Beginning of this year the scheme had been clear: Meticulously build a form during winter/spring, test-races on MTB and on the half distance, and then: Ironman Frankfurt.

But, what a surprise: The current running technique lead to good results as well as a seriously inflamed achilles tendon. Not even cycling was possible any longer. First thing was to cure the inflammation ... and that took so long that Frankfurt no longer was a reasonable thing to do.

But, as we all have this tendency to rebound, I analyzed and corrected my running and pelvic positioning and came up with some new challenges. As replacement for the lost season's peak I am now signed up for the XTERRA in Austria this August.

In order to not commit too much to passiveness I engaged on the Heidelbergman Olympic distance triathlon. Nina also showed up in pink, in order to establish a clear signal to the audience.

Swimming down the Neckar: 1,7km (26:30) and, as usual, the peculiar sort of pleasure to be challenged by people clad in rubber.
Hilly cycling: 36km/800hm (1:18:56) with breathtaking descents including combatants tormenting their shoulders on stone walls.
Hilly Running on the "philosopher's walk": 10km/lots of hm/42:48min, so called hypoxic running.
I would like to know to which philosophy these guys were adhering to?

After taking a shower, idling, eating, and driving home, I found out that I had come in second of my age group, 51 of the men, taking 2:28:14h.
Unfortunately too late to step on the podium ... I had simply not expected this. Perhaps next time ;)

PS: I have signed up for the IM France 2009! If necessary, in a cast.

Peace
Alex a.k.a. Captn Crook