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Triathlete Jan van Berkel with son Tim. The 36-year-old is confident regarding the Ironman Hawaii.
The sun is shining, the water is sparkling, autumn is in the air. We meet Jan van Berkel (36), the best triathlete in Switzerland, shortly before his departure for the Ironman Hawaii, on the banks of the Klingnau reservoir. “We live way back there, you might recognize the wooden house just below the forest,” he says. By “we” van Berkel means himself, his wife Sarah and their sons Tim (2½) and Noè (2 months). “It’s difficult to say goodbye to them. I’ll be in Hawaii for three weeks, a long time,” he says, looking at Tim – he’s holding balloons and doing laps on the runner.
The three-time winner of Ironman Switzerland (2018, 2019, 2021) is aware that he would not be able to do his job without family support. “I want to give something back to them in the form of results,” says van Berkel. He is targeting the top 10 on the volcanic island in the Pacific. “Then you belong to the world class. And I’m not yet the best triathlete I can be. I still have potential,” said the Zurich native. He finished eleventh at the last edition in 2019, following which Corona caused several Ironman cancellations. He is the only Swiss in Hawaii.
Jan van Berkel, why do you still push yourself following so many years?
I just like doing it (smiles). Seriously, the fascination with getting the best out of your body is still there.
What will you eat before the Ironman?
Two boiled eggs in the morning. I drink strong coffee and a drink with carbohydrates.
How much does the Ironman cost you?
16 days in Hawaii will cost me CHF 10,000 this year. Flights are regarding the same as they used to be, but hotel prices have roughly quadrupled. And the rental car is twice as expensive.
How many calories do you consume in the 8+ hours that the competition lasts?
I take 80 grams of carbohydrates per hour. Converted to the whole Ironman, this corresponds to the calories of eight plates of pasta.
How much sunscreen do you need in a summer?
About three bottles of factor 50.
What do you do in Hawaii when you need to use the bathroom during Ironman?
This is forbidden in the wild because it would anger the island gods. And the referees too – you would be immediately disqualified. There are many mobile toilet houses along the route.
What was your best Hawaii experience?
When I started for the first time, I looked up at the sky. Then I saw the helicopter taking pictures of us. In that moment I realized that I had been working towards this second for 15 years.
The worst moment?
My second time in Hawaii, I fell in training. I gave up at the marathon, I was completely dehydrated and nine kilos lighter than when I started.
How do you keep track of things in the water?
This is much more difficult than in a lake or a swimming pool. I try to stay in the rhythm of the waves and look for orientation far back – for example a large ship or a palm tree on the shore.
How brutal is the start?
The start in the water is a mess, a carnage. You get heels in your face, a fist in your eye, pushed under water and pulled backwards. Sure, you have to counter that.
Why don’t you use socks when cycling?
My feet are wet following swimming. If I then put on socks, it would rub extremely. Blisters will develop later, when I’m running – I don’t need them sooner (smiles).
What happens immediately following the finish line?
There are two greeters per athlete – they will pick you up and ask how you are doing. Funnily enough, they are often compatriots, in my case Swiss.
What do you treat yourself to following the Ironman?
You’d think I’d pop in pizza, donuts, and coke. But that’s not possible because the mouth is extremely affected by all the sugar. The best thing is not having to think or keep your body under control. I can finally do something that doesn’t hurt me anymore.
