Attached is the experience report from my friend Michi Plendl. Perhaps one or the other has wondered what the competition is like up there in the north. But read for yourself ...
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| Michi in action! |
After my girlfriend and I arrived in Copenhagen on Thursday, we first went to see the city. After a beer costs the equivalent of around 8 euros, it quickly became clear that the party would be smaller here for the time being.
Friday we went to registration and to meet the other two starters. Together with our fan club, we then made the fair unsafe. This was about ¼ of the size of the Roth fair. You can get the starting documents in Copenhagen City Hall, a very old building right next to Tivoli. Then on to the pasta party that took place in an old butcher's hall. Stylish waiters (suits with bow ties) greeted the participants. Unfortunately the drinks had to be paid for and only the food was free. It was nowhere near as crowded as in Roth, but unfortunately there was also no right atmosphere.
On Saturday, the bike check-in for my starting number was announced between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. So again briefly checked the bike. Something on the stem didn't fit because the handlebars could still be moved. So tighten again well (without a torque wrench). Now I meant it too well and turned the screw over. With only 2 screws on the handlebar bracket, this was no longer possible. A new porch was needed, and quickly. The clock showed after 3 p.m. But since Copenhagen is a cycling city, I wasn't really worried. Only after the first 3 bike shops were all closed.
Now it was getting tight. I decided to go straight to the bike check-in and hoped that a mechanic alla Fritz Buchstaller could be there to help me.
That hope quickly faded. But an owner of a bike shop was on site and tried to clarify whether he could organize a stem at short notice (he didn't have one with him). In the meantime it was already clear that I would no longer be able to check in on time. So clarified with a race organizer that I can still check in on Sunday morning. I had already given in the running bag, my running gear must be transported for the second change.
Back to the owner of the bike shop that sold helmets. He said I could go to his shop (20 km outside of Copenhagen), where he had a porch. But after it was already 6 p.m. and I didn't know how to get back to Copenhagen from outside I was still a bit unsure. And then my salvation came in the form of another participant. He was looking at the helmets and realized that I would need a stem. He said he works in a bike shop in Sweden and could bring me a stem tomorrow (Sunday !!!) at 5am. He has to be there anyway because he starts himself.
And so I trusted him and hoped he would think of the stem. But after I wasn't sooo sure I exchanged text messages with him several times in the evening. After all, I had trained for 6 months and wanted to start at all costs. The fact that both of my co-starters said that it was far too unsafe and that he will not be there in time with the stem did not really help to calm down ...
So at 9 p.m. to bed even though I couldn't sleep at all somehow.
COMPETITION DAY Sunday August 12th, 2012
4:10 am: The alarm goes off and I'll make a coffee first. Then quickly put on the triathlon outfit and the bike (wasn't checked in yet) and then off to the swim start at 4:40.
4:40 am: I get a text message from Glenn, he drives off and has the stem with him (pulse goes down 20 beats)
4:55 am: As the 4th starter, I arrive at the transition area. (There were really 3 there before me !!)
5:05 am: Glenn comes with the stem and it is attached to the bike immediately.
5:15 am: Finally checked in, we can start !!
7:25 am: Swimming start in the 4th swimming group
The swimming took place in a small arm of the Baltic Sea. The water was calm and swimming was quite unspectacular. You swim under 3 bridges and have the audience directly above you. I was on the road again without a watch, which I regretted a bit at the finish. After 1:06 I was in the first transition area and I got on my bike.
First about 15 km through Copenhagen (also had no speedometer on the bike) and then always along the coastal road. As always, I was overtaken very often in the first 10 km because I always drive a little more conservatively in order to be able to eat enough. Then the pace had settled down nice and slowly and I looked at the landscape a little. Actually, all of them were holiday resorts that the athletes drove through. The triathlon has not yet established itself in Copenhagen and the surrounding area, which is why a lot of spectators first asked what was actually going on. It was no different when running.
At about 60 km it went inland and now you had the absolute contrast to the coastal road. Only small, very winding streets with bad asphalt. The landscape is beautiful but not so great to drive.
At 85 km there was the Copenhagen “Solar Mountain”. Unfortunately only 1 / 10th of the audience but a bit of mood. I found my footing and drove the other kilometers of the second lap evenly until I went back to town. In the second lap the wind had also freshened up a bit, so that you didn't even notice the warmth (almost 30 degrees !!). It was only in the city that one was aware of that again. The transition area for running is right between the sights and so there were really a lot of spectators (the only really big advantage over Roth).
I tried to set a steady pace, but if possible it should be less than a 4 hour marathon. I managed it super for about 14 kilometers. Unfortunately, I once half missed a refreshment point and then had problems until the next refreshment point. I didn't really recover from that for the rest of the time. There were also 2 really noxious climbs on the running track (I thought it was flat !!). Always short but very steep. From the third of 4 laps it was really no longer fun. Nevertheless, I was still in good spirits to pack the Sub 11. Especially when I passed the sign for 32.8 km and still had 1:08 hours to the 11 hours at the finish. For an hour, 8 minutes, I always run to 10, no matter what comes next. Unfortunately, I must have miscalculated somewhere. When I asked a runner at km 40 what racing time he currently had, he said 11 hours. Well, it started 10 minutes before me, but for 2.2 km I only had 10 minutes. That was no longer possible. I tried to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, but in the end I got a very good 11:01:57.
Conclusion:
The swimming and cycling routes are rather unspectacular, the running route is great and passes all the sights with thousands of spectators
– The next time I'll take a watch with me to avoid making miscalculations
– The organizers of Challenge Copenhagen are trying very hard and I think the event will get better and better over the next few years.
– The Finish Line Party only deserved its name in Roth, although even Torbjörn Sinballe created the atmosphere.
– H&M stands for Hager & Mager => I have never seen so many well-trained athletes at any event. I'm looking for someone with a beer belly in vain. Must have to do with the high alcohol prices ...
– I need a torque wrench as soon as possible
Michi