10 / 22 / 2011

Off season - but training is not off
Kick-off of the winter training on the Dachstein glacier in Styria / Austria

Not only the Alpine Ski World Cup in Soelden /Austria started this sunny weekend, also my winter training season began.

The glaciers on the Dachstein are not only for alpine skiers, especially for cross country skiers and biathletes there are perfect training tracks. Athletes from half the world (Russia, Norway, Canada, ...) are preparing on the Dachstein for winter season 2011/2012.

Cross country skiing is an ideal training for triathlon and mountain bike, because the whole body is moving. 3 hours skating on a hilly terrain at 8700 ft. above sea level was a good workout for the beginning of the season.

Swimming, running and biking is still on my winter training schedule.

I'm looking forward to the start of the season on my home cross country skiing tracks in St. Jakob im Walde (20 minutes away from home) in early December.

My next event:
12/31/2011  Sylvester Run / Vienna / Austria

10 / 02 / 2011

Anninger Trophy - MTB Hillclimb + Mountain Run

Like last year at the "Anninger-Trophy" - in the Vienna Woods - two competitions with a combined ranking took place on the same course.

Last year I did the mountainbike hill climb with my student fellow Christoph Unterweger from East Tyrol and got 4^th. This time I chose the mountain run. Christoph rode my Duratec mountainbike and we were also registrated for the combined competition.

Start for the run was at 10am, the mountainbike race one hour later. Overall almost 250 participants, 100 runners were competing. The race course went from the village Gaaden over 5.850k and 420 metres vertical climb up to the radio station, including sections with more than 20% climbs.

The weather was perfect, almost too warm - It's October and we have mid-summer temperatures.

I won the mountain run in my age group, Christoph got 2^nd in his bike category. In the combined ranking (both times added) we got 3^rd overall.

Our other fellow Lisa Ribarich won the women's mountainbike race.

For the women it was similar: Rank 1 - 3 went to Kenya, Ethiopia on rank 4 and 5. The victory went to Alice Mogire.

My next events:
12/31/2011  Sylvester Run / Vienna / Austria
My focus already is on preparation for 2012 season.

09 / 18 / 2011

14^th International Wachau Marathon

Wachau Marathon and Half Marathon is the second largest running competition in Austria with approximately 10,000 participants.

The real "main event", where many professionals start is the half-marathon with about 6,000 runners.

The race course lead through the beautiful Wachau, along the Danube, started in Spitz and finish line in Krems.

Start was at 10am with nice sunshine and light winds. It was already warm in the morning, superb times were not expected.

Till 10k, I was faster than my plan, at 2/3 of the way I was about to end of 1:17. Then I couldn't hold my pace and I had to be satisfied with 1:21:30 and 16^th in my agegroup.

The Kenyan professionals showed their domination. Place 1 - 13 was only interrupted by Christian Pfluegl from Austria (7^th place) and Daniel Haussner from Germany (11^th place). The victory went to Geoffrey Ngugi-Kanyanjua.

For the women it was similar: Rank 1 - 3 went to Kenya, Ethiopia on rank 4 and 5. The victory went to Alice Mogire.

My next events:
10/02/2011  Anninger Trophy (mountain run) - Gaaden (near Vienna)
10/16/2011  Wolfgangsee Run / Austria

09 / 10 / 2011

XTERRA Prangins in Switzerland / Lake Geneva
5^th place - after a strong performance

Last year at XTERRA Switzerland I had to quit due an injury and ended up in the medical tent. It could only get better in 2011. My sister Larissa, who speaks French very well came along to Prangins (20k from Geneva) to support me. She took photos and managed everything perfectly.

Switzerland was the last station of the XTERRA European Tour 2011. As usual, very strong international triathletes were under the 400 participants overall.

From the start-finish area you had a very nice view to the Mont Blanc Range. The crystal-clear Lake Geneva was about 20 degrees. High summer temperatures (30 degrees) caused a battle against the heat. Start was at 2pm.

My swimming performance over 1.5k was better than during XTERRAs lately.

The bike trail (two laps of 17k each) was flat but very challenging and led through grass, floodplain forests and vineyards. There also were several passages through and into small rivers. I overtook at least 50 cyclists with my mountain bike.

The 11k cross-country running with many obstacles (tree trunks, straw bales) went over meadows and small trails to the finish. I was able to improve my ranking on 5^th place in the U23.

The woman's professional race was won by Lorblanchet Marion (FRA) like in the Czech Republic and Germany.

In men's category there was a triple victory for France: Olivier Marceau followed by Nico Lebrun and Charles Shaw. 4^th place went to Ben Allen (Australia).

Already 3 hours after I finished, we took the plane back to Vienna and drove to Styria, where I'm preparing myself for the ½ Marathon in the Wachau Valley next weekend.

My next events:
09/18/2011  Wachau Half Marathon / Austria
09/24/2011  Cross Triathlon / Telfs / Austria
10/02/2011  Anninger Trophy (mountain run) - Gaaden (near Vienna)

09 / 03 / 2011

Extreme Duathlon "Leitha-Man" - Lichtenwoerth / Austria

1^st place - and "Leitha-Man 2011"

After my win in 2010 I was of course one of the favorites.

Compared to 2010 the duathlon was even harder and more challenging. Due the floods and a different course last year, the Leitha was only touched a few times. This year the race course was on the "original track" in the creek of the Leitha.

The 5k run in the creek over slippery stones, was more jumping and hopping to the transition area. Back on the bike - again through the water - was sometimes only possible with bike on the back.

I had a very good race, came in third after running - but head to head with the others - left the transition zone first. I defended my lead and won superior.

My fellow student Lisa Ribarich won the mixed team event.

Next year I will return to defend my title.

On Friday I'll head off to XTERRA Switzerland at Lake Geneva, which takes place on Saturday.

End of September - I received a invitation - a cross-triathlon in Telfs / Tyrol is added to my racing program.

My next events:
9/10/2011  XTERRA Switzerland
9/18/2011  Wachau Half Marathon / Austria 09/24/2011  Cross Triathlon / Telfs / Austria