Part I of V

How it started

IRONMAN KY


I left Germany to Louisville, KY in August. Since I´ve won this race in 2008 I participated every year. It´s always nice coming back. That race should have been my „come back“ race after my long time of rehab.

The swim wasn´t as good as I hoped. So, I lost a lot of time to the other guys.
The biking could have been better The distance was big to the leading to the leading guys. However, the weather was how I liked it. More than 90 Fahrenheit und dry. So, I counted on a decent run and struggling competitors. Although I wasn´t sure how my legs feel in my come back race.

I ran my way on the heated pavement down town Louisville and finished totally happy with a third place. I enjoyed the unique finish line on 4th street and had a fresh served and deserved cheeseburger.






Special thanks to Debbie and Frank who took care of me and gave me a home!
Thanks to my lovely sister coached as great as every time!
Thanks to the great mechanics from IRONMAN race wheel rentals!

Season 2011

The Triple

3 IRONMAN in 3 weeks

It is three days after the last race of this season. I´m sitting in the house of a friend on Cozumel, Mexico. Outside is a thunder sturm and it rains dogs and cats.

The last days I only hang out. Now I´m looking forward to come back to my family. The last months of training, travelling and racing took a lot of me. At the end I have to say it was all worth- even if not easy. But what doesn´t kill you...

Check back on my blog the following days. I will write step by step about my last weeks.

Last run before race day Loo

Just a few hours to go...

Short bike ride

20min race pace out of the garage

Pre week swim in the Ohio

A short analyse of the water condition in the Ohio... I still have my eyes closed. Was it because of still sleeping after HOOTER´s night or wasn´t it required cause of dirty water... or even both of it.

Swimmers

I just got this picture.




These two guys are following me and my sports since we met in Louisville. It's nice to see being a motivation for the young future athletes!
That makes me feeling a bit older but also a bit proud and keeps me motivated for what I do...

I hope I'll be a kind of role model for younger athletes and I'm able to give something back by that way I got out of the sport.

Thanks to Kimberly for the picture.

Out of IMAZ

Hello,

Right after the decision not racing the IRONMAN World Champs cause of an ear infection I decided to go to Tempe. It was tough to get back in shape for an early Kona 2010 slot. However, I packed my stuff and went out for a three week training camp. I got some good training in. Worked a bit on my swim to hold the gap after the opener as small as possible and worked for a fast marathon. The Tempe Lake running course is known as fast and I wanted to improve my best IRONMAN-

marathon split (2:43h).

The last sessions on the race course were nice and I looked relaxed forward for race day. The home stay I' ve is GREAT. Everything seemed to be ready for a nice race before x- mas vacation.

BUT then I was out on the bike for some yummy ice cream and was rolling over a parking lot and a really fast driving car hit me. I was flying through the air, touching the ground and I knew the race is over. I was looking down my leg and saw just blood, muscles and my bones. It was like a view in a slaughter house.

I haven't seen my bike up to now cause it was flying away. I only realized someone said the bike is 'more than broken'.

Every time something like this happens it shows how fast things changing, being over and the perspective you're looking on things changes.

Everybody tells that and we cannot tell that frequently enough: Even if you just cruising on your bike for fun through the city PLEASE wear an helmet! Without wearing it I couldn't drop these lines now!

The doctors said I'm in luck nothing more happened.

At this time after two surgeries I can't say anything more about what happen next. I have much pain, I'm on crutches and have bruises everyhwere. The effusions on my hands make it even tough to grip a glass of water or moving with the crutches. I appreciate every email and wishes I got.

I'm happy to have good friends here in the states and in Germany. They support me in every way .

However, if there's one thing for sure: I'll be back training and racing as soon as I can...

I'm out of the race but there're more than 2,200 other athletes out on the course this weekend. I wish all of you the best for the race! You did so much to get there. So make the best of it! Don't try to enjoy the race itself. Enjoy the time after! You deserve it!

Thanks to all the volunteers making this race possible. I would love to help out on this weekend as a volunteer to give something back to the IRONMAN community. Maybe I find something but working on the ad stations will be impossible:-(