The Ironman challenge: Andreas Wittmann had to fight hard in the final marathon in Hawaii, but was “super happy” with his overall time of 9:05.05 hours. Photo: private
By Norbert Roth
It was as exhausting as probably never before in his career. The Wettstetten triathlete Andreas Wittmann has already completed a number of long-distance races.
Swimming 3.86 kilometers, cycling 180.2 kilometers and running 42.2 kilometers at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii is something special. “Due to the heat, it was really a completely new experience. Out the back, especially when running, it was pretty tough too. But the bottom line is that I got through really well and I’m super happy with my competition,” says the 31-year-old on the phone from Kailua-Kona. With a total time of 9:05.05 hours, Wittmann finally came 25th in the top-performing age group M30-34.
also read: Liepold and Wittmann are fit for the Ironman
It was already clear in advance that the last discipline would be a challenge at his debut in the triathlon Mecca. Thigh problems had turned preparation for the run into a race once morest time, although Wittmann was feeling generally good. “I was able to step it up a notch in swimming and cycling. I’ll have to see what’s still possible when running,” he explained in the days before the start.
“With a good feeling on the running track”
After the starting signal in Kailua-Kona, the athlete from TSV Gaimersheim really found his way into the competition. “I was able to place myself at the front in the swim because the pace wasn’t too high. Even though it was a kind of slalom swim on the way back following the turn due to some oncoming starters, I got through the chaos well and got out of the water following 57:15 minutes in regarding 35th place.”
When cycling followingwards, the athletes will have to deal with temperatures of around 35 degrees for the first time, at the latest on the highway, and possibly also with the dreaded warm winds. Wittmann was prepared for this, but then suddenly had a completely different, unexpected problem: “There were some blatant potholes on the route, so following five kilometers my first drinking bottle flew out of its holder, and following regarding 60 kilometers it was there too Second off.” A real challenge considering the roughly four and a half hours on the racing bike, following all the bottles not only contain a lot of individually mixed energy, the athlete knows above all that his stomach can tolerate this drink under stress. But Wittmann had no choice: “Now I had to resort to plan B and go to every refreshment station of the organizer from now on,” he says. It’s not always easy to pick up the appropriate gels, water cups and cooling towels as you cycle past, but it worked. “I might not have been able to absorb as much energy as I wanted, but I tolerated everything well, so I went on the run with a good feeling.” With his bike time of 4:38.11 hours, he was closed even stalked the top ten in his age group at this point.
As a reward family vacation in Hawaii
Accordingly, he started the final marathon as previously planned. “I was able to start the first ten to twelve kilometers with an average of 4:10 to 4:15 minutes per kilometer, which would have been enough for a finish time of around three hours,” he says. But in Hawaii, the heat and humidity are unforgiving. “Shortly followingwards I noticed that my strength was dwindling and I might no longer keep up this pace. I tried to get ice and cool towels at every aid station, but with the temperatures it all fizzles out incredibly quickly. The bottom line was that I might only see that I got through as well as I might.” Wittmann wasn’t entirely satisfied with his time of 3:23.02 hours, above all because he was in a bit of a position in his age group expected a better placement. But at least he might be happy that his thigh held up and there was no pain during the race or followingwards. “And the end time of 9:05 is great in Hawaii anyway. Accordingly, I don’t mourn any things now, I’m really satisfied,” he says.
As a reward following the ordeal, Wittmann treats himself to a few vacation days on the island with his wife Tanja and their one-and-a-half-year-old son Toni. “In the days leading up to the race, there was hardly any time for sightseeing, so we’ll catch up on that now,” he says with a laugh. Even if the local standard of living is challenging – a piece of toast costs a mere five dollars, going out to eat with the family easily 60 to 70 dollars – he still wants to go swimming, visit volcanic landscapes and do one or two hikes in the next two weeks or so. But everything probably at a very leisurely pace, following all, he has experienced enough exertion lately.
DK
Liepold in 27th place
Kailua-Kona/Hawaii – For the sixth time, professional triathlete Kristin Liepold took part in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. In the race of the world’s best athletes, the 38-year-old from Kösching crossed the finish line following 9:55.23 hours and took 27th place. After 1:15.03 hours she had completed the 3.86 kilometers of swimming for the subsequent 180, It took her 2 kilometers on the bike in 5:24.55 hours before she was able to make up a few places with her marathon time of 3:09.26. Liepold also took a short vacation to Hawaii and was not yet available.
nor
