Report by Daniela Rohlf .
3,8 km Swim – 180 km Bike – 42,2 km Run
Doing 2 long distances in 3 weeks? You´re crazy… Well, obviously not. Why do we do that? Quite simple. For the race in Roth we fought very hard to get a starting lot and the Ostseeman is our beloved long distance triathlon and besides: After 3 years of doing long distances it´s time for a break. Just to receive more of the challenge, we did just half of the exercise like in the year before. But it wasn´t that bad, when you take a look at the result of Thorben.
But now one thing after another…
At the Ostseeman, the swimming of the 3,8km starts with a mass start of all single, pro´s or relay starters. More than a thousands arms and legs battle thru the waters.
Even, when they tried in the last three years different styles of the starting directions, they did not yet found the philosopher´s stone. But, anyhow you can´t train that.
Luckily, two rounds of 1,9km are ending soon and across the beach you enter the transition area, after a short fight with the wet suit you get on your bike. The atmosphere is really awesome, everywhere you got viewers, spectators who scream, drum or whistle.
It´s like the mood on a fun fair. Because you don´t got only the relatives and friends of the athletes next to the ourse. Even all the people of Glücksburg and the environment are there.
The bike course, is really changeful and ambitious, you have to ride 6 rounds with 30km. And within the hours of the day, the wind is getting more and more. Now, you know, if you´re a slow swimmer and biker, you got the wind for sure.
And at the only point, where it was possible to break up with the race, stood the world best Pirate support team: Sabrina and Rainer van Ellen. Thank you, you were awesome.
After the 180km of riding, you just had to ran a marathon. Yes, I love this running course. Allright, it was warm, but everywhere you was in need of a refreshment, stood someone of the Ostseeman team or of the people of Glücksburg to provide you with the things you needed.
Heiko and Silke stood besides the running course and cheered us as well, it was really fantastic of them. Because it took me more time on the bike than I wanted, they all had to wait for me at the finish line.
Torben finished with a time of 10:22h and was 20seconds faster than in Roth.
I wasn´t that atisfied with my performance but Thorben, Rainer, Silke and Sabrina built me up several times and after all we all could laugh together again. When we were back in the hotel we got to knew, that I became 3rd at the Northern Germany Championships over the long distance and female Champion of Hamburg and my marathon was the 5th fastest of all women.
Soon, we got showered and dressed up again for the fireworks and the closing winner ceremony with Silke and Heiko at the beach.
The winner ceremony was really nice and I was really happy about Silke and Heike participated it as well.
Dani
