This year, we were 4 PIRATES on the streets of Glücksburg. Bjoern and me as single starters, and Robert and Enrico as relay cyclists. How everything is done, when you´re a PIRATE, with a minimum of training effort, to do the best and fast in each part and also try to pass as many NON-PIRATES as you can get.

Full of anticipation of the coming pains, we stood very early in the morning in the transition area and swaggert with the others in competition, who trained more less the others and keep on saying that you´re just here to compete and finish…. Well, the same as usual, before every race from all the sportsmen in the world.

Finally, time of the start drew nearer...
Thrills of joy, Goose skin everywhere, just before the start: starting sequence :30seconds before, you can hear a pumping heart from the jukebox, than countdown from 10 and….GO…

After 56:44 min, Bjørn is out of the water and speed up to get on the bike course.

I reached the safe shore after 1:12h...

...just to get on my bike to ride a few rounds (5:17h).

Even Robert was in a hurry (4:29h) to come back to the transition area ( fastest bike slip)

Enrico took his time, enjoyed the scenery and looked very relaxed...

Bjørn carved out his own´s place on the bike course and left it with a time of 5:18h…

...so, he just had tu run for a while (3:55h) and suddenly the contest was all over for him, so he provides himself some winning margin time for recovery.

The contest lasted for me a little bit longer (4:47h). But, how all say: PAIN IS TEMPORARY, PRIDE IS FOREVER. This is for all participants of such an event. And because of that, some starters wants to be more proud than others so they take a little bit more time to feel the pain. Kick Ass!!!

…you also were able to see Robert on the running course, because for the next year, he wants to do a little bit more than to cycle ONLY…

Two OSTSEEMAN Finisher with their bright finishing smile, Bjørn needed 10:10:10h and I reached the finish after 11:17:47h.

At the end of the day, even Sabrina was happy about it that everything was over and time for recovery has started…Pizza, Shandy and Ramazotti stood now on my nutrition schedule…

More pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.de/Tripirate/Ostseeman2009?feat=directlink

Hasta Luego
Rainer van Ellen
Käpt´n Speed
Pirate Triathlon Team
Long Distance Crew