Race Previews

Payne Train Bound For Chisago...

Thursday, 27 July 2017 23:10

CHISAGO SPRINT PREVIEW - PATRICK PARISH set the men's race record--1:15:17--back in 2010. Will that mark stand for another year?

Not if MATTHEW PAYNE (photo) has his way.

Payne is a two-time winner of the Chisago Half, and will be making his sprint debut on Sunday. The four-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year is anxious to return to his winning ways. Misfortune has been getting in the way lately. Leading at Lake Waconia last month, Matt made a wrong turn. That was followed by a bike crash at HOLT.

He needs a great performance to get his mojo back. Besides, a win would be a major milestone: the 50th of his tri/du career.

If Matt is on top of his game on Sunday, he might do more than just re-setting the amateur record. If he is able to go faster than 1:13:50, he will have managed to beat the event's pro mark, which was set in 2014 by DAN HEDGECOCK.

It always helps to get a good push when you're aiming at setting records. Based on the last reg. list we saw, a pair of Andys--WIBERG and ZABEL--will be vying for podium spots, as will CHRIS TATTON. 2016 Junior of the Year MITCHELL CLAYTON, who is fresh off his win at Buzz Ryan, could find a place in the Top 5 when all is said and done next weekend....

Walker Preve...

Wednesday, 26 July 2017 09:10

WALKER TRI PREVIEW - The 8th edition of the Walker Triathlon happens next Saturday. About 200 participants are expected....

Lotsa Love For Chisago!

Monday, 24 July 2017 09:10

RACE PREVIEW - For the last two years, the CHISAGO TRIATHLON has gone by the name Toughman Minnesota. We're pleased to report that the event is reclaiming it's original title.

Yes, it is still part of the Toughman Series, but it built it's reputation on it's wonderful relationships with the people and institutions of the Chisago Lakes area, Minnesota's "Little Sweden," thus in deference to them, the event will hereafter be the Chisago Triathlon. (As Toughman Minnesota, some event participants may have lost touch with the wonderful Swedish influences--food, flags, awards etc.--that defined the race for its first nine years.)

So, let us encourage those who have yet to sign up for Sunday's events, to amend that right now. Be among the 1000-or-so attendees that will participate in this year's Half IM and Sprint races.

Now for some athlete-related stuff. The men's race will, as usual, be super-competitive, but we will begin by talking about the women's half. Five past champions are currently registered. They are, in alpha order:

- ERIN FARRENS, 37, Maple Grove - 1st here in 2016 (4:49:07) - Personal Best - 4:43:13 - 2016 Timberman (NH) 70.3 (IM PR - 10:02:29 - Louisville 2016)

- KORTNEY HAAG, 38, Maple Grove - 1st here in 2014 (4:34:23) - Personal Best - 4:34:14 - 2014 Chisago (Kort has won eight halves!)

- DIANE HANKEE, 40, Lino Lakes - 1st here in 2013 (4:46:08) - Personal Best - 4:38:51 - 2016 Muncie 70.3 ...

2017 Minnesota State Tri Championship...Updates...

Tuesday, 11 July 2017 19:10

HEART OF THE LAKES PREVIEW - The 32nd edition of this venerated event will happen next Sunday. (In case you didn't know, HOLT's long course race has been the "Minnesota State Triathlon Championsip" for the last twenty-three years.)

The main purpose of ths preview is to entice our state's tri community to do this race, as it is the only multisport event on the July 15-16 weekend. HOLT has always been a come early / stay late party and we'd like the 2017 version to be huge.

Lovingly produced and possessing a wonderfully prideful small town vibe, Heart of the Lakes is not just one of our state's premier swim-bike-runs, it is one of the best in the entire Midwest. If you haven't done this event yet, please register ASAP. You're sure to be...

More Picking....

Friday, 07 July 2017 23:00

MINNEAPOLIS SPRINT PREVIEWETTE - Today is July 8. The MTN Guys are at Timberman, but we're anxious to learn what happened at Graniteman Clearwater, Elysian and the Minneapolis Triathlon, which also take place today.

We didn't post a Minneapolis Sprint preview earlier because the registration list we saw was incomplete. We were sure that many of the athletes that would eventually claim spots in the overall men's and women's Top five had yet to register. And most of the men's AG wins, we suspect, would go to later registrants.

The women's AG list we saw, however, included many of the ladie's that we believe would win their AGs. We will share those picks with you now, then check results when we return to The Cities to see how we fared....

G-Man Clearwater Preview - Part II...

Thursday, 06 July 2017 09:10

GRANITEMAN - CLEARWATER PREVIEW - PART II - Last week we shared some Graniteman - Clearwater Olympic history. Today, we're doing likewise with the G-man Sprint (S-.44 point-to-point, B - 14.33, R - 5K), the flagship race that launched Graniteman Events. Here are the past champions and the AG record holders:

SPRINT - Clearwater

2016 – Casey Miller – 1:05:57 & Alexandra Badger – 1:20:50

2015 – Casey Miller – 1:07:02 & Cheryl Zitur – 1:11:35

2014 – Casey Miller – 1:05:57 & NICOLE HEININGER – 1:09:49

2013 – Dennis Dane – 1:08:49 & Jamie Heying – 1:17:21....