My first International Triathlon

Klagenfurt 5150 was held for the first time and Sione Riders were of course taking part. After a great season start in Pörtschach I was hopping to keep up the performance so no fouling about. Jonas and Miriam were my support team and did a great job - Morals support, Chearing and Screaming ;). So the first wave started, the Pros. Then the main age group got ready for the start so off into the water and look for a good position to start, of course at the front. As the starting shot was fired I gave everything to get out of the main field to the front. Everything went as planned apart from some kicks and hits in the face, the usual. Round the Loretto into the Lend and now the long part started. Just a long channel which seems to have no end and I got slower and slower. At least I could here Jonas through the water screaming his lungs out, which kept me awake. A sharp turn at the end and out of the water, a fast run into the transition made up at least 3 positions. Onto my beloved Sione K11.5, and make it a great ride. Not my best discipline but I needed to keep the position. First uphill which wore me out after the swim. No time for self pity, so on I went. After the first round I had an average of 36.5km/h but suddenly I got tired so I chucked down a energy bar and got back on the hill. About 8 people overtook me, which is less than usual so it seems I was doing ok. The second round was still bad and I got cramps at the end and this would kill my only hope, the run. Through the transition, picking up my goggles which I seemed to have lost earlier and into my running shoes. Everything started to cramp up, but I had to run. I fought and could only do small steps. Jonas and Miri fired me up, which gave me a load of energy every time I passed them. The last km was the longest, but not because my legs were filled with led but they had a bit of error in there measurement and signs - it was about 1.5km long.

But after 2:22:02 h I got to the finish line, got a great 60th place (12th age group).

Other Sione Riders were:

Alex Nussbaumer (2:11:46h) ranked 30th (4th age group) and improved greatly to last year. Gratulation!

Melanie Križ had her first Triathlon debut and did a great 3:19:35h. Gratulation!

The Bike was about 44km and the run about 10.5km so not quite a perfect olympic distance.

My fírst Competition 2011

Season 2011 has officially started for me with a quick 5km run, organised by the local fire brigade (http://www.berufsfeuerwehr.at/). Jonas, my fellow Sione Rider, signed me up, of course without my knowledge and approval. I found that out on the evening on the day before after a hard bike ride, at least Jonas also had a hard training week as well. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Up in the morning, a full breakfast and coffee. I was so full, I was about to lose my breakfast literally on the bike ride to Jonas. A quick warm up, let the time pass and off we go and as usual to fast: Started off with a 3:30min/km pace and felt like stepping it up a notch. It just felt great but then out of nowhere, I was empty. The legs were great, no trouble there, but my chest started hurting and breathing was a pain. So that meant 3km through pain... go for it. Keep with the group and do not break away, was all what I thought. Through the turn at 2.5km and back again, just keep it together. My pace broke down to 4:15min/km. I had to get back on track and so I just bit down and tried to gain some and pick up the pace again, firm my position and brought it home. 8th place (18:17min) and Jonas with a great 14th position (19:11min). The third Sione Rider was Alexander Nussbaumer who is just out of our league with 36:06min on 10km and a 3rd position in his age group - congratulation.

All in all, great start of the season and right in between our normal training.

Well it is not over. We got our beloved bikes and around the Wörthersee which was closed for cars today. Miriam (Sione Rider number 4) joined us and she is a great cyclist, she can keep up, no problem. Back home, quick transition and into the running shoes again.

A great day sports fans!

My First Bike Ride 2011

I have been staring outside at the sun from inside the office for the last couple of days, even weeks. Well not today. I got my adorable Sione K11.5 dressed up nice and warm and got out. Who says you can not go bike riding during winter?

It was exactly what I needed and it was great. The lake behind me on the photo was frozen, but still a beautiful sunshine. Well not quite my best picture, the helmet kind of gives/makes me an egg head ;).

My ending of 2010

Another 20km and I did more kilometers running than on the bike, not counting the couple of times on the roll. Enough time till end of the year, this should not be a problem.

Update: The year is not yet finished and made more km during running with exactly 1500km for now ;).

My Perfect Temperature: -8 °C

Great run in the winter in Prague. Since the Marathon I was not really running a lot and it really felt good to get back into my running shoes. First day with Tato - try to figure this one out - and on the second day a nice fast run at -8 degrees celsius.

Still it does not seem that I am back in form, since my pace was not quite what I hoped for.

My First Berlin Marathon

An early flight and fit for my third Marathon. Three mad guys from Klagenfurt joined to come along, Wolki my trainer and two friends, Alex and Chris. The three men cheer group grew to 6, since my sister and my parents were coming to Berlin as well.The weather did not play along since it was already raining a day before the start, but at least the temperature was perfect for me. Sunday 9 a.m. a shot was fired and the run started. The first km was hard to get through, but then I managed to keep a nice pace. I knew it was going to be hard but I could keep the pace just right. But then out of nowhere my thighs had enough, they just did not want to go any further. Already after 22km the energy was gone. Damn, how could this happen. This should be my day, what should I do? I just did not want to lose to much time and keep under 3h, that was still possible. But one runner after another overtook me. This was bad and it just kept on getting worse. The pain just grew and nothing helped. I soon realised that all these annoying phrases:"pain is temporary, glory is for ever", "pain is weakness leaving the body" are just hollow words - just nonsense. They do not help they just make you realise that you are in pain. It was either to give up or keep going, not more and not less. Maybe next time I would have a fresh start, next time I would be fitter. Or should there even be a next time? This is just a big fight and withstanding the pain. Slowly the kilometres passed, one after another. At about 34km it got a little better and at 37km I got my coke. Sugar helps. Passing this point, it would not be far to the end so on I went. I could hardly move my legs but I kept running. Just before the 42km mark the watch said 3h. What a frustration but no stopping now and just get it to the end. In Berlin running "Unter den Linden" through the Brandeburger Tor is just great and lets you forget for a second that everything burns. Then comes the finish line and I made it. As soon as I started walking the pain tripled. About 3:04h a good improvement to my last marathon but I have a to learn.
Big thanks to: Thomas Wolkensdorfer (Trainer)
My Parents who made it to at least 7 Positions each along the route - Just great, it really helped me to keep going.
Thorsten Rasch (Gruru and Sponsor)
Chris and Alex (Fans)
My Sister (Fan)
Again Thanks to all of you

Damn, the rush does not stop I think I need another Marathon :)

My First Sponsor - Mein Erster Sponsor

Thorsten Rasch (Sione Bikes) always supported me. The service is just great, even though I am a complete amateur he give the best support one could get. It just is more than a bike service. Fast repairs, we train together and who gets his bike picked up from home - just great. So technically he already was my Sponsor. But now he got me a running shirt from x-bionics, I already had it on and it is great. Nice and comfy. It kept me nice and warm although it was quite fresh outside. Since my trainer also emphasise the importance if compression clothing I just can recommend it.

Now I just need to get the Logo onto the shirt. Big THANKS!!!

Thorsten Rasch (Sione Bikes) hat mich schon immer unterstützt. Der Service ist einfach der Hammer, obwohl ich ein kompletter Amateur bin kriegt man den besten Support den man sich wünschen kann. Es ist einfach mehr als ein Bike Service. Schnelle Reparaturen, gemeinsames Training und wer kriegt denn sein Rad von daheim abgeholt - der Wahnsinn. Also Technisch gesehen, war er schon immer mein Sponsor. Aber nun hat er mir noch ein x-bionics Lauf Shirt gesponsert, welches ich schon ausprobiert hab - es ist klasse. Es hat mich gut warm gehalten obwohl es sehr frisch draußen war. Und da meine Trainer auch auf Kompressionsklamotten viel Wert liegt, kann ich es nur jeden empfehlen. Jetzt muss ich nur noch das Sione Logo aufs Shirt kriegen. Ein riesen DANKE!!!