Hello,
Anyone have done this race? Any feed back? I am planning on going down to the race as it falls 6 weeks before IMF. Good test event, just wondering if it is well run and what the course is all about.
Trevor
I’ve never heard of Minniapolis.
“going down” to the race? Where are up “up” at?
Sorry bout the spelling…I am in Winnipeg, 8 hours North of Minny.
Have you done the race?
t~
I’m kicking around doing it in 2005. Just getting back to racing after 10 years off. It’s a beautiful area, and should be a good, well-organized race. I wouldn’t hesitate entering. I may do the short course this year - who knows? I just registered for a couple races tonight - most are already full for this year, so do it soon! I was bummed to find out most the races I wanted to do were closed…
I had the same problem with the sprint races in MN. Sure filled up quick…
I’m doing Chaska on 7/24, and Northwoods (Park Rapids area) on 8/14 so far. I’ll try to find two more yet. It’s looking like later season races though (into September!!), so I might have to invest in a wetsuit…
I got a slot at the Minnetonka sprint in June, but barely. It filled up the week after. And I’m doing the Northwoods too. My parents live on that lake.
I was hoping to do the Minnetonka sprint, but it’s full. There’s Owatonna this weekend, but the weather is kinda in question, and I’ll bet the water is still cold as heck! Next year I’ll be a little quicker to register!
My parents have a cabin by Park Rapids, so Nevis isn’t that far away. I heard that it’s a pretty fun race. “Fun in the Sun” is happening in Spicer again, but it’s the day after Northwoods, so I don’t think I’ll be able to do that one less tha 24 hours later! (OUCH!) Spicer was the first race I ever did, but the course is now a sprint course rather than Int’l distance. It almost killed me in 1988 - too hot, too humid, and not enough water…
That’s cool. I spent a lot of my summers in PR. My grandparents grew up there, as did my mom. I’m debating on getting a ride to the race in my dad’s new pontoon boat! What lake is your cabin on?
I wonder if there are any good races sept/oct…
I did this race in 200, 2001 and 2002. I missed it last year because it fell on the same weekend as IM Wisconsin. The good points about this race are the location and the time of year. I felt it was a really nice tune up for IM Florida in 2001.
The swim is in Square Lake is typically cold. You will definitely NEED a wetsuit. The lake is very deep, clear, and free of weeds. Over all I would say it is a very nice swim venue.
The bike course is challenging and very pretty. The one draw back is the rail road tracks that you have to cross over twice. In 2001, riders actually had to stop and let the train pass. There is one aid station on the bike course at the half way point. The course isn’t marked as well as it should be. It isn’t uncommon to hear about athletes riding off the course and ending up in Stillwater, 10 miles away.
The run course is hilly and seems longer than 13.1 miles. In the past it hasn’t been staffed adequately by volunteers. In the 2001 race there weren’t any volunteers on the run course after the first aid station. Instead, all you would find is a thermous of water and some cups. You had to pour your own. The run course is in a very rural area, which isn’t bad as long as you know where you are going. The course isn’t marked that well, and more than once I have had to stop and think about which way to go.
Other things that stick in my head center around organization. There aren’t enough port-a-potties, and the few the have are over filled by the end of the race. If there is any food at the end, it is a miracle. I mean nothing. The support really sucks. Plan on not getting any support on the bike or run course - or after the race. The weather can be very iffy that time of year. I can remember it being very hot, and very cold with rain and wind. Bring lots of clothing options.
The race is kind of a joke around this area. If you can live with out decent support on race day then I say go ahead and do it. If what you are looking for is a well run race then don’t. I definitely can’t see travelling for it as it would be a real dissapointment. Most people I know just consider it to be a long training day, nothing more.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your training and in Florida!
I posted on Gordo’s board as well. A few comments on tjsmith’s evaluation.
I did the race last year and found things a little better on the run. Aid stations every mile (out and back run) manned with cups poured of weak gatorade and water. I can’t comment on the porta-johns, I used the shelter toilets pre-race only. I usually pre-ride or pre-drive any bike or run course I do, so getting lost isn’t an issue for me (usually). However, I don’t remember a whole lot of course markings, so getting lost is probably an option if you don’t know the route. They had post-race gatorade and water, as well as a picnic table with hot dogs, chips, cookies, etc. Not exactly post-race fodder, but better than nothing I suppose. With the right mindset, it can be a fun race. The venue and route is pretty fun. I thought the run was challenging and the bike in the middle of the road for level of difficulty (not too hard, not too easy). The swim was pretty cold.
That’s cool. I spent a lot of my summers in PR. My grandparents grew up there, as did my mom. I’m debating on getting a ride to the race in my dad’s new pontoon boat! What lake is your cabin on?
I wonder if there are any good races sept/oct…
Two Inlets - about 8 miles south of Itasca State Park just off Hwy 71. Good fishing - the best on the lake is right off our dock! 
I’m not really aware of any other races up that way except for the one in Walker, and one in Detroit Lakes (that one might be full). I’m going to check out the one in Walker though and see what’s up there…
yep. I know where that’s at. I went snowshoeing in Itasca this last winter.
I’m hoping to find something closer to the cities for the fall. We’ll see.
Can’t wait for this race i think i’m doing it, thats not good if you have to bring all your own water and food. It sounds like an 1/2 ironman adventure race…
Where were you looking? Trifind.com? They don’t show all of them. I know Mankato and Elysian have sprint tri’s not on their listing. Mankato=.25swim/15/4 Elysian=.5/8 hilly/4
The other place to look is silent sports.com. Mankato and Elysian are about an hour drive down 169. If you need more info, just email me. Owatonna is this weekend and that one is seldom full, mainly due to the water temp.
I bought a wetsuit tonight (QR Ultrajohn from Gear West!), so it’ll be a Saturday morning decision on whether or not I’ll do Owatonna. I’ll have to watch the weather and see…
hansoa - if you have info on those two tri’s you mentioned, please email me at chrisolson68@yahoo.com - thanks! I used to live in 'Kato, but I didn’t realize they had a tri there.
I didn’t know they had one down there either. I’ll see what I can find online.
The race is kind of a joke around this area. If you can live with out decent support on race day then I say go ahead and do it. If what you are looking for is a well run race then don’t. I definitely can’t see travelling for it as it would be a real dissapointment. Most people I know just consider it to be a long training day, nothing more.
I’ve never done it, but that’s what I’ve heard, too. I think part of the difficulty is that the race director puts on the sprint race at the same location on the following day. He said it’s tough to get volunteers. Most don’t want to volunteer for both, and those that do volunteer would rather do so for the short race. However, my club is trying to get a whole bunch of volunteers for the long course. I will be one of them so hope to see you there.
You should be able to find a pretty comprehensive list of races on http://www.midwestevents.com - good site that is local to the Twin Cities area but also has a lot of other regional races as well.
I heard that Square Lake has been improving for the 1/2 IM course, last year it went pretty well I think. I haven’t raced it, but that’s the word on the street. I’m traveling for most of my late-season races, but if I was in MN I’d probably give it a chance. Smaller races don’t get better unless people race them and give the directors feedback on how to improve. I think they want to provide a great race and have a good set-up, just have to tweak the details and get the word out.
Have a good race, whichever you decide to do!
Josh