENCER SYVERTSON (photo) - W at Buzz Ryan Sprint
(HM - Nathan Kim's 4th place finish at Ironman Muskoka 70.3)
PAIGE SCHULZ - 2nd overall / 4:35:08 - PR at Ironman Boise 70.3
(HM- Heather Lendway's W @ Timberman Olympic)
(HM: Tiffany Kari-Cizmas' CR at Buzz Ryan)
JUNIOR PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH:
CORBIN DEICHMAN Age Group Record at Buzz Ryan
ADELINE ALTHAUS-KOTILA (photo)- Overall Women's Win at Lake Rebecca Sprint...
Northwoods XXII: Records Should Fall...
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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....
Diane's Back!
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Tuesday, 05 August 2025 00:10
38th BREWHOUSE TRIATHLON - Lots of storylines! Here's four of them:
- ELAINE NELSON's triumphant return to tri racing.
- JOSH BLANKENHEIM's Long Course record.
- SHYANNE MCGREGOR's 2nd consecutive outright win in the Sprint competition.
- BREWHOUSE's super-awesome volunteers.
Elaine - During her absence from the triathlon scene in 2023 and 2024, we worried that Elaine, inauguably Duluth's all-time most successful female triathlete, had retired. We couldn't be happier that our fears were unjustified. Last Sunday she raced at Brewhouse Olympic and did what she had done eight times before, i.e. won by a convincing margin. The W was the 28th of Diane's tri career dating back to her Rookie of the Year campaign in 2010.
Josh B - Duluth's premier male triathlete since the retirement of the great BRIAN BICH, Blank not only won the BHO for the 3rd time, he lowered SPENCER SYVERTSON's 2024 course record, a mark that looked like it might...stand for a long time, by 38-seconds. Josh is now the first man to break 1:50 (1:49:39) on BH's .75 - 24 - 5 course. The 2024 Master of the Year, Josh is the current frontrunner for that honor this season. He needs one more elite level performance to lock that in, and we are confident that his return to Northwoods next week will make that happen....
"...Super Fast Until it is Not"....
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Sunday, 27 July 2025 00:10
By Brandon Lee
Ironman 70.3 CDA was a fun one! Great course and super spectator friendly!
Came away 16 OA male 2nd in 40-44 AG, pretty stoked with the result, given a quick turnaround from DSM and not a lot of prep time or fitness built.
Swim was beautiful, water temp was around 65 degrees race morning and air temp was 48. Having done Square Lake 70.3 in 2024, conditions were quite similar so I knew it would be chilly on the bike starting out but needed to remember I’ve done it before. And not to worry about it. Had to back off the effort the last few hundred yards as my stomach was starting to turn a little.
I messed around too long in T1, with gloves and arm warmers and eventually just opted to go without anything except ankle smartwool socks. Honestly my feet got a little cold but that was it. My legs did remain quite stiff for the first 25-30 miles, and I imagine it was from being a little cold. The course is super fast until it’s not, a fair amount of long climbs but...
