Frosty Foot 5K races to Sibley Park

Participants to receive event socks, Pub 500 certificate

The Minnesota State University, Mankato Triathlon Club is hosting its 3rd annual Frosty Foot 5K race on March 20 at 9 a.m.

The race will take place at Sibley Park in Mankato. The starting point begins near the parking lot and baseball fields, and volunteers will clearly mark the race route for participants along the way. At the finish line, participants can enjoy snacks and hot drinks, as well as being outdoors in the brisk spring air.
Participants can register online at Active.com. They can also register the day of the race, as early as 7:30 a.m. The 5K costs $30 for non-students and $25 for students. Each participant will finish the race with a pair of event socks and a $5 certificate for Pub 500.

This Frosty Foot promises to be milder than previous years, with a weather prediction of around thirty degrees. The race definitely held true to its name in 2014, when participants braved -25 degree temperatures to reach the finish line. Even though the club moved the race date into the beginning of March for 2015, conditions were still slightly glacial.

“Our water cooler froze as well as our team members,” said Ted Treise, club president and senior at MSU.

This year, they have moved the race even later into March in order to give participants more time for outdoor runs before the event, as well as eliminate potential frostbite.

The club has an exciting event coming up – the USA Triathlon (USAT) collegiate championship occurs in Clemson, South Carolina this April. Over 1,300 of the nation’s best college triathletes gather here to compete, all ambassadors from 120 universities. However, both the transportation and the entry fee are costly for the club members, especially as they must continue investing in their college education.

Funds from the Frosty Foot will hopefully lighten expenses for club members to compete.
“We aim to give everyone the opportunity to race if they have the heart and drive, regardless of their financial standing,” said Treise.

Last year, the club performed well at Nationals, with all nine of their participants in the top 50 percent, and some even in the top 30 percent. Their stiff competition included triathletes from UCLA, Colorado State, the Air Force Academy, and Naval Academy. They also competed in numerous Midwest races last year.

“For many of those races, a MSU uniform was on the podium,” Treise said.

This year, the club’s hopes and efforts are even higher. Assisted by Nate Dick’s Training, they’re thoroughly dedicated to stretching their limits with harder workouts and nutrition plans, with the goal of achieving high rankings in all 2016 national and regional races they have on the docket.

“Triathlon is a lifetime activity that engages individuals in a positive community,” said Treise. He explained that the club’s ultimate purpose is to “assist all members in the training and preparation for triathlons, regardless of experience or current activity levels.” However, they also want to promote health and fitness throughout the MSU campus, and act as another dynamic face of MSU through community involvement.

The 3rd annual Frosty Foot 5K is a prime illustration of the club’s commitment to their community. All participants are welcome to come run a few miles and support the Triathlon Club in their upcoming endeavors.