Race Report Fuerteventura…: a true challenge!!!

Here are the facts:

I came 22-nd overall entering the finish as second non Professional. I came first in my category beating ex-European Champion Morton Fenger. I finished in 4:41:24 only 28 minutes behind the winner, no one less than Rasmus Henning having an Ironman best time of 7:52:00 in Roth.  

I swam 27:03 for 1.9 km (30^th split) / biked 2:48:13 for 94 km (1600 Hm and transition times included; 21^st split) and ran 1:26:09 for 21.1 km (350 Hm and 22^nd split).

I am more than proud and happy!

And here is the race report:

I got up at 5:00 a.m. to warm up and have some breakfast: white bread with honey and a goooood coffee. The transition zone opened at 6:30 a.m. so I brought my bags and drinks to the bike, checked everything and focused on what was going to come.

My biggest concern was still the bike course! I have only trained some 500 km in the flat around Hamburg and haven’t climbed a hill longer than 500m. I know I am a good biker but I didn’t know if my muscles would be able to tolerate all this climbing and then run a half marathon. I said to myself: “have respect but don’t be scared…” and went down to the swim start.

Out of the water

At 8 a.m. we were sent on our journey. The Pros had a front start of about 20m and everybody dashed down the beach. To the first buoy it was only 150 m and I got badly smacked when I swam around it. I could feel the missing routine of open water swimming and couldn’t find my rhythm. It took half the swim course to get relaxed and I noticed I was swimming with Nicole Leder (European Champion long distance). I thought “If she is here I am doing fine…”

I dash out of the water leading a rather big pack of athletes. The run from the beach to the transition zone was 500 m (!) uphill. My lungs were busting and my legs full of lactates. I snatched my bike and off I went only to enter the first climb. I was passed but a few athletes and next Erika Csomor passed me. I felt really weak… I had planned to start the bike defensive and stuck to the plan (it was not easy if you know you are behind the leading woman!!!). After 20 Ks came the first major climb…: gaauuh…! Very long and very steep. For all who know: 39/23…

Often after climbs like that my legs “open up” as I call it. The downhill and following flatter section was my terrain. I flew passed all the people who had passed me at the beginning (including Erika) and was happy to have decided right on starting defensive. Then I hit the next climb: a very long “drag” which got VERY steep at the end. The problem about this climb was that you could look 5 km ahead and see where you still have to climb to. Not very motivating! The downhill was fast and technical. After 54 km I reached the turn point and had to ride all the way over the island again… Normally (I was told) the last 25 km are slightly downhill and you “always” have a tail wind. Not so today. I put my head down to escape the wind and rode the last Ks to transition zone.

Still smiling...!

I was looking forward to the run because I know I have trained that well (always a mind thing!!!).  I did a quick change into my running shoes and off I went.

The running course was a real killer…: uphill, downhill, dirt tracks, dry river beds…. After 5 Ks I had a BIG smile in my face: I caught Morton Fenger and passed him (old story but Ingrid will know ;-)). My legs felt very springy (boys and girls I train: the feet are the secret!) and could keep a good speed. I was very focused and didn’t have a single “dead spot”. At the turn point I saw there was no one close behind me and I just needed to defend my position because the boys in front of me where too far away.

Yo......!

Good and hard but finished

I came into the finish with a big smile and the rest you have read at the beginning.

Resume: Ironman Frankfurt can come!!!

Thanks for reading all this. I hope it was not too much…

C.U.