The Day is Nigh! The Queen of the Classics! The one and only......
PERU NORDIC'S IRON MAIDEN TRIATHLON.
If you can't have snow there is no better summer race in New York. It is a chance to see how your summer fitness is going and test all your favorite cross-training activities against your fellow friends and nordic rivals. As always the HRT newsroom is pleased to bring you the annual Odd Oddmaker's Odds (London Olympics edition) so that you can make your way to your nearest shady gambling parlor and drop a quid on your favorite pony.....
Race Overview: The athletes from HURT nation are bringing a formidable squad to this years games. After intense training, weeks of trials, and continuous athlete testing the Director has his best squad geared up and ready. For the first time in a long while all three of the HURT three-headed junior monster (Luban, Halligan, Huneck) will suit up and battle it out for the podium spots....only this time.....they are bringing a just as powerful spiked tail. Seth Mares (another impressive junior talent) has raised eyebrows of talent scouts and when these four lock horns in competition it is going to be fireworks. And let's not forget the race veteran and reigning champ Dave PK is desperate to keep his iron door stop. Desperation is a powerful motivator. The nation of Peru is not to be overlooked. Home course. Veteran talent. And after last years lashing by HURT they are desperate to regain former Iron Maiden glory. Rose, Kobak and the legion of doom look to employ strategy, speed and shredding high pitched guitar at the opening ceremonies to throw their competitors off balance and steal the team title once again. Here our our race picks....
Adam Luban: Race Rookie. However, he brings major run speed and REG level talent to the ski up the HOD. Bike leg is a big IF, but if he can keep it close and slip a few bucks to the Russian judge he may find his way onto the podium.
Odds: 7:2 that he doesn't have enough money to pay off the judge but he sticks to landing on one foot and finds his way onto a step.
Brian Halligan: Knows the course. Knows the HOD. Fast runner and formidable on skis. Based on last year, the bike leg is still a question but he has grown about 6 inches and added some serious sinew. May be the athlete to beat. His tactical mind may be at play on the bike leg as well. Our guess, if he can make his way through the pre-competition human growth testing he should be right there in the end.
Odds: 3:1 that the he takes >2 minutes off his bike leg from last year.
Austin Huneck: Controversial training plan for this young nordic stud. Reports have it that he has spent two weeks living with mountain goats above 9000 feet. Nothing but long days with little oxygen and sleeping amongst the herd. The smell alone be enough to decimate the competition. He is flying to just above sea level 1 day before the IMT to maximize the gains as he destroys the HOD. If his plan works, the course record may just fall. If it backfires....it could be ugly. You don't get the gold without taking a few gambles.
Odds: 5:2 that he is so used to walking through beautiful mountain landscapes of the high Colorado mountains that he stops by the side of the road to pick some wild flowers.
Seth "Spikes" Mares: Another Race rookie. But major podium dark horse. Lots of bike mileage this spring. Trains repeats up Corinth Mountain. Top it off with impressive skiing at the HURT junior camp and winner of the camp sprint race. Shows he has the guts to drive for the line. Smart, savvy and capable in all disciplines.
Odds: 12:1 take him as a sleeper and make some serious coin.
Visual approximation of the tail now found on the three-headed monster.
Dave "The professor" PK: Defending Champ. Race vet. Studies the race like no other. Has had a tumultuous history with the race but has shown he has the goods to conquer it. In a bike heavy event he may be the wheel to grab onto. He likes to get out quick and push his TT legs. If he has enough in his aging legs to hold off the chase pack, the iron may be returning to Round Lake.
Odds: 6:1 that his takes a cow prod and tattoos the course map onto his forearm.
Chris Rose: Once a champ, always a champ. Wants it. Dreams about it. The fire that burns in his soul would light 100 Olympic flames. Smart, tactical, fit. Always a threat.
Odds: 2:1 that he is thinking about the bike tactics as he is reading this post.
Jim Kobak: Home course. Smart and Steady. May not be an outright threat for the victory but never count out a late charge up the HOD and with team tactics in play he could pay a role for a deep Peru squad.
Odds: 1:1 that he will be appropriately precovered.
Deb Nordyke: Multi-Winner. Ex-Olympian. Rarely challenged in the women's field. It could be ho-hum as she skis smooth to a women's victory. Or she could get complacent and find herself in a real duel for the top spot.
Odds: 2:1 A champion always knows how to race.
Katie Christoffel: U-Maine at Presque Isle skier is showing up for her first crack at unseating the Queen of the IMT. Fit, strong and fierce. Rookie status may be hard to overcome but it could be real interesting.
Odds: 1:1 That she will have the best and happiest cheering section (Becky)
THE FIELD: This may be the biggest IMT in competition history. Anything can happen. The course may be marked, it may not....the HOD is newly paved (OMG), wheels fall off, tires flat, and shoes come untied. So many unknowns.
Odds: 1:1 that this will be a race to remember. Bring your A game.
