NORTH MANKATO —
It is just about go-time for the 15th annual North Mankato Triathlon, and final preparations are underway.
The event takes place at 8 a.m. Sunday at Hiniker Pond in North Mankato. A group of determined competitors, mostly from the Greater Mankato Multisport Club, got in a final workout Thursday at the pond.
Among them was 46-year-old Laura Larsen of Blue Earth. She just began competing in sprint triathlons in 2011 and already has 11 to her credit.
“I got hooked as soon as I did my first one,” Larsen said. “The thing is, I almost always finish last or in the bottom group. I’m not in it for my times or records or anything like that. I just love doing it.”
Larsen said her main attractions to triathlons and the Multisport Club are the health benefits and the camaraderie. She’s made numerous new friends and is already starting to drag some other people from Blue Earth along to club workouts and functions.
“It’s such a positive, optimistic group of people,” she said. “You really can’t help but like them after you get involved.”
Brad Johnson, 52, is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Larsen. The Mankato native will be competing in his 10th North Mankato Triathlon this year and usually finishes at or near the top of his age group.
“My very first one was the Elysian Triathlon,” Johnson said. “I was looking for something that would combine all three workouts — running, biking, swimming — and the triathlon was perfect.
“I’ve done a couple of full-fledged Ironmans, but I mostly do the sprint events. I really enjoy the overall fitness aspect of it.”
This year’s triathlon has a new coordinator. Founder Ann Vose announced her retirement last summer and, after a period of limbo in which the event was almost canceled, Final Stretch Inc., agreed to take it over.
Mark Bongers, who runs Final Stretch, is also the coordinator of the Mankato Marathon and has plenty of experience running organized races and multi-sport events.
“Things have been going a lot more smoothly than even I expected,” Bongers said Tuesday. “We have 240 registered adults and about 60 kids for the new kids triathlon we’re putting on (3 p.m., today).
“I expect both those number to increase quite a bit by the time the races start. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have 100 kids (ages 5-13) competing.”
Bongers said his familiarity with the community through the Mankato Marathon has helped the transition. He also stressed the cooperation he’s been receiving from North Mankato officials and law enforcement in coordinating the event.
Bongers has tweaked the course a little bit, mostly for safety purposes. He’s also added a pancake breakfast at the conclusion of the event right at Hiniker Pond.
“My dad will be one of the people making pancakes,” Bongers said. “We’ve done similar feeds at other events and they’ve gone over well.”
Anyone wishing to compete in this year’s event but has not signed up yet can still do so. There will be a late-registration this evening from 5-8 p.m. at the Best Western in North Mankato and people may also register early Sunday morning from 6:30-7:30 a.m. For more information go to www.finalstretch.com/triathlon-events/north-mankato-triathlon/info/
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Related Photos
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Some competitors in Sunday’s North Mankato Triathlon were at Hiniker Pond Thursday working on their starts to the swimming leg of the competition. Final Stretch Inc. will be coordinating the event for the first time this weekend. John Cross
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A couple of entrants in Sunday’s North Mankato Triathlon work on their swimming during a practice session at Hiniker Pond Thursday. As of Tuesday night, there were 240 adults registered for the event. John Cross
June 29, 2012
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