Graniteman Big Lake Olympic 2017

The final event in the Graniteman Triathlon Series is the Big Lake Triathlon. Coming into this event, I was sitting in 5th place.


I love that this event is less than 2 miles from my sister's front door! When I got up and was ready, I just hopped on my bike for a short warm up ride to transition. I arrived in time to secure a premium spot.

As we were departing WIBA last weekend, I found out that one of my new friends was going to be in town this weekend. A little peer pressure & I  convinced Kelsae to bring her bike and join me for her first MN Tri!

Photo by Phreeance Fotography

I was In the second Olympic distance heat. My swim was unremarkable. The long turns were marked with white swans that I had difficulty sighting, but my bigger mistake was spotting off a SUP that I thought was the inflatable Graniteman marking the swim exit. I swam about 150 yard long, so nothing too bad! As I came in toward swim exit, we rejoined the sprinters in a fight to the finish.

T1 was fast and efficient for me.

Photo by Phreeance Fotography

The bike started out quick dodging a few sprinters as we headed out around the lake. I struggled to find my rhythm. My quads were screaming with fatigue from last weekend. Coming into the turn, I had about 10 in front of me, but had no idea which heat each was in. I just tried to buckle down and hold a steady pace, power, and cadence. My ride back along the shore became interesting as I had to keep dodging vehicles pulling out of driveways. One pulled out and stopped right in front of me! Fortunately, I was able to safely pass and keep going (rather than find an abrupt stop in their backseat).


T2 was a quick turn and burn for me. Nothing too exciting to report.

On the run, I just kept pushing forward. I knew I was just behind PR pace and did my best to hold on without the wheels falling completely off. By the turn, I knew it would take a miracle, but kept pushing. About a quarter mile from the finish, my PR time came and went. As I entered the park, I took a quick glance back and then let off the gas. I had put in my effort, there was no sense hurting myself in the last few hundred yards.

I missed my PR by 2:18. Scouring over my results, I lost all of that and then some in my bike effort. It was not meant to be today! I finished the day with a 22nd overall, 17th Male, 3rd in my AG, and 4th in the series...by 18 seconds! I am happy with my efforts. It was a hard fought series with some great racing from all! Never count yourself out!!!