In front of the Frankfurt skyline, Mathias Burgstaller runs towards his greatest triumph on the Mainkai – qualifying for Hawaii. −Photos: Private
In front of the Frankfurt skyline, Mathias Burgstaller runs towards his greatest triumph on the Mainkai – qualifying for Hawaii. −Photos: Private
Even a few days later, Mathias Burgstaller (44) still can’t believe it. The former Bayernliga goalkeeper of 1.FC Passau – and owner of two pharmacies in the city of three rivers – sensationally qualified for the World Cup in October in Hawaii at the Ironman Triathlon in Frankfurt.
In a total time of 9:35:15 hours, he came sixth in the strong 45-49 age group and thus secured one of the coveted slots that entitle him to start in Kona/Hawaii. “Of course I secretly toyed with qualifying. It’s probably the dream of every ambitious triathlete, but with such a strong field of participants with around 540 registered athletes and only seven slots in my age group, you have to be realistic and absolutely nothing is allowed go wrong,” says Burgstaller, who kept goal at 1.FC Passau until 2011 and played in the Bavarian league, among other things. A year after the end of his active career he started with endurance sports, since then football has only played a supporting role – from time to time Burgstaller is in the goal of the traditional selection Passauer Wölfe.
On average 36 km/h: Burgstaller needed just over 5 hours for the 183 kilometers by bike.
On average 36 km/h: Burgstaller needed just over 5 hours for the 183 kilometers by bike.
Thanks to his top performance in Frankfurt, the former keeper is now going to the Ironman in Hawaii in the fall. The enthusiastic skier completed the preparation for the longest day of the year in the winter months on touring and skating skis, as well as, of course, sport-specific with swimming, rollerblading and running. At the end of April the “training camp at home” in Würding was on the agenda and then the competition season began with preparation races in Braunau and Linz.
So on Friday we went full of anticipation, paired with excitement together with training partner and multiple Hawaii participant Georg Birkeneder to Frankfurt am Main for the Ironman European Championship. The water temperatures in the Langener Waldsee constantly fluctuated around the magical 24.5 degree mark, so it was only on Sunday an hour before the start that the relieving message “Neoprene is allowed for age group athletes” came. First, however, the professional triathletes had to complete the 3.8 km swim without the popular buoyancy aid before the starting signal sounded at 6.40 a.m. for the two Lower Bavarians.
Five of the almost 3000 swimmers were let into the water at intervals of seconds, so that the field was wide apart from the start. Burgstaller quickly found his rhythm and placed well in the field. After 1500 m there was a short shore leave – a so-called Australian exit – before the remaining 2300 m had to be completed. After 1:04:18 hours, the first discipline was done and we ran through the deep sand on the lake shore up to the transition area.
The first moment of shock came because both legs showed signs of cramps, even after swimming. But after a quick change and the first pedal turns on the bike, the legs relaxed again and so it was on the 183 km long bike course with 1500 meters in altitude. The Burgstaller, who started for FC Fürstenzell, deliberately designed the bike split in doses and constantly kept an eye on the power meter so as not to overdo it.
Due to the constantly rising temperatures, another main focus was the continuous supply of water, iso-drinks, carbohydrate gels and salt tablets. This should pay off in the final marathon run. The bike course ran from Langener Waldsee to the city of Frankfurt and then over two laps in the direction of Stammheim with some exhausting climbs, rapid descents up to 75 km/h and the notorious cobblestone passage “The Hell”. With a bike time of 5:04:59 hours and an average speed of 36 km/h, Burgstaller was also on target in the second discipline and exactly on the planned route.
After all, it was supposed to be a marathon and not a day of hiking. The course ran in four laps along the Mainkai and meanwhile the temperature had risen to 32 degrees. This was clearly noticeable in almost all athletes from 20 kilometers at the latest. “On my second lap I overtook Boris Stein, who was even in the lead at the beginning of the marathon, on his final lap. It suddenly became clear to me that if I can now go even faster than this professional athlete, then they will Conditions at the back are probably extremely tough.”
The top priority when running was to cool, feed, cool, feed. Burgstaller accidentally left his salt tablets in the second transition zone. Luckily, there were salt packets and salt water at the refreshment stations along the route. Burgstaller passed the refreshment stations almost unchecked at a run so as not to lose any time and not lose his rhythm. Cooling with sponges and ice cubes in the suit also paid off.
The Lower Bavarian ran the first half marathon in 1:35:12 hours and fought against a stronger slump in the second half of the marathon with all his willpower. He knew from a friend along the route that he was making up place by place because the athletes in front of him had lost significantly more substance. After cycling, still in 17th place, three kilometers before the finish, the announcement was made: “Sixth place and a good minute’s lead – that’s now firmly established. You won’t let that take you away!”
Now it was a question of suppressing the threatening cramps at all costs and keeping up the pace. Then finally turn onto the “Road to Kona” up to the famous Römerberg in Frankfurt. With 3:17:46 hours, Burgstaller managed a strong marathon run and he crossed the finish line with a loud cheer after a total of 9:35:15 hours. This ultimately meant 6th place in his age group and thus the longed-for starting place for the World Championships Hawaii. There, on October 8th, it is important to be fit at the starting line at the Kailua Kona pier for the second longest day of the year. − red