Tag Archive | swimming
19.04.2015  

Hard work pays off

We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals. (Stephen Covey)

This week I had a “Performance Diagnostics” and it was so great to see how 14 month of workout, training camp and competitions pays off.

Thank you Jürgen Trapp from Sporteffekt to make this diagnostics and your great hints how to improve further.

Even with two major draw backs, those months led to big changes and the confidence to participate in my first Olympic Triathlon this year on 14th June 2015 in Ingolstadt, Germany. Thank you trainings partners, coaches (especially Sabine Schlirf from ESV Ringsee Ingolstadt) and friends. Without you this wouldn’t have been possible. Because even if it looks easy and relaxed, it is all hard work but with lots of fun.

Here some impressions from the last 14 months:

31.08.2014  

First Triathlon

It is the 11th of May 2014 and after a good night sleep I wake up early in the morning to get ready for my first Triathlon ever. Although I had a good preparation for the first triathlon I was still a bit nervous of what will happen that day.

Great that the competition started at 1pm, so enough time to prepare myself. With my bike and all my stuff for the upcoming challenge I took the Munich underground to the famous Olympic Park. And already in the underground I met another participant and funnily he was starting just next to me and it was his 3rd Triathlon. His hints on what to think about in that specific Triathlon helped me to relax a bit.

After the check in of my bike and all other stuff what you need for your transition (water, power bar, cycle shoes, running shoes, socks, towel) it was time to change into my triathlon outfit and get ready for the swim in the Olympic pool.

Then I was standing there, second in line to jump into the water [funnily my registered swimming time was second slowest of the fast group] and then they guy infront of me jumped into the pool … so only 12 seconds left till my start … count down … 3 … 2 … 1 … GO

In my head I was super excited but as I already knew from my running where I’m also super excited at the start I only said to myself… swim slow… slow and steady with long strokes and off I went … slow and steady … after 2 out of the 8 lanes I was overtaking that first dude (who started first with the slowest swimming time of the fast group) … WOW … So now nobody was infront of me and I had all the remaining 6 lanes clear (my biggest fear in Triathlon was to be packed into one big swimming group and not getting ahead) So too not become over excited … swim slow … slow and steady … well that worked fine till lane 7 where I had my first foot cramp … ok keep calm … relax … swim slow … slow and steady. And then I went out of the water and I was first, what a feeling!!! [Please keep in mind there were 400 guys behind me who had faster swimming times, but I didn’t care] and the volunteers were supporting me: “Yeah you are the first!” 🙂

Transition from swimming to bike was good and went without big mistakes. Slow but steady …

I was on my bike and went onto the first of 5 rounds in the Olympic park, to get to know the course. Second round was even better and third was great. But in round 4 I got my first cramp on the bike so I had to slow down a bit and also the course was a bit slippery and very twisting. Then getting from the bike one volunteer shouted to me “You’re a the 5th guy”. Wow so I only lost 4 positions [please still keep in my there were 400 guys still behind me who started later] but hey it sounded great!

Transition from bike to running went like this … ok running with my bike to my transition position was good … put the bike back on a pole check … helmet down check … cycle shoes out check … both running shoes on check … wait something is in my left running shoe … 5 seconds I’m thinking is it ok to run like this? 3 … 2 … 1 … NO … so after taking the left shoe off and searching what might be in this shoe I found a … power bar (!!!) [Reminder to myself: Please check next time in the check in procedure if anything is still in my shoes!] ok I put the left shoe on and then something was in my right shoe as well a bit smaller but I decided to check this shoe as well. This time I had to search a bit longer but I found another [but smaller] power bar in my right shoe … then both running shoes on check … change the number from the back to the front check … Great then it was time to get back on track and to the start of the running trail.

Funnily the guy from the underground who started 1min behind be at the swimming was now next to me. We had a short chat and then I went of. And all the transition preparation from my trainings camp in Croatia was coming into place. Actually I was feeling very good in my running shoes [without all that power bars] and my pace was good. A former colleague and triathlete athlete found me and cheered me up [Thank you Hannes for your support and the pictures] and then the last 500m to the finish line.

Volunteers were handling out water but I refused and just saw the finish line. Wow what a great joy came over me. All this tough 6 month preparation was now paying of and all the endorphins were rushing into my body and with a big smile and hands in the air I was crossing the finish line. WOW what an AMAZING experience.

For the next three days I was full of endorphins and I was already looking forward the next two events in Ingolstadt and Hamburg. More from those two events in the next weeks …

10.05.2014  

First Triathlon – Preparation

After almost haft a year of preparation it was time to participate in my first triathlon and what an awesome experience but let’s recap from where this all started …

Last year in November I thought about doing my first triathlon and this is where I stood: I could only swim the crawl for 25 meters, I have never set on a racing bike and I was injured on my left and right ankle so for over three month I din’t run. Great! 😉

But then things picked up … Beside a core muscle training once per week I started to swim twice per week and after a few weeks the first success was to crawl for 5 then 8 and end of December for 60 lanes (each lane was 25 meters) and in February 2014 I mastered even the 152 lanes which was part of my dream plan for 2014. So swimming wise I was on track. Still very slow but with the confidence to conquer the distance.

End of February it was time to participate in my first trainings camp in Malaga and after one week and more than 300km on a racing bike I felt that this is going to become a great sport for me even though my body needs much more race bike training. One trainings camp more (in Porec, Croatia) the confidence and fun for cycling grew further.

And for the running part I started in January with very very slow but long runs and the pain in my ankles was gone. And as I love running this was a good sign.

And now it is the 10th of May 2014 and only one day left for my first triathlon ever, how exciting! All my gear for the racing day is prepared … story to be continued …

 

22.04.2014  

Triathlon Camp in Poreč

April comes and so does my first Triathlon trainings camp. How exciting, after my first cycle camp in Málaga it was now time to put all three triathlon parts (swimming, cycling and running) together for my first upcoming triathlons in May, June and July 2014.

Together with the two awesome coaches Sabine and Wolfgang from ESV Ringsee Ingolstadt, Natalie and Karin we had one week of training in Northern Croatia in the small beautiful coastal town Poreč.

Training conditions were very good: Sunny weather, Plenty of good food, hilly surroundings for our cycle tours, great running track on the coastline and a salt water pool.

Here some impressions:

23.02.2014  

How to master any skill

Traveling around the world for me is about meeting awesome and inspiring people in interesting places AND to learn new skills.

Recently I stumbled on this article in which a great approach from Tim Ferriss was explained.

In the last three month it was swimming for me. I started out with 1 lane of crawling and then I was already exhausted. The goal was 152 lanes. And now after less than 3 month I can crawl those 152 lans. How is this possible?

First of all I had a written Dreamplan to help me focusing on the goal. Second I tried to deconstruct the task into small pieces. And then after weeks and weeks of practicing the small pieces, I was finally putting it all together and it worked! Breathing was not a problem anymore and swimming felt almost like running for me and I can now meditate while swimming. It’s brilliant and now I love swimming!!!

So what is it, that you always wanted to learn?

Give it a try and learn something you always wanted to achieve!

Here the Video from Tim Ferriss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSq9uGs_z0E

26.11.2013  

152

You might wonder why the number 152 is so interesting for me …

… a couple of years ago I started to write my dream plan for the next 6 or 12 month (Thanks to the book: “The 4 hour work week” from Tim Ferriss). I can highly recommend this book and if it is only for creating your dream plan 🙂

In general at least 80% of those dream goals are archived which I’m total happy with. This year one of the things I haven’t archived is to crawl continuously for 1km. So a couple of weeks ago I finally started my training and there is some progress but the 40 laps on a 25m lane seems still far away. But there is one more month to go 😉

So last Sunday I went into the swimming pool and started to swim “breast stroke” style … 20 lanes … 30 … 40 (ok at least in this style the 1km is possible) … 70 … 80 (oh double the 1km is working as well) … 120 (3km … mmmhhh maybe I should aim for a bit more) … 130…  140 … 152!!!

Wow 152 lanes this is 3.8km and the distance of swimming for an Ironman. Never biked 180km or run a full marathon (which are the other two distances in an Ironman) but at least the swimming part on it’s own is doable. So for me the lessons learned is that when you have a goal which seems achievable work hard and try to go for it, especially when it is on your dream list! 🙂

PS: And if someone is reading this who can teach me Front Quadrant Swimming, let me know! I’m eager to learn it 🙂