Welcome to Maple Grove Triathlon!

Welcome to the Maple Grove Triathlon site! We are a group of athletes in the Minneapolis area who love training for and competing in triathlons. Whether you’re contemplating your first race or you’ve completed an Iron Man, we invite you to join us. In addition to organizing training support groups, we also compete together and […]

8 Fun Facts to Know About Maple Grove, MN

When you think about wonderful places in Minnesota, the “Twin Cities” are the first things that come to mind. However, that’s not all the state has to offer. There are much more cities that are just as beautiful as Minneapolis-St. Paul. Among those is Maple Grove, which is considered one of Minnesota’s hidden gems. Yes, […]

6 Questions You Should Always Ask Before Hiring a Maple Grove Moving Company

Minnesota is one of the few underrated states in America. People like to praise California or New York for their glamour. But beyond physical wealth, Minnesota actually has plenty to offer in terms of nature, serenity, and stability.

Insert Maple Grove, a simple suburb of Minneapolis. The place proudly offers clean air, beautiful scenery, affordability, and a healthy lifestyle. No wonder it attracts people from in and out of the state.

That being said, moving somewhere else, even if it’s just a suburb can be tough. If you’re contemplating seeking movers for help, here are six essential questions you should ask your Maple Grove moving company.

1. Are You Licensed and Insured?

If there’s a question that needs to be asked first, it should be this one. Under the United States Department of Transportation, moving companies are required to be licensed and insured. A license means they’ve complied with the legal requirements set by the government in order to operate. However, this doesn’t ensure that your mover is honest or reputable, although it does mean they’ve passed some sort of background check.

Additionally, there are two ways to check your potential Maple Grove mover’s credibility:

  1. Ask for their USDOT number. This number will confirm the company’s registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Verify their status by entering the number on the Mover Search Tool.
  2. Get their MnDOT number. MnDOT, which stands for Minnesota Department of Transport, is a specific license regulating household movers in the entire state.

On top of a license, insurance is also crucial when hiring movers. If you hire a mover without insurance, then any damages incurred during your move will not be paid for by them – this means you’re paying out of pocket for repairs or replacement, which could cost thousands.

2. What Type of Services Do You Offer?

There are many different kinds of movers which cater to various moving needs. Your first choice should always be to hire movers who offer all three common types of moving services:

  • Full-Service Residential Moving – these professionals pack your stuff for you, load it onto the truck, drive it to its destination and unload it for you at the new location.
  • Commercial Moving – these experts pack, load, and unload offices and businesses so they can quickly resume operation.
  • Long-distance moving – these movers know how to relocate people from another state or even across the country. It also includes international moves.

In addition to these, there are also other specializations in the moving industry, including last-minute moves, white-glove moving (relocating precious collections), piano moving, furniture assembly, international relocation, and storage services. Discuss your demands with the movers.

3. How Long Have You Been in The Business?

Experience is important when hiring a moving company. You want people who understand the logistics and know what they’re doing. That being said, new movers may be less expensive and equally as effective. However, one thing can’t be denied. The older the business, the more experience they probably have. This can be helpful to know because you would like your belongings to arrive safely and damage-free. Overall, it’s a matter of personal preference whether you prefer the inexpensive new company or the more experienced but pricier mover. But if you want to secure your investment, a company working around Maple Grove and across Minnesota will be the safest bet.

4. Do You Have Any References?

You should ask for references from previous clients whom you may contact personally. While the movers will almost definitely provide some kind of list of references, it’s best to check with someone who isn’t connected to them in any way (i.e., not their friend or family member.) This helps ensure that you get unbiased feedback on how well they did their job and how much you should expect to pay for services rendered.

5. How Much Do You Charge?

It might be awkward to ask about prices, but it’s a crucial question. For anyone moving, price is a top priority. Although prices may vary from company to company, the cheapest options need to be looked over carefully, and questions should be asked such as: “Does this deal include insurance?” or “What about fuel charges?” By asking these questions, you can avoid hidden charges that could add up when the time comes to unpack in your new home. Be sure to check that your potential Maple Grove movers are transparent with their rates. As much as possible, get everything written in a binding contract. This will help avoid backstabbing and hidden charges later on.

6. What is the Process of Filing a Damage Claim?

Last but definitely a question you shouldn’t skip. No matter how amazing a mover might seem, no one is perfect. It’s important to understand the process of filing a damage claim. A reputable company will have a straightforward process outlined on their website or inform you verbally about their claims procedure upon request. This way, you won’t be lost or stressed out if ever something goes wrong.

Before You Hire a Moving Company

Ensure to do adequate research, from customer reviews to services and rates from your potential company. As much as possible, work with an established one to off-load the worrying burden on your shoulders. If you ever find yourself in a confusing spot on which mover to hire, consider reaching one of these movers in Maple Grove that are known for their reliability. Best of luck!

5 Best Meal Delivery & Subscription Services for Athletes

Whether you’re moving into a new house and don’t have time to cook, or you’re a busy athlete that needs top-notch nutrition, there are lots of meal delivery and subscription services that can save you loads of time. Here are some of our favorites.

Health is wealth, especially for athletes who make a living out of their physical abilities. As an athlete, nutrition is a major role player in your lifestyle. However, tight schedules and heavy training sessions often get in the way of a wholesome diet. You might have little time to cook, or you’re too tired to prepare healthy meals.

If you’re having trouble keeping up with food choices, signing up for a meal delivery subscription can be a game-changer. With weekly food deliveries, you’ll be able to spare more time for training while still consuming food loaded with nutrients to help you recharge.

That said, here are the five best meal delivery services you should consider:

1. Trifecta

Trifecta’s primary focus is to provide delicious but healthy meals based on science-driven facts. You can choose between keto, vegan, paleo, and three other meal plans. They even in-house a professional chef to make sure that ingredients are freshly cooked before it arrives at your place. Plus, menus rotate every week, so your palate doesn’t get bored from the same tastes.

Prices typically start at $109.00 per delivery. A La Carte option is also available starting at $6.00 per meal. The food is vacuum-sealed and comes in an insulated box to keep things chilled in transit. Deliveries are typically once a week. If you’re looking for something that tastes like home cooking after a few minutes of heating, Trifecta is the way to go.

2. Pete’s Paleo

As an athlete, you probably care about nutrition more than anything. But with Pete’s Paleo, the flavor comes as a bonus! Started by a chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu, this subscription food delivery service offers nutrient-packed, ready-to-eat paleo meals. Pete’s provides you with a variety of plans to meet your diet needs.

You can get 5 meals for $79.00 or 14 meals for $196.00. Need to feed your kids as well? Say no more with Pete’s family plan that serves 5 meals with 4 servings each for $280.00! You can request some extra protein for bulking up, but for an added cost, of course. The best thing about Pete’s Paleo is that the meals are delivered fresh, not frozen. Savor the same healthy diet that our cavemen ancestors enjoyed for centuries!

3. Freshly

When talking about consistency and flavor, it’s not hard to find reviews of Freshly. The main clincher here is that the more you order, the less each meal will cost. So if you’re looking for a healthy way to save money, this is the deal for you.

To give you an idea, a 4-meal week plan costs $46.00, which is around $11.50 per servingNow, if you go for 12 meals per week, each serving only costs $7.99 for a total of $95.88! How tempting is that? Most of these meals are bursting with protein, gluten-free, and contain 400-600 calories, enough to meet your energy needs. Food is freshly prepared (of course!) and you can expect them to arrive from Sunday to Saturday depending on your delivery area.

4. Snap Kitchen

If you’re searching for a delivery service that provides a versatile selection of healthy goodies, it might be worth taking a look at Snap Kitchen’s menus. Delicious lunch choices, like barbacoa with veggies with no artificial additives, are immediate bestsellers for athletes. You can even grab a snack of coconut bites! And the good news? All these come at reasonable prices.

Snap Kitchen wants to make life simple for customers, so they only offer two basic meal plans. A 6-meal plan costs $11.67 per meal or $69.99 per box. The 12-meal plan costs $9.58 per meal or $114.99 per box. On top of that, shipping is free.

No need to stress yourself with cooking when your delivery arrives. Just take the packages out of the box and send them straight to your microwave for 3 minutes. Enjoy!

5. Butcher Box

If you’re an athlete who loves to cook, pre-made meals aren’t meant for you. So if you want to train while still keeping your cooking skills sharp, try to give Butcher Box a shot. Instead of freshly cooked food, they deliver you fresh raw beef, chicken, and pork meat.

The classic box costs $149.00 contains 9-14 lbs. of meat. If you want more protein, grab hold of the big box with a bountiful 18-26 lbs. of meat for $270.00!

Butcher Box knows you’re concerned regarding the quality of meat. That’s why they made sure to let their cattle graze freely in vast pastures. No antibiotics or hormones! The same goes for free-range birds that live by foraging on open fields.

Are Meal Subscriptions Worth The Money?

If you’re an average person with plenty of time in your hands, then no. It’s not. But if you’re an athlete looking to get the most out of nutrition and training, then definitely. Yes!

Top Healthy Meal Kit Services to Keep Your Triathlon Training on Track

As athletes who also burn a lot of calories helping our clients move, our crew needs lots of healthy fuel to keep us going. We’ve found these meal kits are an awesome way to make healthy eating easy. Below we’ve listed some of the top healthy meal kit services (including some local options) that make eating nutritious meals practically effortless!

Minnesota’s Local Crate

A popular local meal-kit option for Minnesotans, you can sign up for fresh, local ingredients and chef-crafted recipes to be delivered right to your door. Each week there are 11 meals from which to choose – 6 rotational meals and 5 customer favorites. These include several vegetarian, Paleo, vegan, and gluten-free options for those seeking a diet-specific menu. Meals are delivered on Mondays, so you’ll get to start the week out right. Pricing for 2 meals for 2 starts at $13.50 serving, but order more (3 meals or more for 2) and the price drops to just $12/serving. Plus, shipping is always free!

Freshly Prepared Meal Delivery

Freshly’s delivers meals that are high in protein, low in carbs, and contain zero gluten and refined sugars. This meal delivery service guarantees these healthy meals in less than two minutes, making the decision to opt for healthy versus junk food even more appealing. All Freshly’s requires of you is to reheat your meals, as they arrive at your door refrigerated and ready to pop in the microwave. Right now, you can sign up through Boxed Mealz and receive 30% off your first order.

triathlon-training-food

Green Chef Organic Meal Service

Green Chef is a 100% certified organic meal kit that promises ingredients free of antibiotics, GMOs, and hormones. Each week, you’ll receive a subscription box with all the ingredients needed to cook amazing meals in under 30 minutes. The service offers 5 different meal plans – vegan, Paleo, gluten-free, carnivore, and vegetarian, making it easy to stick to your diet. Depending on the plan you choose, meals range between $10.49-$14.99/serving.

Hello Fresh

This recognizable European brand has made a splash since its introduction to the U.S. Hello Fresh boasts simple and straightforward recipes that make mealtime easy. The company’s dieticians make sure that every meal is nutritionally balanced before it’s shipped to your door. Choose from one of three meal plans – the Classic, the Veggie, or the Family Plan. All are reasonably priced at under $10/serving.

Pete’s Paleo

A popular brand among CrossFit athletes and our own triathlete community, Pete’s Paleo will plan, shop, cook, AND deliver right to your door. All meals consist exclusively of Paleo-friendly ingredients like grass-fed protein and seasonal produce with no added sugar, gluten, or dairy. If you’re looking for a meal kit that delivers high levels of protein for sustained energy and muscle recovery, Pete’s Paleo is worth a try. Meals start at $12.13/serving.

healthy-meal-kits

Purple Carrot

Adhering to a demanding workout regimen and trying to stay satisfied on a vegan diet can be a real challenge. However, Purple Carrot is revolutionizing plant-based eating. Every meal is strictly vegan, but far from boring. Purple Carrot ensures that all its meals are delicious, tasty, and full of flavor. Here are just a few of the appetizing menu items: beet burger with roasted grapes, roasted red pepper and spinach quesadilla, and a curried millet with asparagus. Yum! Meals start at $9.25/serving and shipping is free! Check out the Boxed Mealz Facebook page for the most recent discounts.

GreenBlender

For many athletes, smoothies are a great way to pack in replenishing nutrients on the go. GreenBlender offers smoothie delivery that ditches cliché flavors like banana and raspberry for exotic superfood smoothies like spicy mango, blueberry cobbler, and more! The price per smoothie starts at just $3.90 when you order in bulk, making this option much more affordable than your local Smoothie King or Jamba Juice.

 

 

Best Running and Biking Trails in the Twin Cities

The founders of Triathlete Movers of Maple Grove are both triathletes with a serious passion for the sport. We started this moving company as a way to pay the bills for our triathlon training and events. Many of the guys on our team also share a love for triathlons and other sports. We’ve put together a list of our favorite running trails in and around the Twin Cities where we love to spend time training when we aren’t packing boxes and hauling furniture.

Minnesota’s Twin Cities have some of the best trails for running, biking, and leisurely hikes. And with paved paths, wide lanes, beautiful scenery, and plenty of water fountains, it’s the perfect place to train for a variety of races. If you find yourself in the Midwest area and are looking for top-notch trails to check out, here are our picks for the finest running and biking venues that the Twin Cities has to offer.

Great River Road

Starting at Minnehaha Park, runners can take the beautiful and uncrowded Great River Road for many different trails and paths along the Mississippi River. It’s a favorite spot for both locals and athletes in training, as there are several spans of distance that each trailhead can cover. You can also begin at the north end of the river and find three different paths to run on as well. And with plenty of water fountains placed along the way, you’re sure to stay hydrated no matter which trail you choose to take.

Boom Island

If you’re looking to run or bike from downtown Minneapolis, set your destination for Boom Island: a new and scenic park located on the Mississippi River. The Warehouse District is a good starting point from the city and provides a safe, paved street route to the river trails before reaching the island. And once you’ve arrived, you’ll find numerous dirt paths to take, such as Heritage Trail, which can lead you to the Stone Arch Bridge and loop back to the Warehouse District within four miles. And for a longer journey, you can start on the island and work your way over to the Mississippi River Regional Corridor Trail as well.

Pike Island

Pike Island is located in Fort Snelling State Park, which is in the middle of the Twin Cities and is far away from busy streets and constant city noise. Overlooking the Minnesota River with miles of beautiful woods and historic sites, Pike Island has a five-kilometer loop that’s both flat and easy to run. The park also features five miles of bike paths that connect to the 53-mile Grand Rounds Scenic Bikeway and Dakota County Big Rivers Regional Trail. And whether you’re biking or running, it’s a tranquil and calm setting for any race training.

Cedar Lake Trail

The Great Northern Railway is a former railroad bed located north of Lake Street in Minneapolis and stretches 5.5-miles before connecting with the popular Cedar Lake Trail. The trail is mostly paved and flat and includes many great landmarks along with way. And with paved lanes for biking, running, and walking, the trail is a perfect place for every kind of athlete in the city. Runners and bikers alike can also begin at the river and travel all the way to St. Louis Park as well.

Theodore Wirth Park

Found west of Downtown, Theodore Park offers extensive biking and running experience with more than 700 acres of preserved land. You can enjoy the place whatever season it is. If you find your stomach growling, you can even stop by Mill Valley Market that sells various healthy food choices for adventurers.

Afton State Park

Got a competitive spirit burning within your soul? Sign up for the Afton Trail Run, one of the most challenging races in the country. Don’t feel nervous. It’s not that hard to beat, especially with the wonderful view of oaks and wildflower fields that doesn’t fail to motivate every participating runner.

Hennepin Avenue

Some people find the view of towering high-rises and concrete jungle relaxing. If you’re one of those individuals, then cruising through Hennepin Avenue is perfect for you. Get the chance to appreciate sweet city spots like the famous Grain Belt sign, Stone Arch Bridge, and the fascinating Bob Dylan Mural.

Fort Snelling State Park

Catch a quick ride on the Blue Line Train downtown and escape to the peaceful haven of Fort Snelling. Enjoy the meandering thrill of its relaxing bike and marathon trails decorated with shrubs, trees, and lively wildlife. Continue your run and loop around Pike Island to hop back on the train back home after a long, exciting day.