Nice job Eric and Travis on the results in the first race of the year. The race was located southeast of Sioux City, thanks for driving Travis. There were approximately 76 racers in the "B" category, racing two hilly laps for a total of 48 miles. Eric and Travis' results rewarded them for the many hours on the indoor rollers over the winter months. Little clarification for those interested or who may be confused in the future if they see us in team MOB cycling gear. Eric, Travis and myself are currently members of the MOB racing team, 2nd year for Eric and Travis, first for me. Attachment to a USA cycling race team is the best way to go for participation in USA cycling federation sanctioned cycling races. The MOB race team just so happens to be the team that we are attached to right now. Hope Fort Dodge Tri Sport can eventually become a USA cycling team in the near future. For this to happen, the team has to put on a race. Again, this is something that will hopefully happen in the future. Well, looks like the next race the trio will be participating in will be the Iowa city road race on April 25th and/or the Old Capital Criterium on April 26th. So, have about 6 weeks to continue training. Hope to provide pictures (and good results) for these races. Keep checking back for possible organized training rides.

Ben

Twin Bing Classic

Contributed by Travis Jass

Just checking in with a quick race report from the Twin Bing Classic on Saturday. Ben Acree, Eric Knox, and myself made the journey to Climbing Hill (kinda intimidating namesake) where we opened the 09 outdoor race season.

We rolled off the start line and in about 1/2 mile my chain dropped on a little to big ring shift. Not a good way to open the season. I tacked onto the back pretty quickly and basically sucked wheel for the first half of the first lap. A few riders popped out the back here and there and I could see ahead that Eric was on the front.

I worked up in the pack to Ben and not long after reaching him he cramped and advised me to go on ahead. I prowled around the back of the main field into the second lap before totally bombin it on one of the downhills all the way up to the front with Eric. He said he was feeling ok (even though it looked to me as if he had been doing the lion's share of the work) so I wound the pace up hoping he could just sit in long enough to recover to be able to make a move at the end.

We turned into the wind southbound about 4 miles north of town and the pace just fell flat on it's face. What was left of the main group stuck together until we turned to go thru town one last time en route to the uphill finish. A handful of riders spun it up and there was little I could do but watch them ride away.

I gave it everything I had left but got around only one rider on the finishing hill. Ended up 6th, Eric 8th, full results here. We're really happy with a couple top tens this early in the season. I remember the last two years opening two weeks later at Altoona, and never having this good of result or feeling as good afterwards as I did this weekend. Maybe all the mundane hours on Kreitlers this winter really worked. Only time will tell later on this season, gonna be a fun summer.....Travis

More pictures to come.. Keep checking back.

Hey folks, as mentioned in the previous post, we are starting a trisport club here in Fort Dodge. More information and specifics coming soon, please keep checking back. The idea is for a club to support athletes participating in cycling and/or swimming and/or running or athletes that do all three sports. No exclusions. We will be creating member gear to wear for cycling, running and swimming. Information on upcoming organized training and races will be provided on this site as well as results and pictures of events held. As an organization, we hope to host events in Fort Dodge and support youth participating in these different sports. This is going to be great, very excited about this club. Please don't hesitate to leave any comments on this or on the Y-Tri.

Thanks,
Ben

The picture of the shirt will be posted soon, learning my way around this blog thing.

Ben Acree

Well, the innagural Fort Dodge Y Indoor Triathlon has come and gone. I had a great time planning and participating in it. A big thanks to Craig Jarrard, Dave Pearson, Monica Shelly, Andrea Syferd and Diane Happel. You all did an outstanding job!! Thanks to all the volunteers. Could not have pulled it off without you. Had one volunteer for every two athletes, not bad. Thanks to all of our sponsors, see the picture of the very nice shirt you recieved for either participating or volunteering. Looking forward to next year where we hope to have twice as many athletes. Keep on training. More pictures will be posted soon. Look forward to the announcement of the Fort Dodge Trisport Club, coming soon!!

Ben Acree