+++ update +++
Below at the end of the article is a short attempt by Steffen to explain his race at Ironman Australia.
+++ update +++
here is my original post:
Hello everybody,
First of all, rather sad news. Unfortunately, my buddy Steffen had to give up at Ironman Australia halfway through the bike course. I'll find out what exactly happened. But it must have been pretty dirty for him, otherwise he's not the type to throw in the towel when things don't go well. Thanks to all of you for the encouraging emails and support. You shouldn't judge something like that, sometimes there are days when it just shouldn't be. That shows again that such a long distance is always a tough thing. You can already show some great best times, but you still have to arrive like everyone else.
I've had to give up once too, at Ironman South Africa last year. It's such a bitter disappointment to digest first. As the saying goes, it is not “falling” that is bad, because that happens to all of us sooner or later, but rather “getting stuck”. If I know more, there will be an update here.
in the second part I will go into my training in March. Attached you will find my training log with the weeks and each individual unit. Just click on the pictures to enlarge them ...
Overall, I was able to work a little more on cycling last month and there was some catching up to do, as the first two months of the year were very tough from the weather. I was able to train well during my one-week stay in Lanzarote and it was once again a lot of fun to collect my kilometers in sunshine and warm temperatures. Where I can make good progress is running, last Saturday I was able to pull off my long run. In total exactly 2:00 hours at 152HF / avg. and 4:22 pace (27.5km). That was my little highlight on the weekend 🙂
After that, as a reward, I took 3 hours. set to play on the computer !!
The balance in March was:
about 68 hours,
of which: 38km swimming, 214km running and 967km cycling
skin in !!
krelli
PS: Explanation by Steffen, alias Captain Chaos, about his Ironman in Australia:
yes, unfortunately nothing.
Sunday morning everything felt great! Had slept a little bit and a lot of mosquito bites, but otherwise I was ready.
But then after about 100m in the water I got very heavy arms.
Couldn't go through anymore and got slower and slower.
Even had to swim a few meters breaststroke. But nothing helped. I was totally broken. Only after an hour did I torture myself out of the water.
It felt like I needed two.
But was still in good spirits. Maybe just got off to a bad start and what are we doing 10 minutes behind.
But then the same thing on the bike. Already had problems with the hills for the first km and nothing worked on the straight. But I still had hope because I felt bad in Cologne last year and then got better. So first of all ate and drank a lot. And if cycling didn't work out either, then I wanted to run a good marathon or at least finish it.
But it got worse and worse. At about 50 km on the straight, I could no longer drive onto the trailer and had to grab the top. Didn't even have strength in my arms. In training I drove around 42km / h here and now 31 in the race !!!! Without a headwind! At km60 I couldn't even climb a 15% incline and had to push !! (and that in a competition !!)
That was too much then. I think I would have come in around 3pm.
And even after I got down and waited half an hour at the edge, nothing got better. Sore muscles from cycling 60km and was done.
I have no idea what that was, but it just didn't work.
If you have a bad day you might do 10 or a maximum of 11 but not 15 instead of 9!
Sure
Many thanks for the nice e / mails and the great support !!!!!!!!!!
Has really given me courage !!
I'm sorry I couldn't even finish.
I am now a bit "down" but that will go away.
On Wednesday I will leave rainy Australia and will be back in hopefully sunny Germany on Friday evening!
Hey, an "excuse for not finishing this time" is not the order of the day here, much more respect for the courage to get out!
Anyone who has prepared sooo long and sooo intensively and knows that if he gets out now, he won't be able to do everything better next week, but will have to wait a long time again, will definitely think twice about getting out.
You have shown that triathletes also have brains and not just a great polar, that you appreciate how important your body and your health are and that there is no point in torturing yourself for 15 hours.
I would certainly have been the howling misery and can empathize as well as it has to be for you, but you are still or still an IRON-Man and that will show in how you deal with it now.
Many professionals have had to end races prematurely and have emerged stronger in the end, so it will be for you too, for sure!
Cheer up and at the next race you will show everyone your taillights !!!
With best wishes, consolation and respect
Triamone (only 1st Ironwoman, but far from the end of her path)
Hi Triamone,
thanks for your comment, I will forward it to my buddy Steffen.
In the meantime he's feeling better and he's definitely planning a “summer race” for this year.
For us Europeans (without the possibility of a training camp in winter) it is always extremely difficult to start in the southern hemisphere sometime in spring and to be in top shape.
Good luck for your (further) Ironman!
greetings
Michael
Thank-you ! My very big goal is the finish next year in Lanzarote, I have HUGE respect for the track and the early date, but maybe I can take some valuable tips for training etc. from this blog.
I wish you both good health, lots of fun and success for the 2009 season.
It takes off its hat
Triamones
Hey Triamone,
but then you chose the hardest race!
I can provide tips and tricks, together with my trainer Bennie Lindberg we are currently writing a triathlon book! It will be published by spomedis Verlag (Triathlon Magazin) and be ready before Christmas 🙂
good training over the Easter holidays !!
Michael