This year marks the 18 annual Square Lake Triathlon. This was FrontRunner’s first multisport event and continues to be our flagship multisport event.

Back in 1999, there were very few multisport events. Throughout the entire summer there were probably no more that 8 – 10. Turtleman , Timberman, Manitou Sprint, Heart of the Lakes and Brewhouse are a few that existed back then.

The Turtleman Triathlon was always mid August and the last triathlon of the season. If you were going to compete at the Ironman Championships in Hawaii, you still had the few months to train and prepare.

Mo and Suzanne Mouw were two local White Bear Lake athletes who competed at Ironman Hawaii and wanted one more opportunity to compete before the Minnesota summer was over. They approached me and asked if I would consider putting on a late season triathlon. They used the Square Lake area for training and suggested Square Lake Park as the venue for the event. We weren’t new to putting on events but we had never organized a multisport event.

And so it began. Washing ton County Parks would not allow events between Memorial Day and Labor Day so we chose the week after Labor Day. It’s a beautiful time of year and although the water is cooling off, it was still swimable.

The first year we only put on the short course. ½ mile swim, 17 mile bike, and 5 mile run. Everyone loved the Square Lake venue.

Chip timing wasn’t available yet so there were just 3 transition time given – swim, bike and run, all timed with a manual device. I’m sure we missed a number of transition times but we did what we could. Probable wasn’t until the 4^th or 5^th year that we started using chips for timing.

The second year we added the long course. Back then there wasn’t a triathlon of this distance in Minnesota. The only one in the Midwest was Pigman in Iowa . We created the course – 1.2 mile swim, 54 mile bike and 13 mile run. The bike was 2 mile short of the actual Ironman distance. We used a circle course for the run the first year but switched to an out and back the second year so runners would have some company as they passed each other.

Over the years thing got twecked and changed. I remember one night before the start and we were setting up bike racks, someone asked if it wouldn’t be easier to come in and out of the park if we switched the transition area to from the lower parking lot to the upper lot. We tried it and it worked so much better.

We use to have the finish line up by the entrance of the park and someone suggested moving it to the beach. That change made such a difference.

The long course was on Saturday and the Short course on Sunday. The City of Scandia began Taco Days and holds it on Saturday, and since all our bikes went through Scandia twice, they asked us if we would move the long course to Sunday.

We only do the short course now. The two long days just took too much out of me. Ironman Wisconsin is always that weekend and there are always so many local triathletes spending their weekend in Madison. People have so many options now if they want to do a long course triathlon – one of those options has become finding an event in some beautiful place in the world, and travel to it. Hard to compete!

I still think the Square Triathlon has one of the most beautiful venues with the cleanest water to swim in, the best road to bike on and a country run course that is stunning. There are a few athletes that have never missed a year. This years Square Lake Triathlon is Saturday, September 9. Hope to see you there!

Here is additional information on this year’s event

Randy

On Saturday, March 25, there will be a 5K run and walk to raise money to help Paul Auger. Paul has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.  Guillain-Barre syndrom is a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.

Paul is completely paralyzed from the neck down.  

Paul has been the only income earner in his family.  His return to work will be many months out and the doctor indicated possibly up to a year for him to regain the skills necessary for his job. His family has set up a GoFundMe page and FrontRunner would like help contribute to that fund

SO WE ARE GOING TO HOLD A RUN/WALK FOR PAUL AUGER 5K FUNDRAISER

Here are the details.

The start and finish will be in the marina area of Boatworks Commons.  Race Day Registration and packet pickup will be in at same area.

Run and walk will start at 9:00 A.M.

Wear one of your favorite t shirts and bring something for the White Bear Food Shelf.  Hope to see you there.  Online registration is available at Midwest Events until Wednesday, March 22.  You will find a paper entry at the FrontRunner’s website

I have had many people ask me why the St. Paul Triathlon isn’t on our 2017 schedule.  2017 would have been the 12th annual.  I did a quick search as to how many people participated in this event over the years and the number came up to about 3500.  I’m glad to say that the event isn’t going away but just taking a year off as the City of St. Paul and the Metropolitan Council does a major repair to the sewer pipes around Lake Phalen and some more much needed repair to Wheelock Parkway.  Stacy, from St. Paul Parks, had given me a heads up on this project last year.  The area where we usually put to transition area is going to be completed torn up (if fact I believe they have already started on the project).  We looked at different options as to where we could exit out of the swim and onto the bike course but always came up empty.

Stacy has kept the triathlon in the 2018 park schedule so we plan to be back then (thanks Stacy!!).  We look forward to seeing you at the 12th Annual St. Paul Triathlon in 2018 – if not before.
Thanks.
Randy

A New Years Day run is such a great way to start the new year off.  FrontRunner dropped the Resolution Solution in 2016 but Tri Fitness is bringing it back.  Check here for current information on New Years Day 2017.

Once a year we offer a great deal on our upcoming events.  That offer starts tomorrow (Friday November) and runs through Monday (November 28).  This year we offer a 25% discount on all our 2017 events.  A complete list of FrontRunners events can be found here,  Thanks for signing up – You will love our events!

Registration on all 2017 FrontRunner Events will open on Friday November 25.  All entry fees will be discounted 25% Friday November 25 through Monday November 28

Here are the 2017 FrontRunner Events

Saturday April 29 – Chippewa 50K Ultra Trail Run and 10K – New Auburn, WI
Saturday May 6  – Jump to it 5, 10 ad ids Fun Run – White Bear Lake, MN
Saturday May 13  – Oakdale “Spring Classic” Duathlon – Lake Elmo, MN
Saturday June 3 – New Bri Tri – New Brighton, MN
Saturday September 9 – Square Lake Triathlon – Stillwater, MN
Saturday September 16 – Park Tool “Fall Classic” Duathlon – Lake Elmo, MN
Sunday September 17 – William O’Brien 10 Mile Trail Run – Marine, MN
Saturday October 21 – Run for the Apples 5 Mile Trail Run and 1/3 mile kids fun run – White Bear Lake, MN
Saturday October 28 – The Great Pumpkin Chase 5K, 10K and Kids Dracula Dash – Lake Elmo, MN

Check here for info on all events

The Great Pumpkin Chase is this Saturday at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve.  The event has a 5K, 10K and a Kids Fun Run (the Dracula Dash).  Online registration is open until midnight Thursday.  There will be race day registration at Lake Elmo.  Many will do both the 5K and the 10K.  The 10K starts at 8:30 and the 5K is at 10:00.  The Dracula Dash is at 11:00.  More information is at FrontRunner

Looking for a great Run/Walk/Kid’s Run this Saturday?  Come to the Run for the Apples 5 Mile Run/Walk and 1/3 Mile Kid’s Fun Run at Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake.  The 5 Mile Run starts at 9:00 a.m. and the Kid’s Fun Run starts at 10:15 a.m.
The 5 mile course will take you through the pumpkin patches, strawberry fields and apple orchards.  Pine Tree Apple Orchard is at 450 Apple Orchard Rd, White Bear Lake, MN.  Registration information can be found at FrontRunner Events website.  There will be raceday registration for all events starting at 8:00 a.m.  Online registration will close at midnight Thursday, October 20.  Hope to see you there!

FrontRunner is excited to announce it’s 2017 event schedule

Saturday April 29 – Chippewa 50K Ultra Trail Run and 10K – New Auburn, WI
Saturday May 6  – Jump to it 5, 10 ad ids Fun Run – White Bear Lake, MN
Saturday May 13  – Oakdale “Spring Classic” Duathlon – Lake Elmo, MN
Saturday June 3 – New Bri Tri – New Brighton, MN
Saturday September 9 – Square Lake Triathlon – Stillwater, MN
Saturday September 16 – Park Tool “Fall Classic” Duathlon – Lake Elmo, MN
Sunday September 17 – William O’Brien 10 Mile Trail Run – Marine, MN
Saturday October 21 – Run for the Apples 5 Mile Trail Run and 1/3 mile kids fun run – White Bear Lake, MN
Saturday October 28 – The Great Pumpkin Chase 5K, 10K and Kids Dracula Dash – Lake Elmo, MN

Registration for all 2017 events opens on Friday, November 25, 2016

Incformation on all these events can be found at FrontRunner