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Klagenfurt (Austria) - I really have no clue where to start this blog. I am still flabbergasted by the result of race day and I guess it will be like that for a while. It feels so unbelievably great to be back on track (yes, there is still work to do), that I am still running on pure adrenaline and the euphoric feeling that took me by surprise.

So where to start… Well… I dunno! There is just too much to tell and too much happened during the race. Okay, I will stick to the order of the race and start from there and bring it to the finish in 9:04:14! 

The days before the race are the worst. Hanging out.. Chillin’… Relaxing… Biting nails… And getting the nerves for the race. Even if you don’t want it! Getting everything ready, dropping of the bike, getting the transit bags ready and screening transit for race day. Where is my bike, which rack, which bag is mine and how to enter and exit. All part of the pre race strategy to go with the flow on race day itself. The tension is almost as thick as a blanket of fog… Everybody is (I guess) as ready as they can be and are eager to go…

At 4AM my alarm rang. After squeezing in a couple toast with jam and forcing myself to drink some coffee, it was time to head to transit. Pumping some air into the tires, putting some vaseline in the back of my running shoes and putting my drinks on the bike. Nothing more to be done than that and off to the start. Still feeling quiet nervous and tense. But at 6:30 all of that fell into place. Getting my wetsuit on and feeling the adrenaline take over before the start.

At 7AM sharp the canon blew. BOOM! And off we were! Easy in the first 100 meters was my goal and then trying to get into my pace. Easier said than done… With all the excitement around it close to impossible to stay calm. So the first 100 was just one big rush and then I settled in. Trying to find some length in my strokes. However, I could not find anything during the swim. Half way to the first turn, the first age groupers started overtaking me. ‘Am I doing that bad?’ And just before the second turn a large group overtook me. My conclusion: ‘Yep, you are doing that bad!’ Still my shoulders were hurting and stiff, which was not supposed to happen. Nonetheless I kept swimming and pushing myself, even when I was thinking pretty negative at that moment. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘This ain’t fun, this ain’t the reason why you are here!’ ‘I don’t like this anymore. Crappy shoulders!!’ This kept on going and kept me from wondering where I was and before I knew it there was land under my feet and I was running towards T1!

‘Part one: CHECK! Been there, done that! Lets see what the bike brings! Just stick to the plan and execute it right!’ Transit was left together with team mate Toby Radcliff! It was so nice to have a familiar face near me, being able to have a ‘chat’ now and then! So the first hour flew by. Keeping back uphills, pushing a bit on the downhills and flats. Easy going! It was so much fun, that I could not stop smiling, even while some guys drafting madly. But then Toby crashed! My smile was gone and I was a bit stunned for a moment. But for some reason it did not go into the system, did not hit me, did not get to me. I just kept on going and just asked a referee if he was fine and he was.

My race plan was simple. The same as on Lanzarote, but now with a back up! Sticking to this plan kept me from thinking, feeling, noticing and what not more. In 2:16 the first lap flew by! ‘Time to put the peddle to the metal!’ Still keeping the plan in mind I overtook a large group with the leading lady (!) in it. Pushing it to get rid of them, but they kept up with me… So instead of giving it one last hard push, I decide to take it easy and ride with the group. Although my average power had been good, the uphill parts got to me at the end of the ride. I got dropped, but stayed positive! ‘PUSH! PUSH! Come on, keep pushing! That is the only way to get to transit!’ And that is what my legs did. The second lap was only 6 minutes slower than the first! I was so happy! My bike split had not been this good in a while and I felt ready to attack the run.

But where was I supposed to start on the run. Of course, on the road, but with what feeling, speed, heart rate, or… Actually I did not care, the only thing I knew was the 8*5km run. Nothing more, nothing less! Stick to that. ‘Stick to the moment. Postpone judgment. Stop thinking. RUN!’ I heard a lot of cheering, screaming, shouting, and that gave me goose bumps in the first kilometer! I was in total flow, flying! It was an incredible feeling and it lasted! ‘Get that first one done! Nothing more, nothing less!’ And before I knew it the turn came up! Nothing got to me, not even the boy with the bike blocking the road! The only thing there was were 7*5km left to finish. And it went like this for the next 3*5km.

The only two things I remember were the bell in the city center and the little hill at the channel. Ringing the bell would raise one Euro for charity, but I almost completely crapped my right arm at the first pass, so no more ringing for me! And the little hill, 10 meters in total, that took me 200 meters to recover from. Ooh, and my third Coke! I can now tell you that drinking Coke through your nose is not working well. Especially while running…

Half of my 8 times 5km were done! I was still running, flying, riding the flow! Unbelievable! Smiling, feeling great and again one of the 5km done! And then something weird happened. ‘Okay, you have come a long way baby! But there is still a bit to go… Those legs… Those legs are still feeling quiet okay… Which means there is something left in them! Which means you can trash them more! COME ON KAAS! Trash those legs! PUSH! They can be trashed more and more!’ The 6th 5km flew by and then on the way towards Klagenfurt it struck me! ‘9 Hours could be in!?’ My pace got higher, my heart rate climbed, my shouts at myself got more intense. ‘PUSH! COME ON, THOSE LEGS ARE STILL FEELING TOO GOOD! PUSH! COME ON KAAS! RUN! FLY! 9:00! COME ON!’ I rushed to town and pushed on the way back! Hammering it! Hammering it! Hammering it! ‘Come on! Push! Trash those legs! Trash those legs! Be crippled tomorrow! Beat 9 hours!’ The last two aid stations flew by grabbing only sponges to cool myself! Saving time to drop the pace and drink another Coke.

At 41km I looked at my watch. It said 8:58:something. I gave up pushing! Time to enjoy all the cheers in that last kilometer! Time to smile, time to start feel an incredible euphoric feeling take over! I was flabbergasted, stunned and filled with joy and happiness with what I accomplished! The last two hundred meters I clapped hands with children holding their hands out. Smiling, enjoying, with goose bumps all over! Oooh, and pretty sick in the stomach, but that was worth it. More then a thousand times! My best Ironman time crushed by 15 minutes! What a day, what an adventure! Back in business and ready to rock next time!