Lets first get Graniteman out of the way. I decided the night before to race this one and hadn’t swam since Average Jo so i was set up for greatness right away haha. Then add 90 degrees and high humidity and you have yourself a DISASTER. It was a tough day even for those who prepared for it, i simply ran out of stEam eSpecially after my wet suit tore as the swim started. It Felt like i was swimming with a sack of potatoes around my legs! All thAt extra effort left the tank empty for the bike and run. Note to self, last minute olympic races are not smart.

Hoot Lake, a great little race in Fergus Falls. The weather was perfect and the bike course was back to the original course. It was a day for PRs and reCords. The water was like glass, it wasn’t humid and I was feeling rested. The swim wenT ok, had a new wet suit so that is always fun. It kicked my butt in T1 thats for sure! The bike was a blast. Some nice downhill portions anD some good climbs tO keep the heartrate up. The run is always tougH here. While its sorT, they mess with you as the first half is downhill anD the return to Godel park Is a climb. There was lots of aid stations and the whole event is great. I guess on its 26th running it should be! I Finished 3rd in my age group and 12th overall. At least i got to bring some harDware home.

The best part of the race was the Nygaards. Had Sherpa Jerry as a photographer and moral booster and Corey’s mom and sister raced whch is awesome! Jerry Gets the photo credit below and we’ll see what Minnewaska hasto offer neXt weeK!

While the name might have changed to the Perham Triathlon, what was known as the Average Jo triathlon was far from average this year. I was coming off a stretch consisting of the Fargo Marathon, IMWI70.3 and then Grandmas marathon in about a months time. Corey was coming off a blistering hot IRONMAN Boulder and Branden had just crushed a triathlon in its INAUGURAL race put on my the Fargo Marathon folks and feeling the effecTs from a little case of bumper cars. We even had a Wildcat with Us, some girl who happens to like Branden haha.

Corey arrived and solidified his nicknaMe, rocking his go to speedo alOng with some killer pineapple gear. Just a litTle jealous! I elected to go all Wattie Ink that day and Branden was rocking thE dynamic duo of Team USA and Scheels. The photo below shows it all.

The swim, or walk for some was a short 1/3 Mile course in shallow enough water that non VERTICALLY challanged folks could walk. I find this odd Because even swimming slow is faster than walking through water. Anyways, i went without a wetsuit because i didn’t Feel it had any BENEFIT and was just focused on the bike. The bike portion has been lackiNg as i just haven’t been pusHing myself. For the first time all year i gave it hell on the bike and held nothing back. Even remembered my Cliff Bloks! It was a fun little bike course, 14 miles or so but even with the increased effort, only managed the 11th Quickest bike split. Need to work on that!

the run, my go to and favorite part! I left transition just behind a few racers as i walked Stealth up the graVel where some rode up. It was a hot and humid morning and we wEre all feeling the effects even with the short diStance. It was a 4 mile loop around some parks and golf course and left great VISUALS of the people i was trying to chase down. I passed a fee racers and managed about 7:10 miles so I shouldn’t complain. Good enough for the 8th fastest run.

With all that swimming, biking and running i came in 9th place out of 80 I believe and 2nd in my age grouP. Mike later informed me i shaved 10 minutes off my previous Average Jo time, unreal! Thanks MiKe, hope to raCe You sometime soon! It felt grEat to place and bring home some hardware Versus just a finisher medal. Like normal this year, Branden took home 1st with a course record, Corey drafted his ass to a second place finish and Alexa took 10th place in her first ever sprint triathlon. Don’t be fooled, she’s races a few IRONMANS and the suicide pace of the sprint triathlon is tough on all of us!

​That being said, a great morning with some great friends. Love racing with these kiddos, they make me push myself EXTREMELY hard!

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