The last five weeks have been the best ever. Spending more time on the bike and on running than sitting on a chair, feeling stronger by the day and constantly thinking about that one special day coming up: the world championship duathlon in Zofingen.
At the start line I felt as you are only lucky enough to feel once in a while. Fresh, eager and knowing that you’re in good shape. But despite all up and downhil training in St. Moritz, after 3K, where the route goes downhill quite steeply, I got cramp in first my left and a few meters later in my left leg. Quite severe cramp. And it stayed there for the remaining of a very, very long race.
As Mirjam Weerd advised me before the race: “Embrace the suck”. So that’s what we did: accept that it was going to be a very long, very tough race, right from the very beginning.
Luckily there were a lot of positive things to look back upon: no mechanical problems (thanks Swissside, thanks Felt!), no stomach issues, no hitting the hammer (thanks to 8 (!) Hammer gels and a portion Hammer Perpeteum), two good transitions and a focus that was aiming for the finish; no matter what.
This focus was very much inspired by a bunch of people who got me to that start line in the first place. People who gave me love, support and most important, the faith that everything is possible.