Blog Übersicht Challenge Kraichgau - 2nd again!

Okay, so you can scroll down and read the blog before the last, about Singapore 70.3, because again I was second and the feelings are much the same. Again, it is a bit disappointing to be so close (now my 5th 2nd place in the last year! FFS!). But again, I can’t help but be happy with the result, all things considered.

Going into the race, it was my first race on European soil this year and you never know exactly where your fitness is. So it was going to be a fitness test for me, against a very strong field. The event itself is awesome - as always the Challenge guys put on a very professional show and look after the pro’s (and AG’ers) really well. And the event is in the most beautiful area of Germany too.

I started well in the swim and was up on the feet of the leaders for a while, but the pace was fast and a few guys slowly pulled away. I looked around cos there was no way I was going to be the hero and pull the second pack around. I saw Norman Stadler on my left and Michael Gohner on my right. Not doing too bad then, I guess. I found some feet and sat there between the two Germans until the end of the swim.

Leaving transition with Stadler I thought, ‘Perfect. All I have to do is stay with him until we meet up with the front group, then I can stay there even if he goes off.’ Or not. They don’t call him an uber-biker for nothing. In minutes he was out of sight. So I settled for the second pack which gradually grew bigger as the race went on and we caught guys and others caught us. I pushed the last few km’s and went through T2 leading the big group, in 6th position overall. I was 10mins down on Stadler and 6mins down on the other 4 guys ahead. I had my work cut out for me. But I love that run route with plenty of twists and turns and little hills and had good memories of last year where I ran myself from 11th to 2nd. And when you’re already out of the top 5, you’ve got nothing to lose. So I pushed myself from the outset and was quickly reeling in the guys ahead.I ran 1:09:37, my fastest ever half-marathon (including just run races!) and caught everyone except Stadler (I caught up 8mins, but was still 2min30 behind at the end). Second again.

I am very happy with the race and its good to know where the fitness is and what I need to work on. But I am more than ready now for that elusive first win - perhaps this weekend at Challenge France…

Well done to team-mate Bek Keat for her repeat win, and thanks to her mom, Ruth for the great support over the weekend! And big thanks to the Challenge team, Felix, Timo, Stefan and all their staff. Another awesome event.

This weekend - Challenge France in Neiderbronne. Looking forward to another good race!

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