After the European Duathlon Championships at the beginning of May, I focused on healing the wound I sustained in a fall during the competition. This wound kept me occupied for longer than expected, and I also suffered a few bruises. However, it didn't affect my training much. The days and weeks were painful, and I didn't get enough sleep, but no pain, no gain - eventually, it got better.
As soon as the wound had healed and my recovery values had improved again, I unfortunately caught a slight cold, which put me out of action for a few days. Fortunately, I was quickly back on my feet.
There are only seven days to go until the first triathlon of the season: Rapperswil-Jona, Ironman 70.3. This was my start to the season, my first professional field race, and my middle-severe distance.
(I did take part in Challenge Sanremo in September 2023, but that was more of a casual ride in the middle of my coronavirus break - no comparison).
I had a lot of respect but also a lot of anticipation. I was ready and motivated.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast didn't look good. Days of pouring rain had led to flooding in many parts, and the weather wasn't any better in Switzerland either.
Saturday, June 1st 2024
My mother and I set off early in the morning; we only had a three-hour drive ahead of us, once across Switzerland. We quickly collected my starting documents and then went to the race briefing.
There was the surprise: either a rolling bike start or the swim course would be shortened to 750m due to the cold temperatures. I wouldn't have thought that something like that would ever happen. Both would be an advantage for me as a lousy swimmer. But to be honest, with water temperatures below 14 degrees, I could do without swimming altogether.
As usual, the decision was to be made on the morning of the race, one hour before the starting gun.
After the briefing, I did a little pre-workout: 30 minutes of cycling and 3 kilometers of short run with some race pace. I skipped the pre-workout in the water - it was wet from above.
Then, we checked in and drove to the hotel. In the evening, we had a delicious meal - spaghetti bolognese - and then quickly went to bed.
Sunday, JuJune 2024
05:00 - Good morning: breakfast, get dressed, and go off.
07:00 - final check in the transition area; INFO: 750m swim at 13.7°C - no screams of joy.
07:15 - warm-up run.
07:50 - short jump into the cold water; a gel.
08:11 am - starting signal.
Swim
Cold! No joke - my hands, feet, and face were freezing. I didn't feel like I could take a single puff. The few minutes seemed like 30 minutes. But I made it through. I swam calmly, which was better - maybe because I was too stiff. All in all, we are only two minutes behind the leaders! That's acceptable.
I got out of the water and took my wetsuit off. At least I tried, but it took a while for my hands to gain strength. Into the transition zone, get dressed quickly, and get onto the bike! Due to the cold and wet conditions, I had to put on a vest and gloves - it was better to lose some time than freeze to death on the bike.
Bike
The 90km were divided into two laps with 1100 meters of elevation gain. I rode up the climbs well but down the descents very slowly and lacked the necessary push on the flat. That left me a bit behind - I'll take the downhill sections on my head. I had too much respect for the bends and the wet; I was not yet one hundred percent confident with the TT downhill, and I still had the scrapes from the previous crash in my head. I didn't want to experience that again.
I lacked the pressure on the flat, one of my weaknesses.
It was okay, but I made a few mistakes myself - that won't happen to me again.
Luckily, I didn't freeze on the bike; dressing a bit warmer was an excellent decision. The extra neoprene on my body also helped.
Off the bike and into my running shoes!
Run
Half marathon - when was the last time I ran this distance? Good question. My target pace: all-in by feel. That day, the pace was around 3:40 per kilometer.
In the beginning, I felt great, relaxed, and at ease. It was fun... Until about kilometer 6, when pain sets in front and back, the ISG and the thighs. From kilometers 6 to 12, I fought, motivated myself positively, and gritted my teeth. I could still maintain a pace of 3:50/55 to some extent. From kilometer 12, it got tough. The pain intensified with every step, and I had the feeling that my leg was about to give way. It was agony. I saw a pace of over 4:30 on my watch, which hurt, but I could do nothing about it. I just kept fighting to somehow reach the finish without having to walk.
Finish
Done. Crossing the finish line was a huge relief. A huge weight was lifted, and I could finally stand still. However, walking was no longer possible.
10th place in my first competition in the professional field!
The competition was far from a perfect day, but when is there such a thing? I'm already learning that a lot can happen in a middle distance. It's quite a long competition. There's still a lot to learn, improve and practice.
It's a process, and I can be patient with myself - I don't have to be able to do everything perfectly straight away. This inner voice that strives for perfection is often a hindrance.
Now, I have to find out why the pain came and what I can do about it. I will check everything - nutrition, riding position, technique, etc. It may have been a combination of everything, plus the cold. I don't know.
And now, two weeks after the competition, my body still demands rest - I reluctantly give it to it. Over the last few months, I've learned to always work with my body, not against it. Unfortunately, my aches and pains have become entrenched; I hope this will soon be resolved.
Hopefully, after a few more days of rest, I'll be fresh and alert again :)
Thank you for all the support.
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