tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77020631172909123732024-03-12T17:15:21.659-07:00Koenvdm23Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-37941868884415047242020-03-18T06:57:00.000-07:002020-03-18T06:57:10.002-07:00<h2>
Het moet me van het hart...</h2>
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Ik loop al enkele dagen met een slecht gevoel rond over de hele Corona crisis. Ik wil niet ontkennen dat Corona veel mensenlevens eist en zal eisen. Maar het wringt bij mij heel erg dat mensen nu zo te keer gaan en dat er zulke drastische maatregelen worden getroffen. <div>
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De Zorg</h3>
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Ja, we hebben blijkbaar te weinig plek in de ziekenhuizen om ze op te vangen. Maar dat is omdat er veel te weinig budget gaat naar zorg en dat ziekenhuizen worden gemanaged als bedrijven: just in time en zo kost-efficiënt mogelijk. Toen ik enkele maanden geleden mijn broer in het ziekenhuis ging bezoeken was het al overbevolkt en kon het verpleegkundige personeel het niet bolwerken. Er is gewoon al te weinig ruimte en middelen zonder crisis. Dus nu moeten we met z'n allen (ook de honderdduizenden die niet persee doodziek worden) in lockdown. En dat allemaal omdat we de grafiek moeten afvlakken. Dat betekent dat er evenveel mensen zullen ziek worden, alleen op een langere periode. Aangezien we te weinig middelen hebben, zouden er meer sterven als het op een kortere periode is. Dus de reden voor de sterfte ligt niet bij het virus maar bij de ongepaste manier waarop onze zorg wordt gemanaged, dat wordt mede bepaald door de politiek, dus nogal wiedes dat ze er alles aan doen om de sterfte nu in te perken, zij zijn mede de oorzaak van de crisis! Als we meer geld in de dagelijkse werking van de zorg steken, zal dat goedkoper zijn dan wat deze crisis onze maatschappij vandaag zal kosten... Hopelijk ziet iedereen dat na deze crisis in en verandert er eindelijk wat!<div>
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Balans</h3>
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Een ander punt waar het bij mij wringt is de manier waarop veel mensen ook reageren op de ernst. Niet omdat dit niet ernstig zou zijn, maar hoe ze staan tegenover andere problemen. Ok, er worden veel mensen ziek door Corona en er zullen er veel sterven. Maar onze ziekenhuizen liggen vol met mensen die ziek zijn omwille van een ongezonde levensstijl: diabetici, rokers, hartlijders,... noem maar op. Veel meer dan dat er van Corona ziek zullen zijn. Maar toch mag je nog sigaretten kopen en wordt er reclame gemaakt voor suiker-verslavend-makende drankjes (vanmorgen kwam ik nog een reclame tegen voor coca cola energy... go figure). Die drankjes zijn volgens mij even dodelijk als corona, maar dan op langere termijn. Risico om te sterven aan roken is op termijn ook groter dan dat je nu met een aantal vrienden een toertje zou gaan fietsen. Maar wat is verboden? Fietsen... Dagelijks worden door (bedrijfs)wagens en ander gemotoriseerd verkeer kilo's vervuilende stoffen in onze atmosfeer gejaagd, iedereen die daar in de buurt van komt heeft meer risico om ziek te worden (mijn vrouw heeft astma gekregen sinds ze met de fiets naar het werk rijdt - langs de ring...) Maar ja, het effect zie je niet meteen, dus waarom zorgen over maken, waarom verbieden? Maar het effect van het corona virus is meteen zichtbaar en dus blijkbaar veel erger... Het maakt het allemaal wel erg duidelijk hoe kortzichtig mensen zijn... Nu in lockdown door Corona betekent voor mij dat sigaretten verboden moeten worden, alle suikerhoudende dranken weg, iedereen met de fiets die minder dan 10km moet rijden, alle wagens motor stil als ze hun kinderen komen halen, geen vliegreizen binnen Europa, beperkt aantal lange-afstandsvluchten per persoon, alle fossiele brandstof weg, enkel nog ecologisch verantwoorde voedselproductie, en zo kan ik nog wel even doorgaan. Maar ho, Koen, onnozelaar dan mag er niks meer, wel, nu mag ik ook geen trails lopen, geen koers zien, niet op restaurant, fuck you he, nu zijn er geen alternatieven, maar in plaats van de auto kan je de fiets pakken (ja ook als het regent of als je de kinderen moet afzetten of als je het te druk hebt, daar ga je niet aan doodgaan), je kan ook groenten kopen die ecologisch verantwoord gekweekt zijn (pff, das ni rendabel, dan kost het te veel - zij de dwaas met de iPhone van 800€ en een bmw van 40.000€), neem de trein, verbruik gewoon minder energie, ... Twee maten en gewichten, het kan er bij mij niet in...Misschien is deze crisis wel wat we nodig hebben om te veranderen, en hopelijk doen we dat ook. Want als we niet veranderen, zal er nog meer miserie op ons afkomen: als ik in mijn tuin een ziekte krijg op mijn planten, dan betekent dat dat er iets mis is met de leefomgeving van mijn planten. Wel, ik denk dat dit virus duidelijk maakt dat we onze leefomgeving behoorlijk hebben opgefucked!!!! Keuze aan ons om ze terug in balans te brengen!</div>
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Ode</h3>
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Nog een laatste hulde aan de twee meest belangrijke groepen in onze maatschappij die de meeste aanzien zouden moeten hebben - niet zij die zogezegd belangrijker zijn omdat ze veel geld hebben of een machtig bedrijf leiden (en daarom met dure auto's moeten rijden) :</div>
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<li>Mensen in de zorg : Het is vandaag meer dan duidelijk dat we niet zonder hen kunnen Toen ik mijn broer 3 maanden geleden in een overbevolkt ziekenhuis bezocht, bleven ze vriendelijk en goedlachs - geef ze het RESPECT en de juiste verloning die ze verdienen!</li>
<li>Onderwijzend personeel - bij educatie en opvoeding begint alles!</li>
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Peace</h3>
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Voor de duidelijkheid, mijn empathie dwingt me om mee de maatregelen te volgen die zijn opgelegd, en hopelijk worden er niet al te veel mensen getroffen. Maar iedereen die dit overleeft heeft de plicht om onze wereld opnieuw leefbaarder te maken! Als je nu vindt dat het beter is om mensenlevens te redden op korte termijn door in lockdown te gaan, dan vind ik dat je ook een levensstijl moet kiezen die op lange termijn mensenlevens redt! Misschien wordt de wereld dan overal opnieuw een betere plek om te leven en lossen we zo meer problemen op dan we zouden kunnen hopen ;)</div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-73988477027971241982017-09-08T08:16:00.001-07:002017-09-08T09:03:30.722-07:00Altri-X-man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-vu4Yv4P85jwXGpKwG3vrLMnpLOqCUA-Pp6NNzOoVzdbLRiEt41QjXoqD_Uszbo00vfm5ENIirRhxzZ_iKHdmMcJzi5hV3zpt9a5eQ3dHuLgHZTO9gZewaqWi-1J4TyhtfUan_CiiRb9/s1600/1390664_340947466081853_3050685668749859303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="575" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-vu4Yv4P85jwXGpKwG3vrLMnpLOqCUA-Pp6NNzOoVzdbLRiEt41QjXoqD_Uszbo00vfm5ENIirRhxzZ_iKHdmMcJzi5hV3zpt9a5eQ3dHuLgHZTO9gZewaqWi-1J4TyhtfUan_CiiRb9/s320/1390664_340947466081853_3050685668749859303_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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15th of August 2007 was a day I would never forget. The day I finished the <a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2013/07/embrunman-2007-al-een-tijdje-geleden_30.html" target="_blank">Embrunman</a> I suffered a lot that day, especially during the run. I promised myself I would be back one day. Last year after finishing the <a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2016/10/from-hel-to-heaven.html" target="_blank">Triathlon de Salagou</a>, I felt I was ready to take on the challenge. But instead of the Embrunman, I reckoned that there are so many nice races, I rather take another one that was on my wishlist instead. I tried to enter the Norseman, but was not selected. So 10 years after Embrun, I chose to enter the legend of the Altriman. A high-altitude, full-distance triathlon in the Pyrenees. Sounds like fun to me!</div>
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Winter preparation</h2>
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Unlike 10 years ago, when I participated in a full-distance triathlon the second year I practised the sport, I was building up to this event from scratch after Tijs was born 7 years ago. From sprint, to olympic distance onto half and occasionally some more adventurous stuff (<a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2013/07/nisraman-2013.html" target="_blank">Nisraman</a>, <a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2016/10/the-way-to-hel.html" target="_blank">Hel van Kasterlee</a>). As soon as I discussed my plans with Caroline, I started the preparation. I wanted to be be confident on the run, so I decided to build up some confidence doing trails, preferably multi-day events. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbaqvwyM69ulPQ81gTP92uM0s561ogihhhiYnvFlCTzOx-3INFZgBFknCBzn17iL4xqZmPh50zAyE2h9RTnpa7bG_F12w4Kla3eZvHkpMKc2E8PsYYIQ7353K4NlpXC0Zm4jmi8A6uVfW/s1600/marathon+kasterlee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="898" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbaqvwyM69ulPQ81gTP92uM0s561ogihhhiYnvFlCTzOx-3INFZgBFknCBzn17iL4xqZmPh50zAyE2h9RTnpa7bG_F12w4Kla3eZvHkpMKc2E8PsYYIQ7353K4NlpXC0Zm4jmi8A6uVfW/s320/marathon+kasterlee.jpg" width="320" /></a>Fortunately, there is the X-trails series from Sport-events. In december, they have the X-trails Houffalize, which I participated in as a preparation for the Hel in 2015. This year, to make it a bit more challenging, I was thinking of doing the 51k on Sunday... But before I registered, I wanted to finish a marathon with a good feeling. I picked out the one in Kasterlee, not too many participants and a race course of 80% off-road, exactly my cup of tea :). It was tough, but I felt good the whole run and finished "fresh" together with the boys in 3:46:52. I recommend this marathon to everyone who doesn't care about his/her PR or getting his/her shoes muddy :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdlXplxI9hU2CsKemfXfEo2X6z5h1FjoEKdqnvuAfOEdWPFYZs1EhhpppU-j3MavrgJNOpzfuVGU5tYjQmEaP4XQQxOQFil2E-IPi8wJDTe5zOcZNflife8E8jH_zQqhcotrHB-J8eaar/s1600/xtrails+h02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdlXplxI9hU2CsKemfXfEo2X6z5h1FjoEKdqnvuAfOEdWPFYZs1EhhpppU-j3MavrgJNOpzfuVGU5tYjQmEaP4XQQxOQFil2E-IPi8wJDTe5zOcZNflife8E8jH_zQqhcotrHB-J8eaar/s320/xtrails+h02.jpg" width="320" /></a>So the first step was taken. Next, as promised, I would run the X-trails in Houffalize. The X-trails is a fun concept with 3 trails in 2 days. Starting with a Kamikaze Sprint in the morning (approx 4-5km), followed by a semi night trail of 21km and after a good night sleep, you can pick different distances from 11 to 51k. Last year as as a preparation for the Hel, I did the 25k on Sunday. As I have difficulties staying within my boundaries, I had to step out to do the 51k :s Which, I must admit, scared me a bit... Luckily, I had Ward, a good friend and guide, with me, who already had experience on longer distance trails. I took it easy on the first day, trying to survive the Kamikaze and go easy on the 21k, as I didn't know if I would be up for the task on the 51k. Never ran more than 42 and this 51k had more than 1400m elevation :-o... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B-_TjESNR-YKRolRMCIXS_duvH2k-ipSQn3tVP4d2R7yn4h8L7gnG66eCBLdy9FjGxTqWuTdv3NveHdxwMxrnoY10zgibdVKLzKnZhnUPKtp3nHDrKcyQSrX1oYbCchW3vuHhgmwt5v6/s1600/xtrails+h03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B-_TjESNR-YKRolRMCIXS_duvH2k-ipSQn3tVP4d2R7yn4h8L7gnG66eCBLdy9FjGxTqWuTdv3NveHdxwMxrnoY10zgibdVKLzKnZhnUPKtp3nHDrKcyQSrX1oYbCchW3vuHhgmwt5v6/s320/xtrails+h03.jpg" width="320" /></a>I got up on Sunday, feeling very small... But as soon as the race started, I enjoyed myself. It's magical to run in the dark in the beautiful forests surrounding Houffalize. As usual a lot of the guys passed us by in the first few kms. Most of them didn't run the day before... But after 26k or so, we started to catch up on some of them. Ward and I stayed together the whole time, when one of us started to run faster, we slowed each other down, not to crash. When one of us slowed down, we encouraged each other to keep running. It worked out very well. There was not one dull moment and we finished in 6 hours and 20 minutes, 50th place on 190 participants with only 4 or 5 guys before us who did the X-trails. The trail itself was amazing with different types of tracks, it was never boring. I felt great afterwards. Another big step taken!</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">As from January, I had to become one with my bike. The bike track on the Altriman was going to be a killer, so if I wanted to be able to run a decent marathon, I had to work hard on the bike. January and February was tough, with lots of wind and rain going out for long rides... When spring came, the long rides got more fun as more teammates came out to play, especially Vanessa sacrificed herself many times to join me in the fun :) and Michel to go on the team trail with me!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CVsgSCdVJ1wyAdz5dtQIameN1Ixc6NPQm4tJKQnoJ7cRYc2DF3UmnDIGnpPPu7Yrs4V6eQy9Hc-SgS_112-EvxTCLViUZkIfPkLBgeb-f48BLlvDiDrVvtPM9v5EywR_Z9tQRwDAdRK-/s1600/17434743_10154463160727157_960858170907572518_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1600" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CVsgSCdVJ1wyAdz5dtQIameN1Ixc6NPQm4tJKQnoJ7cRYc2DF3UmnDIGnpPPu7Yrs4V6eQy9Hc-SgS_112-EvxTCLViUZkIfPkLBgeb-f48BLlvDiDrVvtPM9v5EywR_Z9tQRwDAdRK-/s320/17434743_10154463160727157_960858170907572518_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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X-Trails Vosges</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GfURwvq5Ds97ib1ZhsOZCwHr0o8gmnwNFhN0xlatNI340959Nm7qpXHA4ZfSK2Ogep81iFHPgGht360PmLNHtRb1fJ2zpcn1VRaeTsu5W3BLVCChs0iP4fZg9xA27uceqg5AvaNU8w5p/s1600/IMG_20170427_182829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GfURwvq5Ds97ib1ZhsOZCwHr0o8gmnwNFhN0xlatNI340959Nm7qpXHA4ZfSK2Ogep81iFHPgGht360PmLNHtRb1fJ2zpcn1VRaeTsu5W3BLVCChs0iP4fZg9xA27uceqg5AvaNU8w5p/s200/IMG_20170427_182829.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJ6L8TjW383AF_6l07uMtZeUzjMrPX-ap67bKrZ-0Vlc1p2nQRgtg_OBUHB-THKaPYsEFvTxPu8-OZRiGI_w4EWAOUT6gfRtqnJvHhnxBCb83Gj0qRtkrFC7rWpaIWCdLiGGFFazWixwG/s1600/IMG_20170427_170642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJ6L8TjW383AF_6l07uMtZeUzjMrPX-ap67bKrZ-0Vlc1p2nQRgtg_OBUHB-THKaPYsEFvTxPu8-OZRiGI_w4EWAOUT6gfRtqnJvHhnxBCb83Gj0qRtkrFC7rWpaIWCdLiGGFFazWixwG/s200/IMG_20170427_170642.jpg" width="200" /></a>To keep myself motivated and to change the scenery a bit, I registered for the X-trails in the Vosges on the 29th and 30th of April. Same concept, different view. The weather in April was nice, so I decided to go a bit earlier to ride my bike and get used to some real climbing. But the week before the X-trails, winter decided to join the fun. In two days, 50cm of snow fell on the Grand Ballon, exactly where I would be staying... Great. After being stressed out about how to get there and not being able to ride my bike, I just let go of the negativity, and hey, sun was shining when I got to Le Markstein on Thursday evening. I quickly unpacked and got on the bike for a short ride to the top of The Grand Ballon. Amazing. Snow everywhere, except on the road - why can't they get that done in Belgium when there is 2cm of snow :p.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDyrKXoN_wbun6aPAigYgkT3uvsoldlFLEa-cdxAoSqOo-dbI73h7HShGTFB8t9Gk1pzrMM09V1pEzYBs1MFgfE5k6LQhJIElmTqPnu-_E2N-scfZ5FSI1Y7MYnXTeghbFqgDAfc1BpQA/s1600/steinlebach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="415" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDyrKXoN_wbun6aPAigYgkT3uvsoldlFLEa-cdxAoSqOo-dbI73h7HShGTFB8t9Gk1pzrMM09V1pEzYBs1MFgfE5k6LQhJIElmTqPnu-_E2N-scfZ5FSI1Y7MYnXTeghbFqgDAfc1BpQA/s320/steinlebach.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xAJ5Bf7HuOMymrYFXoSyYdvJCETuOj7nTCUDxsLYTrqXDVrxJ1QOsZ2QvWP8D55i1bNs17ORDvTUvn0P70bf5rKOCC5PUck0CqVJBZGUf641ZmMl57ZOzx4pk1JnNdFy5-sGylvmViL/s1600/IMG_20170428_140503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xAJ5Bf7HuOMymrYFXoSyYdvJCETuOj7nTCUDxsLYTrqXDVrxJ1QOsZ2QvWP8D55i1bNs17ORDvTUvn0P70bf5rKOCC5PUck0CqVJBZGUf641ZmMl57ZOzx4pk1JnNdFy5-sGylvmViL/s200/IMG_20170428_140503.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqLJbPWtM26ebfkLh-Wwy7eKIlGAsEsqWxXiKt4rdWzbQa-f1J6PULK3yPM9q94ubawhCQproITyyQ57DcxtcFun73tVT1OeTOb0Iyxiv-nzmkAhoYo_9l2CVKh38cpzSkrTGmHPUZ6rc/s1600/IMG_20170428_125340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqLJbPWtM26ebfkLh-Wwy7eKIlGAsEsqWxXiKt4rdWzbQa-f1J6PULK3yPM9q94ubawhCQproITyyQ57DcxtcFun73tVT1OeTOb0Iyxiv-nzmkAhoYo_9l2CVKh38cpzSkrTGmHPUZ6rc/s200/IMG_20170428_125340.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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After a good meal and good night sleep at <a href="http://www.auberge-steinlebach.com/" target="_blank">Auberge du Steinlebach</a>, I waited until the snow on the roads (during the night a lot more snow had fallen) melted before I left for a day of climbing. The views were simply amazing and I had a great time. The climbs were sometimes killing, but that's what I came here for. The sun was shining the whole day at least in the valley, until I arrived back at Le Markstein, where I experienced that riding in the snow is more fun than in the rain :D (at least when you know you don't need to do anymore descents!).</div>
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After 6 hours on the bike and 6 climbs in the legs, I went to bed early, as on Saturday the X-trails</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCCDqntGuhYie_ovg7JP_ZeUNeWaSCYArSBxBWLYxhhHQoU2knVqkprs554-c0ToZI0n-ssqjVN5hP6z3FTeqEI6rDVDlqFHpD4TzdnX9ayqBZjf3WdUESvaCL0rehr588yBdRbBvg38I/s1600/4243_BRB1_00055.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCCDqntGuhYie_ovg7JP_ZeUNeWaSCYArSBxBWLYxhhHQoU2knVqkprs554-c0ToZI0n-ssqjVN5hP6z3FTeqEI6rDVDlqFHpD4TzdnX9ayqBZjf3WdUESvaCL0rehr588yBdRbBvg38I/s200/4243_BRB1_00055.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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would start. First of, 5.4km sprint trail. The legs didn't really like this after the rough day they had on Friday. In the evening, we had a lovely 21k semi night trail. It was fantastic, with a magic sunset behind the snowy mountains. I finished in 2 hours in 16th place on 90 participants. I didn't push it too hard, as the next day, we were in for a treat: The Trail Du Grand Ballon. </div>
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Roughly 1900m elevation. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE2g7XrkoEvoRkmIxNM6rex6vfbImMYuZsCfBwJRSHT6E3qsSTch9309ZKdpTL_WUdPuwUp7fS9Lhi0MuRonD0SUZK4onjqgSgqKVL6zoe-fKDbqzDxNEUTvB3qtXHPTsTFGxwryFCsPM/s1600/IMG_20170430_094527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE2g7XrkoEvoRkmIxNM6rex6vfbImMYuZsCfBwJRSHT6E3qsSTch9309ZKdpTL_WUdPuwUp7fS9Lhi0MuRonD0SUZK4onjqgSgqKVL6zoe-fKDbqzDxNEUTvB3qtXHPTsTFGxwryFCsPM/s200/IMG_20170430_094527.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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On Thursday, I had met Vincent, who organized the event and set the track for this fantastic trail. He warned that there was deep snow at the Grand Ballon. Although a lot of the snow had melted by Sunday, there were holes, where the snow had gathered to surprise you: dropping 50cm in deep snow! As I participated in the X-trails and was in 8th place (there were roughly 28 participants), I was allowed to start in the front. As a consequence, roughly 50 men and women passed me by in the first 10k descent to the bottom of the Grand Ballon. My legs didn't like it a bit... But once we began the climb towards the Grand Ballon, I starting catching up on a lot of them. I also passed by some of the X-trailers who were in front of me. The view was amazing, I felt great, I was really enjoying myself! I continued to catch up on a lot of the participants and I finished 14th on 135 participants and surprisingly, I was in 4th place in the x-trails. This weekend was great, I had fun and I gained a lot of confidence.</div>
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For the video of the event, check it out <a href="https://vimeo.com/215551452" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The last stretch</h2>
Back home, it was back to the good old flat land, riding between farmer fields and along the canal. I went in every direction, not to get bored too much after the treat I had in the Vosges. I also participated in the 111 in Bilzen, which went rather well (in spite of losing my swimming goggles when entering the water...) and was really fun with the BrTC bunch!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissSwPCITBQ89PUmyFTvd2T9OVn7VmNuqQqqu9vtAPo_l9AaX5worgUJ0eoE1KPQz4ZHhlcI5byfVzJNstVy4Vz03mAIAWCe33T388iq61Rt1U1ZM-wH5ay4Ik7HtpgHpv5oD0lU1gFaxX/s1600/34659896695_3c199b2604_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissSwPCITBQ89PUmyFTvd2T9OVn7VmNuqQqqu9vtAPo_l9AaX5worgUJ0eoE1KPQz4ZHhlcI5byfVzJNstVy4Vz03mAIAWCe33T388iq61Rt1U1ZM-wH5ay4Ik7HtpgHpv5oD0lU1gFaxX/s320/34659896695_3c199b2604_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVfei41_vI0HVS8l1XobB6uQhjnbWFB-UtpM9-tsj9WJXA3osJGra6KERpIWm-w2gpgyVHqBUxVwitmPHKJx3L0DdGd_6qAGMi9quUAsEiUiaAL83O3E11tmqE_xqzRlBxYqCy0qA6yCy/s1600/33817269684_a1d8062c2b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVfei41_vI0HVS8l1XobB6uQhjnbWFB-UtpM9-tsj9WJXA3osJGra6KERpIWm-w2gpgyVHqBUxVwitmPHKJx3L0DdGd_6qAGMi9quUAsEiUiaAL83O3E11tmqE_xqzRlBxYqCy0qA6yCy/s200/33817269684_a1d8062c2b_o.jpg" width="133" /></a>But from that point, things were getting a bit more busy at home. The training hours were building up, more work at home with the massages (which obviously is a good thing), I love to work in the garden and grow my own veggies - which takes time as well and I definitely didn't want to neglect my family, they are what is most important in my life! All of this added up, made me more tired every day and I was questioning why the hell I was doing this. But I wanted to set things straight after Embrun, I wanted to see what I was capable of. I was getting more confident that I would be able to finish, but I wanted more. Not many guys run their marathon in less than 4 hours. With the trail experience I had, I wanted to be one of them! But then I got a mail from the organisation, the bike course was changed: the col de Pailheres was moved to later in the course and the run track was changed as well, we would have to do the climb to the lake twice instead of once... My confidence and hope for a fast run just got squashed... But in the meanwhile, we were getting closer to the race. Only one and a half month to go. I was building up the last big training blocks, but the weekend of the Tour de Trappistes in Chimay (a two day bicycle tour from Chimay to Houffalize and back, day 1: 200k, Day 2: 180), things got wrong. I left home with a little bit of stomach ache, but thought it would pass. Although I took it rather easy the first day, I felt really bad the second day, couldn't eat and was sooo tired, I was struggling on the bike and died like a 100 times... Miraculously after 140k the last day, I found some energy and finished the 180 with a rather good feeling, I was happy that after crashing 140k, I resurrected :). But the week after, I got really ill. Stomach aches like crazy. I wisely decided to skip my last training race the next weekend and rest as much as possible. Better to be fresh on raceday than to stubbornly try to do all the training I planned. After a week of probiotics and a lot of sleep, I started feeling better and two weeks before D-day, I felt my energy level was back where it was supposed to be! Just in time! I was ready!(?)<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Off we go!</h2>
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We headed South on July 5th. After roughly 13hours, we arrived in the region of the Pyrenees. The last 40k, we rode the roads that are part of the bike course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ7NWVFrF91d5xCveg8VcJV5bTw0Z-oVQ5zSBVePpgt20nXwW6zOnJBpZflXRPdH_HhfrC7rYbwPL6gDPN0oeFXE8U-P7LHfBRgEgseqERyLDh5qH8M-GYS3l-HqMGZiiyV6lrBHNc6w8/s1600/IMG_20170706_093248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ7NWVFrF91d5xCveg8VcJV5bTw0Z-oVQ5zSBVePpgt20nXwW6zOnJBpZflXRPdH_HhfrC7rYbwPL6gDPN0oeFXE8U-P7LHfBRgEgseqERyLDh5qH8M-GYS3l-HqMGZiiyV6lrBHNc6w8/s320/IMG_20170706_093248.jpg" width="320" /></a>The hills were steep and the descents on narrow roads... and this was supposed to be the easier part. It would have been good if I could have explored the entire bike course, but there was not enough time, unfortunately. The next day I went to do the first part of the bike course, 45k with two climbs and two descents. The first part was relatively easy, but the first descent already gave me a good impression of what to expect. Very narrow roads, and lots of small gravel stones, creating as we call them "Haexe bochten". But amazing views! The second climb was getting a bit harder but the descent was a clean one. Unfortunately, that was all I could explore.<br />
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On Friday, I took it easy and in the evening, we went to the lake where the boys participated in the kids swimrun. They did very well all three and my mind was distracted from my own race. I was happy to see the boys enjoyed themselves!<br />
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D-Day!</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn79VNeiDFLSpwd2kFtGOKv5BdmsViFzTXaBS3ysvZfBQdGfM7LuGUVy4PICO7OKwbQ_ckLZIKeEJfUqGnEv7Um8dits66O2uhaeDtfmHGjN5lnJJNXfgx7GiqGWz0jeHIl6Ip4WiFkTr/s1600/IMG_20170708_054757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn79VNeiDFLSpwd2kFtGOKv5BdmsViFzTXaBS3ysvZfBQdGfM7LuGUVy4PICO7OKwbQ_ckLZIKeEJfUqGnEv7Um8dits66O2uhaeDtfmHGjN5lnJJNXfgx7GiqGWz0jeHIl6Ip4WiFkTr/s200/IMG_20170708_054757.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyO1d1LDyXDsTwOKdTdkzdhkzXCBFCjhXUGlnYHJx6ASIbd1ll5dGlEJQHKbbP1gLSgpuI_9K19eQhA9BYmcof-vnaLCvlznEVrWG9R62d7UCNUcTMSp0bh80Or5gbUVI2RuoUXPPd3K3/s1600/IMG_20170708_052804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyO1d1LDyXDsTwOKdTdkzdhkzXCBFCjhXUGlnYHJx6ASIbd1ll5dGlEJQHKbbP1gLSgpuI_9K19eQhA9BYmcof-vnaLCvlznEVrWG9R62d7UCNUcTMSp0bh80Or5gbUVI2RuoUXPPd3K3/s200/IMG_20170708_052804.jpg" width="150" /></a>The next day (some would still call it night), it was my turn. Ater a good night sleep, I woke up around 3:45 am(!). Why? The race starts at 5:30, yes, that means it's still dark :D. I wasn't really nervous, more happy that this day was finally here! My favourite support team got out of bed and were in time to see me standing at the side of the lake for a late night swim!<br />
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Swim - 3.8k - 0m+</h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsVGArATMgNKi2cVVkzPw5gx1TOg8CsCzielXPIURuH6TyVjCHLpxIpkUwY1h0moR6GCjpg0XlUNKTrbbMgI51XrTBIzqU7jQyRkBbJUc9ZCnobJ8uSftU7kwqXwBL5SVxWpbR5bkpORU/s1600/Altriman+swim01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1224" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsVGArATMgNKi2cVVkzPw5gx1TOg8CsCzielXPIURuH6TyVjCHLpxIpkUwY1h0moR6GCjpg0XlUNKTrbbMgI51XrTBIzqU7jQyRkBbJUc9ZCnobJ8uSftU7kwqXwBL5SVxWpbR5bkpORU/s400/Altriman+swim01.jpg" width="400" /></a>I positioned myself at the left and started very fast to stay out of the tumbling. After roughly 100m, I looked around and didn't see many of the other 200 swimmers. There was one guy swimming close to me, I guess he was a bit scared in the dark :).<br />
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Luckily I swim rather straight, so I didn't have too much difficulties swimming to the light at the other side of the lake. Last winter, I did a swim test with underwater cameras to make my technique better. As I wanted to spent as much time on the bike during the training periode, my swim training was mostly technical training. It appeared to be a good choice. I felt I was not getting tired, but was still advancing rather well. At the first buoy, I noticed one guy well in front of us. But I didn't really care, I was enjoying myself and it felt as if I was taking it easy. We had to do two laps and apparently, I was in 4th place after the first one. The second lap, two guys decided to go a bit faster, but I wanted to keep the same feeling. After roughly 58 minutes, the swim part was over - the easy bit! I felt good. I did a fast transition and got on the bike in 4th place!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Bike - 190k - 5000m+</h3>
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The only flat part of the day done, I was now up against the most difficult bike course I ever rode (and probably will ride). 190k with 7 climbs and roughly 5000m of elevation. At the briefing on Friday evening, they warned about the steep slopes and the rather dangerous downhill roads. With two weeks of vacation in the Pyrenees and at the Costa Brava to come, I wasn't going to take any risks of spending these two weeks in a hospital or on crutches.<br />
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With only 200 participants, I was hoping that not many guys would pass me by on the bike and I was kinda hoping to be able to catch some of them again at the biggest climb of the day, the Port de Pailheres. The first climb was rather easy, not too steep and not too long. I was passed by roughly 4 other guys, among them, the <span style="font-family: inherit;">winn</span>e<span style="font-family: inherit;">r, <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Flavian Lafay. What struck me immediately, is how most of them encouraged me - this is one of the things that attracts me so much in this kind of races. There is much less competitiveness than in many other races. It's all about finishing and doing your best, not about beating the other. The other reason why I like these races so much, is because the roads and scenery are just amazing!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrIfbjsTnhW8t8ziDjUf_dFnIC9gs7IeO_6NPzuvhj2T6uT4iSqyZfvMg1LYbtDKKCWu0kTs2DJagtnSxrJdqrqjCkO4UOBb7kf4JsAF4ndGAzCZ6B3t_-vkUcr3SE5bz6h5BkAfOQifL/s1600/IMG_20170706_111916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrIfbjsTnhW8t8ziDjUf_dFnIC9gs7IeO_6NPzuvhj2T6uT4iSqyZfvMg1LYbtDKKCWu0kTs2DJagtnSxrJdqrqjCkO4UOBb7kf4JsAF4ndGAzCZ6B3t_-vkUcr3SE5bz6h5BkAfOQifL/s320/IMG_20170706_111916.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKbuU4oilp1J-HcAS5edX-c-bX0jBKPOTgD3anT5GENFPfiAY-ciJlZi03h5u6GSy5rTaPoPxelCckmnoSZOsUR-0bOto5ZYrkpBIU-tYAJSim9Ue_8m8WhrXITnmLqis-1n2a35TkKlN/s1600/IMG_20170706_102119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKbuU4oilp1J-HcAS5edX-c-bX0jBKPOTgD3anT5GENFPfiAY-ciJlZi03h5u6GSy5rTaPoPxelCckmnoSZOsUR-0bOto5ZYrkpBIU-tYAJSim9Ue_8m8WhrXITnmLqis-1n2a35TkKlN/s200/IMG_20170706_102119.jpg" width="200" /></a>The first descent, which I luckily explored, went rather ok, I knew where to go easy but I also had some confidence where to go a bit faster. Once at the bottom of the<br />
descent, the second climb started immediately. The first part was not that steep, so I could keep a good pace. It was a nice climb with some steeper slopes after the first half. Some guys passed me by. But I wasn't paying to much attention to them, I was riding my own race. I was too afraid of what was still to come and didn't want to blow myself up. The second descent was the last one I had explored on Friday. This was a good road, so I knew I could go fast without taking too much risks. Back at the lake, we started a long descent, that became more curvy towards the end. Not knowing what was behind the next bend, I didn't take any risks. Which started to frustrate me a bit, as many guys caught up with me towards the end of the descent.<br />
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The next climb was rather easy, not too steep, but again, the descent had lots of small gravel stones, so caution was required once more. Down at the river, we took a beautiful rocky road that lead to the next climb, the col de dent. This one kept us busy for quite a while, it was steep and rather long (especially for a Belgian guy who is only used to bridges over the highway). But again, amazing views (much nicer than the canal in Schoten :)). After descending again on small gravelly roads. We arrived at the part that we passed by car. There was a short but steep climb. One guy caught up with me and we started talking. Apparently he lived just around the corner and had already participated 2 times. A bit further, another one passed me by, it was his 4th participation and he lived in Nice. He asked me where I was from and he was amazed that I was brave enough to take on the challenge that this race clearly is, coming all the way from flat Belgium. It was at that point that I started realizing I was doing something extraordinary. I cared even less about the guys passing me by (must have been 25 something that had caught up with me at that point), most of these guys all live in areas where you can practice climbing and descending, all I had was the wind... I just reminded myself to enjoy it all as much as possible. So I did! Before he passed me by, I quickly checked with him what the big climb was going to offer us. So I could at least prepare myself mentally for the hardest part of the day: the col de Pailheres!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX6tIGjicwqxFzYOehyxiANmRJR-BBgIkpm57zTbKrYmBd0tJCkyixnR5a02wUGaEU-5DHYK79zPniaIPzkczHwjrHKLIZ5HrfhUvOzVjAlMMGJxcZ6RzD8XI9CmTCKSFnM_qfhIYgu1j/s1600/Pailheres.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX6tIGjicwqxFzYOehyxiANmRJR-BBgIkpm57zTbKrYmBd0tJCkyixnR5a02wUGaEU-5DHYK79zPniaIPzkczHwjrHKLIZ5HrfhUvOzVjAlMMGJxcZ6RzD8XI9CmTCKSFnM_qfhIYgu1j/s320/Pailheres.png" width="283" /></a></div>
The first part was not too heavy, the slope was steep, but do-able. The weather was still nice as well. All of that changed once we passed Mijanes. Clouds appeared and the higher we got, the harder it rained. A dutch guy passed me by (which made me think about another crazy dutch guy who was having fun at the Frysman at the same time as I was here). He warned me about the last parts. He seemed to be struggling a lot. I was still watching my heartrate closely and holding back for what was to come - after all, a marathon was still awaiting me. At the top, the wind was blowing hard and it was raining (with occasional hail). I took my time at the aid station to eat and drink before taking the same road down again. The rain and wind (and a lost cow on the road, that I only just managed to miss) made it a rough descent. My fingers started to freeze and I was happy to be back in the valley in one piece. - a week later, I had to go back to have a look how the climb actually looked in the sun. Judge for yourself:<br />
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Back in the valley, I was relieved to have survived the hardest climb of the day, but I was thinking so much about the run, I forgot we still had one col to climb. It was longer than I expected and got me worried a bit as I started to feel tired. But I managed to overcome the last one and finally we got some Flemish race conditions : head-wind and rain! I felt great and was ready for an afternoon run!<br />
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Run - 42k - 1000m+</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxvvTgO-STIxCmHJhdZZOMAyMJwJrY_dmFndMy3wFpfKGTOb9gWTHEer6lXRJxhTiiL818BGa3lFFVC-CL_LB98MqO9zGFkQtzvXuDBH3eJoLyhtw4Xk85agcWEq-z0nafsPgPdSjBtPB/s1600/Altriman+T2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1224" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxvvTgO-STIxCmHJhdZZOMAyMJwJrY_dmFndMy3wFpfKGTOb9gWTHEer6lXRJxhTiiL818BGa3lFFVC-CL_LB98MqO9zGFkQtzvXuDBH3eJoLyhtw4Xk85agcWEq-z0nafsPgPdSjBtPB/s200/Altriman+T2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Ht7BBaBaVuCnpkmn6SMWls86F7N4SB3mHKaqhadVh6YF4726FlmMMahE76cEdUh6qFiiDqpmPHPfno3tfanBR-sIwGfVIhCQrEPZseARDLh36uKJNX-2YIAMHfs51zxQP6QgYbEcj41/s1600/100_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Ht7BBaBaVuCnpkmn6SMWls86F7N4SB3mHKaqhadVh6YF4726FlmMMahE76cEdUh6qFiiDqpmPHPfno3tfanBR-sIwGfVIhCQrEPZseARDLh36uKJNX-2YIAMHfs51zxQP6QgYbEcj41/s200/100_0532.JPG" width="200" /></a>Finally I arrived back in the transition zone, after 9 hours and 15 minutes, quite a bit longer than I hoped for. The main reason for that was that the descents were more technical than I expected and that I had to pee a lot :). But hey, we made it in one piece back and I was happy to see my support team! They said I was around 42nd place... damn, lost a lot of spots... Anyway, time now to see what is left in me after roughly 10 and a half hours... It's gonna be fun: two laps with 500m elevation each. With just before half way, a steep climb of approx 1km. Not a chance to get bored!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMknuGgJOJcWM2FPt2GBNdO1MzATZsCikRQ4e-dnY1VDeBzShBJB3RcMZq1H6m4ve6fWlGxzqaU4iP4MUkpy-ZBVozaeJbb-poqAm_HFFfCV526yDuY5zYs1dYK81ykw-gv7gsuK2iUHIb/s1600/IMG_20170714_150145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMknuGgJOJcWM2FPt2GBNdO1MzATZsCikRQ4e-dnY1VDeBzShBJB3RcMZq1H6m4ve6fWlGxzqaU4iP4MUkpy-ZBVozaeJbb-poqAm_HFFfCV526yDuY5zYs1dYK81ykw-gv7gsuK2iUHIb/s320/IMG_20170714_150145.jpg" width="240" /></a>I didn't have time to explore the run track, so the night before, I tried to memorize as much as possible the profile of the track. The first bit I knew, it was the way to the campsite and then on to the dam. At the end of the dam, there was an aid station, where we did a u-turn and took the same path back to the transition zone. That was the first 5km. Although it looks flat on the profile, that first part was heavier than one would think, partly running in the woods and on the beach of the lake. I took off, as I wanted to see what was left in the legs. I had the feeling I was holding back to whole day, so now it was time to give my all. The first kms, I ran around 13km/h. It felt great. After passing the transition zone the first time, I was still going strong. But from that point, the track was unknown to me. It appeared to be mostly off-road, which reminded me a lot of the <a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2014/10/triathlon-lac-du-salagou.html" target="_blank">triatlon de salagou</a>, one that I will definitely do again next year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc6P5d0H_VORODQ6z4pi8U3qEcKzSjWisrwgjjVpYiPByZSdEo_Xtx_86apqnLCA-a82FeEUISDlbllOATjoVrCjAbM4ZZHP0jCmDvn2Oz90xdc5zdaZEhrgurfe7uCeLBO45976gKhew/s1600/IMG_20170711_141900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc6P5d0H_VORODQ6z4pi8U3qEcKzSjWisrwgjjVpYiPByZSdEo_Xtx_86apqnLCA-a82FeEUISDlbllOATjoVrCjAbM4ZZHP0jCmDvn2Oz90xdc5zdaZEhrgurfe7uCeLBO45976gKhew/s320/IMG_20170711_141900.jpg" width="320" /></a>The track was getting rougher and rougher each km and I tried to remember the profile. In my head, the steep part started around km 8. So, again, being cautious, I slowed down and started walking in order not to blow myself up. But I noticed the others kept running. I thought they were going too hard and I continued walking. At that point, I noticed that my heart rate had dropped a lot. I tried to run again, but my head started to feel light, it felt as if my engine just stopped running. I wanted to run again, but it was at that point that the actual real steep part started, so that wasn't the place to start again. Damn, I had the feeling I wouldn't be able to run again, not another Embrun failure... One guy passed me by running up the steep climb, damn again, uphill running is normally my strong point thinking back at the trails I ran... Almost at the end of the steep part of the climb, one guy passed me by walking. Triple damn... I was not going to be passed by someone walking... At the top of the climb, I noticed he took some salty biscuits. I decided to try the same. I took coke and biscuits and tried to run again. One guy who already got back from the lake (3km further where the next u-turn and aid station was), said that it was pretty rough down and up to the lake and back again. I got a bit scared that my engine would not hold it, but after a few km, it kicked off again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDJDRjGZkK5IMIwh3XgBbEqCJ4_BVueV1J_4KgDO8p4DElhdIBklzz7hQQssy9s6K5S6xKl3OTVDbuLOc44piCfWhcVJp_jHHxQ5j63hNfsr2fkq3dqbB7SWFSTgEh2hgQLESYKFWuYUC/s1600/100_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDJDRjGZkK5IMIwh3XgBbEqCJ4_BVueV1J_4KgDO8p4DElhdIBklzz7hQQssy9s6K5S6xKl3OTVDbuLOc44piCfWhcVJp_jHHxQ5j63hNfsr2fkq3dqbB7SWFSTgEh2hgQLESYKFWuYUC/s320/100_0538.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9sHtF599vY2TwqEN_SfDb-MofYpgousxuGGnSctFW4Fcu_rPao7BNlVHIGOd3lg084pfkScYIF9tH3R43Ipm4aquGQNjxwo86QtKdTzLBlzgPuEmDbFsM08yaPPevlwCtwRIWSw6tG2i/s1600/IMG_20170711_112040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9sHtF599vY2TwqEN_SfDb-MofYpgousxuGGnSctFW4Fcu_rPao7BNlVHIGOd3lg084pfkScYIF9tH3R43Ipm4aquGQNjxwo86QtKdTzLBlzgPuEmDbFsM08yaPPevlwCtwRIWSw6tG2i/s200/IMG_20170711_112040.jpg" width="200" /></a>At the lake, I felt a lot better. I just had to keep running. On the way back, the leader (a guy from Montpellier Triathlon, the team I was with 10 years ago) passed me by. I felt he was not running much faster than I was. It made me confident for the rest of the run. I congratulated him, he said thanks and off he was towards victory. Back at the aid station on top of the climb, it was downhill all the way back to the transition zone, where I was going to see my support team again. The kids were playing at the lake. Seeing them and Caroline gave me a boost to start the second and final lap. To my surprise, I saw the guy who ran passed me on the steep climb, a few hundred meter in front of me. I decided to run slowly towards him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5I_9tHGPvXVPf_I9GWlt3cnRq3CMaQeuvdTPnQfli1rf5RnSPEUlRCY5NlehuuEgRWpeT0OZiM4onZwpgBrw17rimpVM__hKr6xXSwL8GLwZr44ZJcSHw3VzyiJ3CXy354tRB7dWYM6s/s1600/IMG_20170714_153210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5I_9tHGPvXVPf_I9GWlt3cnRq3CMaQeuvdTPnQfli1rf5RnSPEUlRCY5NlehuuEgRWpeT0OZiM4onZwpgBrw17rimpVM__hKr6xXSwL8GLwZr44ZJcSHw3VzyiJ3CXy354tRB7dWYM6s/s320/IMG_20170714_153210.jpg" width="320" /></a>At the aid station on the dam, I caught up with him. I took some food and drinks, enjoyed the view over the lake and continued my chase. Halfway the dam, I passed him, he congratulated me with my recovery and we wished each other good luck. I felt great again. After passing by the aid station again, I now knew what I was up against. I was going to keep running and not let my engine stop again until I crossed the finish line! At the point where I started walking during the first lap, I now kept running. It paid off, I passed by a lot of guys. I recognized some of them from the bike course. They were as surprised to see me, that guy from flat Belgium, as I was to see them again:). I wished them all good luck and was off. On the steep part, like I do on the trails, I alternated running and walking to keep my engine going and not to blow up my legs. I felt great again. I was now passing by a lot of participants. Some of them wearing a head-light. Those guys were running their first lap. But I was going to finish soon! I started to feel excited. At the last u-turn, I thanked the volunteers at the aid station and I knew I had the hardest part behind me. I just had to take it easy on the steep downhill, but after that, it was all out towards the finish line! At the last aid station, I recognized the guy that I saw on the first climb, when he was 6km in front of me. Damn (in a good way this time!), I was really catching up a lot of guys. When I passed by one of them, he said I was smelling home. Indeed! I was getting really close to home. I got wings and at roughly 13km/h (the same speed as when I started) I was flying towards my support team. They were the only ones I could think of! I saw there was one guy running just in front of me, he was looking back the whole time. I knew I could catch him, but instead of sprinting, I wanted to enjoy the moment of finishing with the kids. So I held back a bit. Seppe and Tijs were playing at the lake, they didn't expect me back so soon. I called them and they came running with me the last few hundred meters. </div>
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Matti was waiting a bit further with my Caroline, who gave me all the support I needed and who I love so much. I stopped to give her a big kiss. She seemed to be happily surprised as well that I was finishing already and in a fresh way :). The last 100m I realized what I accomplished and I was indescribably happy to experience this with my kids (yes, in these "small" races in France, kids can still cross the finishline with you!). The female speaker called my name, she congratulated me and the kids - she cleary remembered 4 Van de Mieroops finishing in one weekend :) ) It makes the whole experience even better if you are welcomed like that, the same way Hans Cleemput does in Belgium :). I am an ALTRIMAN! YES!!!! My marathon was not below 4hours, but 4hours 29min is not that bad given the track profile and off-road character!<br />
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At the finish line, Caroline came to tell me I was 5th in my age group. I didn't believe her. She was wrong :) I was 7th in my age group, 21st overall. Damn (again in a good way :) ), I did well! And I feel good, what a difference with 10 years ago!<br />
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The aftermath</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEPtOft1HdScJ2eanT5yVixkqkWNXDmdBPDXMG3uP9qx_rt1l9Xn_cCYSZylHI02eXSU8J6w9EDuFdi03Kyw_AoNizYnhVZaFpFpUNZafBFovypRtvV87uT27ekDwukQcbR985ZGu9GB/s1600/IMG_20170709_115454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEPtOft1HdScJ2eanT5yVixkqkWNXDmdBPDXMG3uP9qx_rt1l9Xn_cCYSZylHI02eXSU8J6w9EDuFdi03Kyw_AoNizYnhVZaFpFpUNZafBFovypRtvV87uT27ekDwukQcbR985ZGu9GB/s320/IMG_20170709_115454.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin16mYFj8UAi0US-X71y90sFLkGQVfVDrx1Wuy6S5FBhFRaE93aSx_gQ519w3S1GWfuokKlApm0PCfJ1tLdiHuGK6iNjljArl_d9-KcSBXPc6HbhY8rvIy20e6yr7mjYBP9gcW1gAc_K1h/s1600/IMG_20170708_202442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin16mYFj8UAi0US-X71y90sFLkGQVfVDrx1Wuy6S5FBhFRaE93aSx_gQ519w3S1GWfuokKlApm0PCfJ1tLdiHuGK6iNjljArl_d9-KcSBXPc6HbhY8rvIy20e6yr7mjYBP9gcW1gAc_K1h/s320/IMG_20170708_202442.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>The next day, it's paella time. I miss the medals ceremony while standing in the queue for the paella :). My legs don't feel bad, not sore at all... After a race like this, it should be almost impossible to walk... I start to feel strange. I get the feeling I should have gone faster. If I had taken more risks in the downhills, if I wouldn't have held back so much on the bike, if I hadn't started walking during the run... if if if... I could have ended up on the podium +40... Something I kinda was hoping for that it would be possible. I start to feel disappointed... I learned a lot during the race, I have gained experience, but for what... will I ever participate in a race like this again? This was my chance to shine... The training was hard, I spent so much time on the bike. Time I could spend with the family, working in the garden, doing stuff in the house... Is it really all worth it? 2 months later, I am still not sure. I still need to convince myself that I accomplished something amazing. Which it really was. I had very little climbing training (most of my rides involved water (canal or rain) and lots of wind), I had very little downhill training (bridges don't really count...), the bike and run track was too much unknown to me. But still I managed to pull of a great performance. Should I be disappointed I missed the podium or should I be proud? I know I should be proud and happy, but that's easier said than done... One thing I am most proud of is that I believe I didn't neglect my family too much during preparation: I did most of my trainings in the morning after dropping the kids off at school, so I would be home by noon to work, get them back from school, prepare diner and work again in the evening or go to my Sporttherapist course I had every Wednesday evening. I hardly trained in the weekend so I could spend time with my loved ones. But even though I had a lot of time in the morning, it was taking more energy than I expected. Not sure I will be able to manage the same training program again... Given all of this, I should definitely be happy that I finished one of the hardest races in the world (in 21st place!) and that I really enjoyed doing it. I should remember and cherish that! Looking back, I also had a lot of fun during the training, for which I should be grateful as well! And although the descents on the bike track were a bit dangerous, the whole race was amazing, from start to finish! I would do it again (if I didn't have to train so hard for it :) - but that makes it even more rewarding to finish it :D).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmbPnf8gIk1oVQUEgNdkbwkVAF-uc4ZkoCQCCUzVmYyVR2c8byvSkSFOlp9JHiGECcCdHN5B74x8pFXU05UAW4cpzalDnd1a6nTEE0KmRxfZj1PTCng3MGXZgMf1pH8B6Uvxw9b_w_U7W/s1600/IMG_20170719_154154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmbPnf8gIk1oVQUEgNdkbwkVAF-uc4ZkoCQCCUzVmYyVR2c8byvSkSFOlp9JHiGECcCdHN5B74x8pFXU05UAW4cpzalDnd1a6nTEE0KmRxfZj1PTCng3MGXZgMf1pH8B6Uvxw9b_w_U7W/s200/IMG_20170719_154154.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1FQysiiI8KS9qtVbUuA_SYgyt1ekggVYVuQmbEHE6hqsr-2wibl9U_LT99djOh1kve9U2VFq8o5JaBIxklOfbcSgmzllBn0C3B5huuecJkm2GdtYP2nZxNl8KTt98tcGELugkkH7BL8y/s1600/IMG_20170726_105553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1FQysiiI8KS9qtVbUuA_SYgyt1ekggVYVuQmbEHE6hqsr-2wibl9U_LT99djOh1kve9U2VFq8o5JaBIxklOfbcSgmzllBn0C3B5huuecJkm2GdtYP2nZxNl8KTt98tcGELugkkH7BL8y/s320/IMG_20170726_105553.jpg" width="320" /></a>As the cliché goes, there is more to life than triathlon. Although it takes an import part of my life and I like to excel, I should not pursue to be the best, I should just enjoy myself. And that is what I am going to do, whether that is on a full distance triatlon or a 5km run, my aim will be to have fun! In the end, I am so happy I took my life in my own hands (which was not easy, as you can read <a href="http://trikoen.blogspot.be/2016/10/from-hel-to-heaven.html" target="_blank">here</a>). And I am very grateful I am able to do all the things that make me happy: work in the garden, swim-bike-run, do a job I get a lot of satisfaction from and above all spend a lot of time with my family and friends! One thing this triathlon does, is it brings us to some amazingly beautiful places. Perhaps the best reason to continue doing it :)</div>
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Thanks!</h3>
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Wow, this turned out to be a long one... so I should start by thanking you, for reading through all of this. Hopefully you liked it, perhaps it even inspired you :) Next, I thank everybody who trained with me, especially Vanessa, Ward and Michel for going on the long runs and bike rides. I also thank Hans Vander Mast and Luc Smets to help keep my body fit. I also thank everybody who cheered for me during the race from a distance. It feels great to see so many people wishing you well. And of course, last but not least, I thank my family and especially Caroline and the kids, for letting me do this, for being my support team! They are my inspiration, they give me my mental boosts. </div>
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Peace and Love. I am out :) </div>
Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-1318084572173379972016-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:002016-10-11T12:04:22.325-07:00From Hel to Heaven<div style="text-align: justify;">
After finishing the "Hel", I started thinking of doing an Ironman distance triathlon again. Many people compared the Hel with an Ironman, so now that I survived that, I assumed myself up for the task. Plan of the year: Altriman in the Pyrenees, comparable to Embrun. Sounds like fun :). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LBRsWoITG4AgHnicIktDHD8-aksUJuwD8q697it1jJ7NQFkRqGsPOx8r0VwAfxmOpPMWp256DTOm-WapcoQ28D3tlXRS4Z23aL7OZ75Pe4fL4XCgZ-cym2cCoRUyRr-cn81PAi3EQFza/s1600/14fc0be9-13f6-4ec6-be20-2bcc280452a9-e1465411957895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LBRsWoITG4AgHnicIktDHD8-aksUJuwD8q697it1jJ7NQFkRqGsPOx8r0VwAfxmOpPMWp256DTOm-WapcoQ28D3tlXRS4Z23aL7OZ75Pe4fL4XCgZ-cym2cCoRUyRr-cn81PAi3EQFza/s320/14fc0be9-13f6-4ec6-be20-2bcc280452a9-e1465411957895.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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But first, let's get back to real life. Since September 2015, I felt sick coming to work. De-motivation because of unappreciation and the "slowness" of how stuff moved forward gave me a feeling that life was passing me by. I had to find physical challenges to make me feel alive. It was a struggle to stay in the office for a complete day. In Autumn, we were at the final stage of an important project, so I told myself to hang in and finish this project. I didn't want to abandon my colleagues. I just told myself I would change in January. I wanted to work 50% - my side-job as sports masseur was growing and gave me much more satisfaction. But when I started working again after the X-mas holidays, there was no positive feedback from my superiors that it was ok to work less. The thought of not being able to work less in the company, started to make me more and more sick and depressed every day. I also noticed I was getting more short tempered every day. Until one day at lunch time at work I couldn't take it anymore. I took my bike to go home and in my mind, I felt I would never come back! The next day, I went to a psychologist who told me I was deep into a burn-out... I was told to stay home for a month. As of day one, I wanted to find a way out, but my energy level was at freezing point. Although I am big fan of cooking, I could barely bake an omelet... Going to parties and look happy, just drained me completely. I got more and more depressed, not knowing how to get out of this situation. I had to find out what gave me energy so I could load my batteries. The only thing that made me feel good was my family, running and giving sport massage. But as soon as I was home alone and started thinking what to do, I slipped away again. The first months were awful, I got the worst flue I ever had and I was an emotional wreck. With the help of my doctor, psychologist and talent coach, I realized what I had to do: first make sure I feel better again, do stuff that give you energy and say "fuck it" to all the rest. So I ran, took care of the kids and gave sport massage from time to time. I also slept a lot. It felt as if my body was finally given the time to recover from the mental stress state it was in the last year (or even more). </div>
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The first months, I read a lot. I wanted to understand more about burn-out. In my mind, a burn-out was a situation where you can't take the workload. Seeing myself as a endurance athlete, it is hard to accept that I could not take the load. But when reading about burn outs, I understood that it's not only the workload. It's the how your work is appreciated, how you feel connected with your job, how you get satisfaction in your daily job. Working with my talent coach also made me realize that I am a helper. Which explained why I got so much energy from giving sport massages. Given all of this, I understood that I just didn't belong where I worked for the last 8 years. It gave me peace of mind - it's not me, it was the environment I was in that was just not suitable for me.</div>
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Next, I had to discover what options I had for the future. In my case, I saw three:</div>
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<li>Go back to my old job - the thought alone made me feel sick again</li>
<li>Work less and do another job in the same company - even that made me feel as sick as option 1</li>
<li>Give up my job to focus on my carreer as sports masseur, combined with a part-time job as whatever, just so we would manage financially. </li>
<li>Give up my old job and focus on my carreer as sports masseur and take care of the kids and household.</li>
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If I listened to my heart, the last option was the only true right one. But that would mean to give up a lot of financial security. I was too afraid to chose this option: I hold the responsibility for 3 young kids! It made me sad and depressed again, that I would be unable to follow my heart. <br />
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Fear of taking the leap and leave my secured golden cage was too big... I felt I was trapped. But again with the help of my psychologist and doctor and with the support of my family, I dared to consider following my heart. I started calculating the financial impact, looking at things from a positive point of view and when I pictured myself living my dream, I felt happy! Why should I not give it a try? When I was young, many households had also only 1 income. Why should that be different now, just because capitalism tells us to consume, it doesn't mean you have to buy everything! Yes, capitalism helped man to get out of misery, but if you have enough to cover your basic needs (food, shelter and health), the rest will not make you more happy! Happiness can be achieved by only basic things, more stuff/money does not make you more happy! On top of that, the number of people that came to me for a massage grew every week and more importantly, people came back for more! I learned that if you put your heart into something, it will be worth it! I finally felt appreciated and I felt that what I did really meant something. I also discovered that I have a lot of characteristics of a highly sensitive person. This helped me to understand that doing good for others can make me feel good as well.<br />
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In the meanwhile, the weather was crap, I needed to get some sunshine. At that point, I saw the invitation on facebook for the 2016 edition of the triathlon du lac de salagou, organized by my good friends from Montpellier. I still had to set things straight overthere since my fail in 2014.<br />
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Checked up with the family and I registered. I hadn't rode my bike for a few months, so I had to gear up a bit. Given the fact that sports (in my case swimming, running and cycling) gave me energy, it was also the ideal way to reload my batteries, as they were still pretty empty. Yes, I was feeling better, but I still had a lot of ups and downs. The downs were not as long and low as in January, but I didn't need much to bring me down again. But hey, I was looking at things from a positive point of view and it was clear that things were going better. Because I was slowely recovering from my burn-out, I felt I was much more relaxed, much more than I ever was the last years even. I was definitely taking the right decision! The fact that I was more relaxed kept me free of injuries. In the past, I didn't need much to get small injuries that stopped me from running for a few weeks. I learned now that stress makes your body more vulnerable to injuries and sickness as your ability to cope with fysical/emotional load lowers due to the stress. The race was beginning of June, and I wanted to make a decision before I would leave. The decision was clear, I would follow my heart and get out of the toxic environment that my work in IT had become. I left relaxed together with my brother Kurt in the direction of Montpellier! We stayed in a very quiet place some 20 min from the lake called <a href="http://www.lesvignals34.com/" target="_blank">Les Vignals</a>. Welcomed by a very friendly couple that also followed their heart :)<br />
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The first day, I went to check out the bike course. 2 years ago, we had to do 2 laps with one big climb. This year, it was one big lap with three climbs. Much harder than in 2014. I like :) The last climb was already at around 45k. I reckoned I best took it easy on the first two climbs and then push it a bit more as of the last climb, but not too much, as the run looked similar to what we got in 2014. The day before the race, I took it easy and made sure everything was prepared. My race was on Sunday. The start was at 9h30, much better than in 2014, when we started around 11, way too hot. Also the temperature was much better for me. Sunny, yet not to hot and enough wind to cool down. Apparently too much wind for some as they decided to shorten the swim due to rough waves, pitty, my best part of the race :(.<br />
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Anyway, of we go for the swim - 354 individuals and 22 teams. After 1700m through rough water, especially on the way back it was hard to find the right direction towards the exit, I got out of the water in 26:53 around 30th place. Good start. Ready for some fun on the bike. Last time, I didn't have enough to drink and consequently got cramps in both legs after 1k in the run. This year, I packed 4 bottles with home made energy drink and ORS. One thing I learned from the "Hel" is that I need lots of salt to make up for all the sweating which causes my legs to go into cramp mode... So of we go.<br />
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Normally, I am used to being passed by tons of participants, given that the swim is my best part and the bike my least... But this time, I was able to keep up with the guys that left the transition zone with me, until the first climb. My 4 bottles and the +10kg I weigh extra than most other participants made me lose quite some spots. It seemed that I was drinking a lot, cause I had to stop to pee (yes, I am not wetting my pants on the bike...) just before the second climb. The same happened on the second climb (including peeing :)... and on the third. The scenery was just amazing!<br />
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On the third, I was catching up on some other participants. But the spots I won, I just lost again when stopping to pee... The final 15k towards the transition zone went really well, I passed by a lot of guys and was hoping to be somewhere around 80th place. My goal was to finish around 100th. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I was 69th at a few km before the tranistion. I took my time in the transition to drink and pee :) - one guy called me Monsieur Pipi after the finish :).<br />
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The run consisted of two laps on trail like terrain. Lots of bumps and sand. I quickly started catching other guys. It felt great. I even had a little chat with the future winner when he overtook me on his second lap, I even managed to keep up with him :) Friendly guy, Betrand Billard. Each aidstation, I refilled my bottles with ORS and water, which made me lose quite some time. But I really needed the salt! The whole run, I was playing yoyo with a guy called Mohammed who asked me if I put enough sunscreen (yes, I learned my lesson from 2014!). He also wondered why I was stopping at each aidstation, I explained that without the water and salt, I would lose much more time! A guy from Gent caught us in the last 2km, but I decided to see what was left. No cramps so up for a sprint. Mohammed was too fast, but at least I beat the guy from Gent :D<br />
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I was so happy with the result. 57th on 354 finishers! If I wouldn't have stopped 5 times to pee, I would have been top 50 :D. Lessons learned : use salt sticks instead of ORS on the run, it saves you time. And work on the content of the drink on the bike to avoid loosing too much liquid :D<br />
What struck me the most in this race is that I was really able to enjoy it from start to finish. Yes, I was a bit stressed the day before, but it was bearable. Completely different from other races where the work-related stress already put a high load on my body. Without the work related stress, my body could handle much more physical load! That just shows that you should be aware of your own energy level, are you under constant stress (can be from lots of things) or are you relaxed? Now the race was finished, I could enjoy a few days of holiday with Kurt. I really love coming to this region with the beautiful villages and nature (and great food and wine ;) )<br />
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Back home, it was time to finalize my leap of fear towards happiness. Although the decision was easy, the actual change still scared me: would it all be worth it, will I be able to do what I want. But hey, sometimes you need to cross the bridge while you are still building it, otherwise you might never reach the other side! So I left my job and registered for a course in sports therapy to become a better sports masseur and help more people even better. And if it was worth it? Definitely, I never felt more happy with my family, relationship, hobbies... I never felt so happy with my life since my youth. They say that when you are young, your soul knows what it wants. But on the way, you might get lost. I am really happy I found my way again. And it wasn't even that difficult to figure it out, I just had to listen to my heart :D<br />
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-28251540078148184762016-10-11T12:03:00.000-07:002016-10-11T12:03:55.295-07:00The way to Hel<br />
After the deception at the Triathlon of lac de Salagou in 2014, I didn't really know what to expect from 2015. Too afraid of the heat, I decided to stay in Belgium in 2015. I did the 111 of La Roche and the Nisraman. Two amazing races from sport-events in the beautiful area of La Roche. The 111 was too much bike (100k) for me. But it was super fun to cross the finishline with my boys!<br />
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Happy with my performance in La Roche, I continued to train for what I assumed would be my main goal for 2015: The Nisraman. Nothing changed in the format of this fantastic Sport-events race. Last time, I burned myself during the mtb part, this time I would try to keep some for the run. After a steady swim and good bike, I was still in 20th position to start the mtb. I lost a few more spots, but was up for a good run. However, cramps (again) at the first descent decided otherwise. I lost 10 more spots and finished 38th on 123 participants. Happy with the race uptil the cramps, I still enjoyed this great format, especially thanks to the support of my family.<br />
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Because I felt I could have done better if it wasn't for the cramps in the run, I decided to find another race that could motivate me for the remainder of the year. For more than a decade there was 1 particular race that kept me curious. The "Hel van Kasterlee", an off-road duathlon, held end of december. Being in Belgium, you never know how hard this race can be. All depends on the weather: will there be rain, snow, cold or maybe sun? But even without the weather, the race format promises excitement : 15k run - 105k mtb - 30k run. Some say it's as tough as an Ironman. So better prepare for the worst :) I started doing long mtb tours, first in Summer (really fun doing the +100k tour of Hageland), then in Autumn (rain and mud a gogo but not less fun for me :). Obviously, I had to do some running as well, so I participated on my first multi-day trail event : X-trails Houffalize: First day : Kamikaze (4k trail) + Semi-night trails Coccinelles (20k) - Second day: 26k Houffatrail. Really fun event which I finished with a lot of confidence to go to the "Hel"!</div>
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While I was preparing for the "Hel", I started to feel less and less motivated in my job in IT at Atlas Copco. The lack of appreciation, direction and progress in projects made me wonder why I was waisting my time here. Luckily, I had my family, sports and my side-job as Sports Masseur (which I started in 2015 : check my website for more about that: <a href="http://www.sportbalans.be/" target="_blank">www.sportbalans.be</a> .) to balance my life. From September to December, the frustration in my daily job grew bigger and bigger until a point where I started to feel sick when I came to work. I decided I couldn't continue like this and something had to change in 2016, I had to escape this hell I felt to be in! But first let's go to "the Hel of Kasterlee "!</div>
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The race started at the first weekend of the X-mas holidays. I felt I was still stressed from the de-motivation at work. With that came the stress of what I was about to get myself into... I decided to try to run my own race in a smart way. Stay calm on the first 15k, survive the 105k of mtb and then go all out on the 30k. Difficult to stay calm on the first run, as a lot of the guys here run the first 15k at around about 1:00:00... I finished the first lap after 1:09. Good enough for me. 169th place so far on 255 participants. Not great, but plenty more fun to come! However, fun was not the word that came to my mind while I was riding my mtb through the sandy roads in Kasterlee. I felt what these months of demotivated work had done to my body and mind... I was empty. And although it might sound strange to say this about a race like the Hel, I was bored... In my mind, I pictured the mtb course to be made up of technical single tracks, but that was only the case for 2k on each 21k lap. This was the only place on the course where I was able to catch other fellow "Hellracers" and where I had fun (except for when I passed the transition zone, where my two biggest fans of the day (my dad and Matti) cheered me up. The next difficulty was to "ride" through a field, but that was more a struggle to walk through mud. Not much fun about that...</div>
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The rest of the course was just dried up fast tracks through the fields. Some might call it luck that we had temperatures upto almost 20k, but I would have liked to have gotten some rougher conditions... I am a man of power, not souplesse... Anyway, you have to take life as it comes. So I just continued to pedal lap by lap until I was allowed to start the last 30k run. In the back of my head, I was continuously hoping to have no mechanical problems. Just when I started to feel relieved that I would make it, my rear wheel blocked... I thought it was just the chain, but it just refused to turn around. By accident, I noticed that it would only turn if I let it stay loose on the frame. With only 3k to go, I decided to losen my wheel and just ride carefully. Obviously, this made me lose some spots, but hey, I was here to finish and have fun, not to beat other people... Speaking of fun, finally I got to the point where I could go all out: the last 30k run! Two laps of 15k. The course consisted of roughly 5 long stretches of road, mentally pretty tough. Luckily my good friend Bert accepted my invitation to be my companion on the bike during these last 30k. When I started running, I was so happy, I started of faster than the initial 15k. Other participants looked at me as if I was crazy and warned me that it was still a long way to go... But this is why I stayed calm on the bike, to go crazy on the run :). But when I saw I was running at around about 13km/h, I decided to slow down anyway. I started passing by a lot of guys on the first 10k. When the first round was done, I must have passed more than 20. It gave me wings. Obviously, I was bound to meet my dear friend with the Hammer. The second tour was really hard, much less participants on the track made it mentally really hard. But mister Hammer only caught up with me at the last 1k when I got cramps... I left my last bottle of ORS in the transition zone... But the emotion took over and pain left the body. I had tears in my eyes when I realized I was going to finish this Hel despite of how shitty I felt about my job... My family was just around the corner to encourage me on the last few 100 meters. I told my boys to follow me and with my last strength, I climbed the stage of the finish line! Yes! I made it! Finished 143th after 8 hours and 58 minutes :D</div>
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My first thoughts after finishing was that I would never do this again, but when your oldest son tells you on the way back that he wants to run this race when he is older together with you, you laugh and say ok :)!</div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-28331129709270055522014-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:002014-10-07T11:54:07.880-07:00Triathlon Lac du Salagou<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year, my goal was to finish two Long distance triathlons (half-ironman distance). One of them would be Eupen and the other a race abroad like last year's Natureman. When I was on holiday in the Cevennes last year and I visited my friends Cyril and Joelle from Montpellier, they told me they were playing with the thought to organize a race at lake Salagou. I told them, if they do so, I would come over and participate. So I did. My preparation was much better than last year. No sickness or bad injuries (except for a fall on my knee, but that just affected my speed, not my endurance level), so I was ready for it! Obviously, I just wanted to finish in a good fashion, but I also wanted to have a good race to not make a fool of myself in front of so many friends from Montpellier that I hadn't seen for a long time!</div>
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Like last year, my good friend Bert joined me. Which made the trip and stay even more fun. It felt really good coming back to the region of Montpellier, where I had lived for 2 years from 2005 until 2007. Especially seeing my friends again!</div>
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We arrived on Thursday afternoon. After unpacking, we went to check out the race area. I met Eric, Olb, Patrick, Joe and Cyril who were working hard to get everything ready for the weekend. I knew immediately that it was going to be an amazing race looking at the scenery.</div>
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On Friday, we went for a ride to get to know what was awaiting us and we didn't get disappointed. What the guys from MAT (Montpellier Agglo Triatlon) prepared was really amazing: a beautiful route on the roads near lake Salagou. </div>
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On Friday, it was rather cloudy and we even got some rain during lunchtime. The type of weather I like most during a race. I hope that at raceday, temperatures stay low enough, otherwise it's gonna be killing...</div>
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On Saturday, we went to watch the Olympic distance race, always nice to watch pro's in action. We also saw more friends from montpellier, José, Nanard (still going at his age!), Patrick, Thibaut, Clem, Aurelie, Marie, Audrey, and my coach for Embrun and great athlete Julien. We didn't explore the running track upfront, but given the time it took the first to finish the 10k lap, it promised to be tough :-). The clouds that were covering the sky on Friday made way for clear blue skies, temperatures were rising with it. Not the perfect weather for a Belgian...</div>
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Finally, Sunday, raceday! Clear blue skies from early morning, that's gonna make the race even harder for me than it already is... Departure time is 11:00. So we will be racing at the hottest time of day... Drinking will be even more important! First off, 2km of swimming. I decided to not force it too much but to swim with a good feeling. As a result I felt that I was in 60th place after the first few meters. But while we got further, I noticed I was passing by other participants without too much effort. It looked like I was having a good day :) I was pleasantly surprised to hear I was in 21st position when I left the bike zone, 28min including roughly 100m run to the bike park. Pretty good on +300 participant. However, that would mean that a lot of guys would be passing me, given the fact that swimming is my best part. The track was pretty tough, so best not to push it too much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5S83Aqxbja1PBfjNw06pkrsXLqL6zROu__yQ5i7rDGG8xrLki0dr-8zuunFp_guzBhwOoJSzRVjDv0_qnCMVfq5mGCHbxNjxk4fhUHLGUXt0x3UIx3GgN91Z7InZFY6fPSCHPeV5Hdhay/s1600/PROFILvelotriL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5S83Aqxbja1PBfjNw06pkrsXLqL6zROu__yQ5i7rDGG8xrLki0dr-8zuunFp_guzBhwOoJSzRVjDv0_qnCMVfq5mGCHbxNjxk4fhUHLGUXt0x3UIx3GgN91Z7InZFY6fPSCHPeV5Hdhay/s1600/PROFILvelotriL.jpg" height="82" width="400" /></a></div>
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I decided not to look too much at my heartrate and just go with the feeling. Not too many guys passing me, I felt good. Drinking and eating in time. After the first lap, I was still around 45th place. I swapped both empty bottles for two fresh ones. </div>
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Still feeling good. As I mentioned before, the ride was pretty hard, with one big climb with percentages to 9%. I tried not to go too fast on the first round, but the second time we got to the climb, I decided to push it a bit more. The sun was burning at the hottest time of the day... Still I felt ok. But then, when we got at the top, out of the shade, I started to feel dizzy, I felt like I was being roasted... It was still more than 20k to the end of the bike, so I decided to slow down a bit. It was at that point that the first female passed me, I remember I felt like a zombie, and so I looked like one as well, apparently... Perhaps I should just quit this triatlon thing... so much training for yet another disappointing race...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKAZAYRnTnEeDO9eQcQJZCXcQyfvLBSKnfiUoUh0gwwd_oZ8xMLHFzairvMcteedsFrLZapd_5kqXAvR0v40AdmDC6mKJwjn2eilFnlhKS8HlRlIjzZ5IQnByEGU4Txf988Uh59P8uMo8/s1600/140608-115850-1111-5D3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKAZAYRnTnEeDO9eQcQJZCXcQyfvLBSKnfiUoUh0gwwd_oZ8xMLHFzairvMcteedsFrLZapd_5kqXAvR0v40AdmDC6mKJwjn2eilFnlhKS8HlRlIjzZ5IQnByEGU4Txf988Uh59P8uMo8/s1600/140608-115850-1111-5D3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The descends that I took really good the first lap, were a struggle in the second lap. I really had trouble focussing, man, again, I was struck by the heat... I should look for cooler places to race... The wind was starting to join the race, so the way back to the bikezone was even harder, especially with all the others passing me by... Well, let's just try to finish this bike, find a second wind by slowing down and eating and drinking. The legs were feeling pretty ok, so let's hope for the best in the run. I finished the bike in 3h08min, not that bad given the track and the heat stroke I got. I must have lost at least 10 min in the last 20k, if not more...</div>
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Well, now that's passed, let's focus on the run. That was looking like fun, mostly off-road with a nice climb, that we pass twice. At the bike zone, I saw Dje, another friend from Montpellier. He wished me good luck, I was going to need it...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT89XQ1JBcFLrL1D-8Rw6eeDLDbzcTv7xkSz3hb9jkxo_v2n2ESs4BI5dT7Mj7m02rJuBMu2sWB6J5bxP0WbARGGc_2Zxa63a1Hu9Klj1E0kYt4iIx8_n8W2yIfG57FYvbMAVtB4kVuyU/s1600/run.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT89XQ1JBcFLrL1D-8Rw6eeDLDbzcTv7xkSz3hb9jkxo_v2n2ESs4BI5dT7Mj7m02rJuBMu2sWB6J5bxP0WbARGGc_2Zxa63a1Hu9Klj1E0kYt4iIx8_n8W2yIfG57FYvbMAVtB4kVuyU/s1600/run.png" height="65" width="400" /></a></div>
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I started off pretty good, the legs felt ok, but that was running in relative shade. After 1k, we got into the open on a slight climb and that's when the sun hit me a second time. I felt I was being cooked alive... <span style="text-align: left;">I got cramps in my hamstrings, whatever I tried, they didn't want to go away... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEshvvpNiZ8fe1KmCG5dKAQ6ZHU9t_56flr2NA1_EXcnYoeVTD28ow3coF9sx6LbimO92uCip2pwReJHfdUIuFRczBjgC944gUK4jci5bdyod3lkWQjafE-m6HUtIRnEHe9IDQy4Me9asO/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEshvvpNiZ8fe1KmCG5dKAQ6ZHU9t_56flr2NA1_EXcnYoeVTD28ow3coF9sx6LbimO92uCip2pwReJHfdUIuFRczBjgC944gUK4jci5bdyod3lkWQjafE-m6HUtIRnEHe9IDQy4Me9asO/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
Although I used salt in my drinks, it looked like I lost too much water and salt that my muscles just couldn't function properly... It felt like Embrunman all over again... I was thinking of quiting, I felt like shit, all that training and sacrifice for nothing... I stood there for 15min, unable to even walk. Finally, after being in the shade for 5 min and trying to push away the cramps, I felt like I was able to walk... still roughly 20k to go... I saw Bert coming and decided to run with him, that worked, although only for 1k, then the cramps got back... Philippe Garcia, another good friend from Montpellier passed me by, I remembered from 2007 he was better at coping with the heat, he looked pretty good in the run. For myself, I could barely walk, but I was just looking forward to the first aid stop. I refueled and refreshed and got new spirits to continue. I was passing by other zombies that were apparently also struggling from the heat. I was happy I was wearing my waterbelt and shared some of my wealth with a guy that was struggling even more than I was. It was at that point that I decided to fuck it all and enjoy the scenery, which was amazing. Switching between running and trying to push away the cramps every 1km, I slowely came closer to the finish.<br />
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Except for the cramps, I was feeling pretty ok, although extremely disappointed. But I decided to not risk my health, unlike some others that wanted to sprint at the end and then collapse to the ground... I finished finally in 6 hours and 10 minutes...133rd on 236 finishers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTU83nkKxhasIZzwkIzCaOzODOlv-8n3q4Q4HHZgeHeRPJOL9oTHBr2pLiT1CQcHurfl_4yCp5By1Qi_vKGr7-JzBkerHrtwh73HIoMubbBJLu11Elgk3ECelF_i3E6L4lrQ52Cr6db0D/s1600/10366029_294640530711042_8167853614605456535_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTU83nkKxhasIZzwkIzCaOzODOlv-8n3q4Q4HHZgeHeRPJOL9oTHBr2pLiT1CQcHurfl_4yCp5By1Qi_vKGr7-JzBkerHrtwh73HIoMubbBJLu11Elgk3ECelF_i3E6L4lrQ52Cr6db0D/s1600/10366029_294640530711042_8167853614605456535_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Feeling like a fool to run 20k in 2h30 min... But ok, I finished, which in this case is already something to be proud of if you know that from the 300 participants, 70 didn't make it to the finish line, almost 25%... So, just be happy to be a survivor of what was yet another amazing adventure. Yes, I was disappointed with my performance, but the event fits nicely on my list of amazing races, next to the Natureman, Embrunman and Nisraman. Maybe they should call it SalagouMAN :). I would recommend it to anyone who is up for a challenging race in an amazing scenery, organized by an amazing team! Bravo le MAT!</div>
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Oh yeah, just to show how "bien cuit" I was, here is the evidence:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cHhhDUduvxHQI6JM7fhfwlMV7dClwkphg691FvMti6CEEG0MQzQMiRUda-ba5PT53DvEIxuVXRFZPhDXUvJyjoavRg6ygcnM00B5q-RhkhTg0lOf-Ke5RsO8OteZKu2wRFPa-QRtLBth/s1600/IMG_20140609_200020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cHhhDUduvxHQI6JM7fhfwlMV7dClwkphg691FvMti6CEEG0MQzQMiRUda-ba5PT53DvEIxuVXRFZPhDXUvJyjoavRg6ygcnM00B5q-RhkhTg0lOf-Ke5RsO8OteZKu2wRFPa-QRtLBth/s1600/IMG_20140609_200020.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDZ2s6uvDOqVj-TIeiMdLLgaaXeSN44ljNrAzMqGkvG75vgyiEniW9K7TwbaaiJYbqS5thVWuWCDiDVRKvXkrxmbE1o0BTNGbnEd2JzaO9v80ria_mYmn5Qg6kBpiu_yo47CgMkYo5qHd/s1600/IMG_20140609_211913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDZ2s6uvDOqVj-TIeiMdLLgaaXeSN44ljNrAzMqGkvG75vgyiEniW9K7TwbaaiJYbqS5thVWuWCDiDVRKvXkrxmbE1o0BTNGbnEd2JzaO9v80ria_mYmn5Qg6kBpiu_yo47CgMkYo5qHd/s1600/IMG_20140609_211913.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Lessons learned: carry more drinks on the bike (2 bottles is not enough for me) and use more sunblock!</div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-56838223105582595002013-10-22T11:17:00.000-07:002013-10-22T11:19:59.157-07:00Natureman 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8yNfs24lajk/UmFZZgVh-9I/AAAAAAAAAWs/SqotBTH1d3E/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8yNfs24lajk/UmFZZgVh-9I/AAAAAAAAAWs/SqotBTH1d3E/s1600/logo.png" height="96" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>6 Oktober 2013</b></span></div>
4 jaar na het fiasco van de laatste halve triatlon in Brasschaat, was het dit jaar opnieuw tijd om te zien wat we waard zijn op een lange afstand wedstrijd. Ik wou er iets speciaals van maken en dat is toch het minst wat je kan zeggen van de Natureman. Een pittige race in de prachtige streek aan de Verdon, Zuid-Frankrijk. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ncWG0tZRuo/UmF3GZ7u8fI/AAAAAAAAAXE/qOGIpqtvq5s/s1600/Knipsel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ncWG0tZRuo/UmF3GZ7u8fI/AAAAAAAAAXE/qOGIpqtvq5s/s1600/Knipsel.JPG" height="146" width="320" /></a></div>
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Na Brasschaat 2009 was het duidelijk dat je een halve triatlon niet onvoorbereid aanpakt. Het was dan ook wijselijk om de volgende jaren op zoek te gaan naar een goede balans tussen gezinsleven, relatie, werk en sport, voor ik opnieuw die lange afstanden aanpak. De eerste jaren lag de focus dan ook vooral op de geboorte en zorg voor de jonge spruiten en de verbouwingen aan ons huis.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Th5XkPEOU0/UmKnsA9itXI/AAAAAAAAAaA/d37tsbLTsQE/s1600/P1010022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Th5XkPEOU0/UmKnsA9itXI/AAAAAAAAAaA/d37tsbLTsQE/s1600/P1010022.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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In 2012 ben ik dan begonnen met een aantal 1/8 wedstrijdjes en een 1/4 op het eind van het seizoen. Dat ging allemaal relatief goed zonder echt veel tijd te moeten steken in het trainen. Fietsen naar het werk (20km heen), zwemmen tijdens de middag en wat lopen als het uitkwam. Ik was dan ook content dat ik in september vorig jaar behoorlijk meekon in Balen tijdens de 1/4. Dit jaar was het dan de bedoeling om met eenzelfde soort aanpak, een 1/2 tot een goed einde te brengen. De jongens zijn nu 6, bijna 5 en bijna 3, dus die vragen niet meer zo veel aandacht als de vorige jaren, hoewel dat relatief is... Doel voor dit jaar dus: met een redelijk tempo de wedstrijd uitlopen en met een goed gevoel finishen. De voorbereiding was gelijkaardig met 2012, buiten het feit dat ik er wat speciallekes had uitgekozen om me wat beter </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtocuACW7a8/UfbUlZmGjsI/AAAAAAAAAFU/e_v4ji5f1IQ/s1600/IMG_20130729_224356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtocuACW7a8/UfbUlZmGjsI/AAAAAAAAAFU/e_v4ji5f1IQ/s1600/IMG_20130729_224356.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tYtDU5jTBFs/UmFyoP7stOI/AAAAAAAAAW8/RsXMqrczs4w/s1600/IMG_20131018_193506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tYtDU5jTBFs/UmFyoP7stOI/AAAAAAAAAW8/RsXMqrczs4w/s1600/IMG_20131018_193506.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>voor te bereiden op het toch wel zware parcours van de Natureman (Nisraman, Trail des phantomes). Uit die voorbereiding bleek duidelijk dat ik volume miste: meer zwemmen met de club BrTC, wat meer lange duurlopen en fietstochten. Het eerste lukte in het begin behoorlijk, maar het lopen en fietsen was toch moeilijker te combineren met het gezinsleven. De laatste vier weken heb ik dan toch wat langere duurtrainingen kunnen afwerken, maar simpel was het niet, en de vermoeidheid (vooral ook door de stress) van combinatie gezin/werk/triatlon loerde om de hoek. Het zwemmen bleef wat achter, maar dat is normaal mijn beste onderdeel, dus daar maakte ik me niet te veel zorgen om... Maar voor het zover was, moesten we (mijn makker Bert Paelinckx zag het avontuur ook wel zitten) nog 1100km naar het zuiden bollen. Ik had er een leuke gite gevonden in Les salles-sur-Verdon bij Mme Sophie Saurat: <a href="http://www.lesclesduverdon.fr/" target="_blank">Les cles du verdon</a>. We vertrokken donderdag 3 oktober om 4:00 AM en na een dikke 12 uur rijden kwamen we aan in Les salles sur Verdon.<br />
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De gite zag er prachtig uit en het ontvangst zeer hartelijk. We werden aangesproken als pro-atleten, want dat was blijkbaar de indruk die de mensen daar hadden over de deelnemers van de lange afstand. Dat beloofde dus al :). We hadden tijd tot zondag om te bekomen van de lange rit en uit te rusten voor de wedstrijd. Les salles bleek een leuk dorpje met enkele leuke restaurantjes, ik neem aan dat het in de zomer hier wel behoorlijk druk kan zijn.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJNRS9yIijE/UmKbhdgFDJI/AAAAAAAAAZU/i7rnxm2X9BQ/s1600/IMG_20131003_185745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJNRS9yIijE/UmKbhdgFDJI/AAAAAAAAAZU/i7rnxm2X9BQ/s1600/IMG_20131003_185745.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWhVXcJHcfI/UmJ9Zs_WmFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dD1nlixbp4s/s1600/P1015399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWhVXcJHcfI/UmJ9Zs_WmFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dD1nlixbp4s/s1600/P1015399.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>Mede door het prachtige meer waar we zondag in zouden zwemmen. Vrijdag zijn we dan het fietsparcours met de wagen gaan verkennen, wat absoluut een aanrader was. Het begin was 15km klimmen tot in Aiguines. Daarna kwam een relatief gemakkelijke afdaling terug tot aan Les salles. Van daar was het langs het meer richting Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. We passeerden ook langs de gorges du<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogEFsIEHINw/UmJ9k8D-G_I/AAAAAAAAAX4/1kSB1dO5fb0/s1600/P1015408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogEFsIEHINw/UmJ9k8D-G_I/AAAAAAAAAX4/1kSB1dO5fb0/s1600/P1015408.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a> Verdon. Adembenemend! Dan kwam het stuk waar de meeste deelnemers schrik van hadden. een klim van 2km met een gemiddeld stijgingspercentage van 16%. Zijn naam, montée l'enfer du Sud - de hel van het zuiden, niet gestolen. De eerste kilometer was nog te doen, maar de 2de kilometer was de ene haarspeldbocht na de andere, en dit 1km lang. De binnenkant bocht was volgens mij meer dan 20% :D. Eens boven was het ergste achter de rug. Er kwamen dan nog wel 2 beklimmingen van rond de 5km, maar die liepen goed en na 75km was het 15km afdalen tot de wisselzone. Mits de nodige dosering was het parcours dus eigenlijk best te doen. Qua omgeving hadden ze ook niet gelogen. Het zicht dat je had als je langs het meer reed was prachtig.<br />
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Het loopparcours hebben we niet verkend. Maar aangezien het een trail run was met de nodige klimmetjes, met niet veel meer dan 15% asfalt, beloofde dat ook wel best leuk te zijn.<br />
Zondag dus, D-day. Na een lekker ontbijt met zorg geprepareerd door Sophie onze vriendelijke gastvrouw, bolden we rustig naar het meer. Het was licht bewolkt, niet te warm. Perfect weer voor mij dus. Ze voorspelden echter onweer in de namiddag, ik hoop dat we dan al binnen zijn. 900 man aan de start, drukke bedoening dus. Maar daar trek ik me niet te veel van aan. Ik sta in de eerste rijen tussen de echte pro's - Zamora, meervoudig winnaar van Nice en Embrun. En Alexandra Louison. Niet te zwaar onder de indruk komen. Veel deelnemers kijken toch nogal bang uit hun ogen :) er staat ons een leuke dag te wachten. Ik start in de eerste wave. Mijn makker Bertrand (en francais) start in wave 2, 8 minuten na mij.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k9Z7OPjy5c/UmKBhvezd0I/AAAAAAAAAYM/ifTyueF-IIo/s1600/phoca_thumb_l_IMG_1105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k9Z7OPjy5c/UmKBhvezd0I/AAAAAAAAAYM/ifTyueF-IIo/s1600/phoca_thumb_l_IMG_1105.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yA8jdoWDUOA/Uma7whkO3EI/AAAAAAAAAag/NAp7ClyJe2w/s1600/IMG_8661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yA8jdoWDUOA/Uma7whkO3EI/AAAAAAAAAag/NAp7ClyJe2w/s1600/IMG_8661.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>We starten vanop het strand, 100m breed, geen al te veel gewring dus. Ik kom meteen in een goed ritme. Hm, 2km is toch wel lang als je niet veel gezwommen hebt de laatste maanden... Na 32 min tik ik mijn<br />
Garmin af wanneer ik uit het water kom. Een spurtje het strand op om te wisselen. Ai, de benen voelen al zwaar aan en het spurtje heeft me precies wat draaierig gemaakt, zeeziek precies :P Swat, flesje aquarius binnen en op de fiets. Ik hoor mensen zeggen dat er een 80-tal zwemmers binnen zijn. Niet slecht dus, zoals gewoonlijk bij het zwemmen. Maar nu... 90km fietsen. Iets wat ik dit jaar hoop en al 5 keer heb gedaan. Het is dan ook nog een behoorlijk pittig parcours:<br />
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Goed doseren dus en op hartslag die eerste beklimming oprijden. Ik weet niet wat het zwaarst gaat zijn: fysiek de beklimming, of mentaal 200 man zien passeren en weten dat je wel wil en kan volgen, maar het beter niet doet als je nog 20km wil trailrunnen nadien. Ik slaag erin om rustig te blijven en laat ze passeren. Een aantal zie ik de eerste 15km al zwaar in het rood gaan, die zie ik waarschijnlijk op de fiets nog terug. De eerste beklimming naar Aiguines gaat ok, misschien iets te rustig, maar de schrik voor krampen en een vroege ontmoeting met de man met de hamer, houden mijn tempo laag. Echt leuk is het niet als er op 10 km klimmen 200 man voorbij komt, oud, jong, man, vrouw... niet te veel over piekeren en genieten van het parcours en de omgeving. Volgende keer meer trainen, dan kan ik misschien wel mee...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YPodWIC_us/UmKWe0EsQoI/AAAAAAAAAY4/OR2-zQbMC5Q/s1600/P1015427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YPodWIC_us/UmKWe0EsQoI/AAAAAAAAAY4/OR2-zQbMC5Q/s1600/P1015427.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oc9j2-ue1wM/UmKWm-7DK5I/AAAAAAAAAZE/CKSzgLp5-Tk/s1600/P1015424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oc9j2-ue1wM/UmKWm-7DK5I/AAAAAAAAAZE/CKSzgLp5-Tk/s1600/P1015424.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Na 25km passeren we les Salles, de benen voelen nog altijd niet super, dus toch nog maar kalm aan doen tot aan de hel. Net voor het steile stuk van 2km komt er mij een groep voorbij. Deze keer ga ik toch niet blijven zitten. Ik zet me recht op de trappers en neem elke bocht aan de binnenkant, de benen zijn precies blij dat ze eindelijk eens echt mogen doorduwen. Zo slecht is het dan blijkbaar allemaal toch niet. Eens boven voelt het allemaal behoorlijk goed. Dan maar wat meer gas geven, het lastigste hebben we nu gehad. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JcgFA33wnk/Uma77iuxJ3I/AAAAAAAAAao/vShuCcWtWSI/s1600/_DSC0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JcgFA33wnk/Uma77iuxJ3I/AAAAAAAAAao/vShuCcWtWSI/s1600/_DSC0942.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Ik beging terug wat volk in te halen. Nu toch wel blij dat ik die eerste 40km op reserve heb gereden. Nog steeds schrik van de krampen: zo goed als elke wedstrijd die ik dit jaar heb meegedaan, had ik vroeg of laat krampen in de hamstrings. Dat wil ik deze keer echt niet meemaken, toch niet voor 2km van de finish. De voorlaatste beklimming is een allez-retour, dat wil dus zeggen dat je tijdens de afdaling goed moet opletten, maar ook dat je je tegenstanders ziet rijden. Toch wel veel volk nog achter mij, en dat is toch een pak meer dan 8min, dus het is niet alleen omdat ze in de tweede wave zaten. Ik kijk vooral uit naar den Bep, maar zie hem niet, hij heeft dus minstens 20min achterstand op mij, dan ben ik toch echt niet zo slecht bezig. We hebben dit jaar vaak deelgenomen aan dezelfde wedstrijd en ik was meestal voor hem, maar dan meestal ook enkel dankzij het zwemmen. Ik verwachtte dus dat hij wel wat tijd zou inhalen op mij tijdens het fietsen, maar vooral tijdens het lopen, aangezien hij daar toch altijd een aantal minuten sneller was dan mij. Maar ik zag hem dus niet, dus was ik toch behoorlijk aan het fietsen. Als ik dat tot de finish zou kunnen volhouden, was mijn wedstrijd geslaagd: ik had mijn conditie van de 1/4'jes kunnen uitbouwen, zonder echt heel veel te moeten trainen. Maar zo ver zijn we nog niet. Nog 1 beklimming en 15km afdalen en dan nog een trailrun<br />
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van 20km. Mijn moral stijgt wel met de minuut, ik haal immers een pak meer renners in dan dat er mij passeren. En na de laatste beklimming voelen mijn benen beter dan bij het begin van het fietsen... vertrouwen genoeg dus voor de run. Ik kom binnen op 3uur, een gemiddelde van 30km/h, niet geknald, maar toch ongeveer wat ik er van verwacht had. Ik begin met hetzelfde elan aan de run, zonder echt diep te gaan haal ik geregeld andere deelnemers in, vooral op de stukken bergop. Bergaf durf ik me niet te veel laten gaan, nog steeds uit schrik voor die krampen. De kilometers gaan vlot, sommige iets te vlot - achteraf bleek dat ze het parcours op sommige punten wat hebben ingekort omwille van de hevige regen de nachten voordien. Dat wil dus zeggen dat we sneller aan de finish zullen zijn. Ook het loopparcours is grotendeels allez-retour, en ook hier zie ik den Bep niet. Hm, die is dan toch ook aan het afzien... daar waren we voor naar hier gekomen :-D De eerste 10km zijn behoorlijk goed beloopbaar, niet te veel steile stukken, behalve dan dat ene stukje muur :), maar dat nemen we na de Nisraman en de trail des fantomes er met plezier bij. Na kilometer 10 wordt het parcours echter wat onregelmatiger. Ik voel dat de benen elke kilometer zwaarder worden. En met het lastige parcours komt de schrik voor krampen meer en meer boven. Ik durf echt niet door te lopen, of het gaat gewoon niet meer, dat kan ook :p. De laatste 6km is twee toeren door het dorp, wel telkens met een 100-tal meter trapjes omhoog. De eerste keer durf ik er niet te lopen, maar de laatste toer, het is dan ook nog maar 2km tot de finish, durf ik toch door te lopen. De laatste kilometer is ook geen volledige en ik finish in een tijd van 1h41 voor de run (die wel maar amper 19km was volgens mijn Garmin) - totaal 5:21:52, 254ste van de 852 finishers (900 starters). Opgelucht (te zien aan de finishfoto trouwens :P) dat het toch allemaal behoorlijk was, zeker gezien de training die ik er voor heb kunnen doen.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXyyqaNshnQ/UmKv-7y2-cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NyOss9AdvrI/s1600/phoca_thumb_l_IMG_1323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXyyqaNshnQ/UmKv-7y2-cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NyOss9AdvrI/s1600/phoca_thumb_l_IMG_1323.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
's avonds zijn we nog uitgenodigd op de officiële presentatie van <a href="http://vimeo.com/76892961" target="_blank">de film van race</a> met een hapje en een wijntje in een domein in de buurt. Mooie afsluiter van een leuke dag.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IsUlk6Tq88/Uma933UvjdI/AAAAAAAAAa4/020UzItqSpo/s1600/IMG_20131006_203027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IsUlk6Tq88/Uma933UvjdI/AAAAAAAAAa4/020UzItqSpo/s1600/IMG_20131006_203027.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Conclusie: content met de prestatie en alweer een super ervaring rijker. Maar volgend jaar toch anders aanpakken. Als we echt meer lange afstanden willen doen, zal er toch meer volume getraind moeten worden. Om de tijd dan het best te verdelen, ga ik dan toch maar de 1/4'jes laten vallen en me focussen op lange duurtrainingen. Op naar de volgende wedstrijd. Misschien nog een die eindigt op MAN, dat lijken toch de leukste ervaringen: Embrunman - Nisraman - Natureman - volgende: Altriman? Norseman? Celtman? :P</div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-13301576072501841742013-07-30T02:14:00.000-07:002013-07-30T02:14:28.909-07:00Embrunman 2007 (Al een tijdje geleden, maar ik plaats hier alles bij elkaar)<a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070046_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070045_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/velo01_320x440.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070040_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070039_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070038_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep6]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Op weg naar Brunissard, de steilere stukken komen eraan."></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070036_320x440.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep6]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste kilometers Izoard"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070034_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep5]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Guillestre - aan de voet van de Izoard"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080056_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080054_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080053_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/sany0047_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep3]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - uit het water"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat02_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - GO!"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat03_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - nog enkele minuten"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8150015_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - Voor het vertrek, nog effe relaxen"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8140014_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - de avond voor het vertrek"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nT__KViAhbg/Ufd0uUKSLSI/AAAAAAAAAKo/JvQsoqd1hyM/s1600/Embrun_titel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nT__KViAhbg/Ufd0uUKSLSI/AAAAAAAAAKo/JvQsoqd1hyM/s1600/Embrun_titel.jpg" /></a></div>
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Op deze pagina vind je het relaas van mijn Embrunman op 15 augustus 2007.</div>
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<b>Good good morning</b><br />
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<a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070046_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070045_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/velo01_320x440.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070040_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070039_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070038_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep6]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Op weg naar Brunissard, de steilere stukken komen eraan."></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070036_320x440.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep6]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste kilometers Izoard"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070034_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep5]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Guillestre - aan de voet van de Izoard"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080056_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080054_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080053_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/sany0047_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep3]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - uit het water"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat02_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - GO!"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat03_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - nog enkele minuten"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8150015_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - Voor het vertrek, nog effe relaxen"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8140014_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - de avond voor het vertrek"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070046_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070045_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/velo01_320x440.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Izoard, de laatste kilometers voor de top"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070040_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070039_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep7]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - La Casse Déserte"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070038_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep6]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Op weg naar Brunissard, de steilere stukken komen eraan."></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070034_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep5]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Guillestre - aan de voet van de Izoard"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080056_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080054_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080053_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/sany0047_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep3]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - uit het water"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat02_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - GO!"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat03_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - nog enkele minuten"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8150015_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - Voor het vertrek, nog effe relaxen"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8140014_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - de avond voor het vertrek"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Woensdagochtend, 15 augustus 2007. Het is net 3h geweest. Wakker geworden zonder wekker. Toch wat zenuwachtig precies, maar wel goed geslapen. Vandaag moet het dus gebeuren, de beloning van maanden vroeg opstaan om te trainen, veel te trainen. Al die uren op de fiets, alleen. Maanden zonder veel alcohol, het is ooit anders geweest... Maar vandaag is het D-day: EMBRUNMAN 2007.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7070034_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep5]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Guillestre - aan de voet van de Izoard"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080056_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080054_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080053_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep4]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietsen - Eerste beklimming"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/sany0047_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep3]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - uit het water"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat02_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - GO!"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/nat03_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep2]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Zwemmen - nog enkele minuten"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8150015_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - Voor het vertrek, nog effe relaxen"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P8140014_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep1]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Fietspark - de avond voor het vertrek"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="file:///C:/PAPA/website/images/P7080052_440x320.jpg" rel="lightbox[groep0]" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title=" Meer van Serre-Poncon"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7702063117290912373" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Vetrek om 6h, 3.8km zwemmen in het meer Serre-Poncon in Embrun, daarna 188km fietsen (met de beklimming van de Izoard halverwege en voor de rest niet al te veel vlak, we zijn niet voor niks in de Alpen) en tot slot een marathon op een alles behalve vlak parcours... Mijn vrienden van de club in Montpellier hebben hem 2 jaar geleden uitgedaan, allemaal binnen de 14h, dat moet ik ook kunnen... Minos heeft me zelfs uitgedaagd om na de aankomst een duveltje te drinken. Moet kunnen :-)<br />
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Half 4, genoeg tijd om op het gemakske uitgebreid te ontbijten, moeke en vake zijn er ook al. Rond kwart na vier zijn we weg. Nog niet veel volk aan het vertrek. De fiets moesten we de avond tevoren al achterlaten in het fietspark, dat zenuwachtig gedoe hoeven we dus al niet meer mee te maken. Ik leg alles klaar en heb nog genoeg tijd over, beetje ontstressen met wat muziek, eens kijken waar de supporters zijn, Vake ziet er zenuwachtiger uit als ik. Bon, half vijf, tijd om ons klaar te maken, we willen immers niet vanachter staan bij het vertrek, 830 deelnemers, dat is een heel pak. Er zal serieus gewrongen en getrokken worden. Beter vooraan aan de buitenkant staan, en gewoon op de boeien focussen.</div>
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<b>And... GO!</b><br />
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5h50, de vrouwen en mindervalide (1 deelnemer) vertrekken 10 minuten vroeger. Nog geen spoor van de zon wanneer het dertigtal het donkere meer inloopt. 6h. Nu is het aan ons, hier gaan we. <br />
Het gewriemel en getrek valt best mee, goed gepositioneerd blijkbaar. Nu gewoon een uurtje ofzo rustig zwemmen. Veel volk dat mij voorbij komt, ik ben dan ook een trage starter. Na verloop van tijd begin ik toch serieus wat volk in te halen. Het gaat lekker, goed begonnen... Er zijn wel nogal wat golfjes op het meer, blijkbaar is er samen met de zon ook wind opgekomen. Als die maar niet in het gezicht staat in de voormiddag. Zorgen voor later.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>SWIM : 00:59:38</b></span></div>
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<b>Toertje fietsen</b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmbHRaaNBxs/Ufd63y-jofI/AAAAAAAAATU/pNwkPBIstjQ/s1600/SANY0047_440x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmbHRaaNBxs/Ufd63y-jofI/AAAAAAAAATU/pNwkPBIstjQ/s1600/SANY0047_440x320.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a>Uit het water, voelt goed, zin om een toertje te fietsen. Ik neem de tijd om me om te kleden. Snel nog wat eten, eens kijken, 1h05, en al efkes uit het water, hm, goeie tijd. Nog snel effe wuiven naar de supporters, Matti is ook wakker. Wat er mij nu te wachten staat is geen lachertje. 188km fietsen in de Alpen, je kan het gerust een tourrit noemen. Als voorgerecht een beklimming van 10km (de eerste 10km van het parcours), dan al "golvend" richting Guillestre waar we als hoofdgerecht de beklimming van de Izoard voorgeschoteld krijgen. Na de afdaling naar Briançon krijgen we dan als tussendoortje de beklimming van Pallon (1.5km met een stijgingspercentage van om en bij de 15%). In de finale een golvende afdaling richting Embrun met als dessertje de beklimming van Chalvet (5km tegen 9à10%). Ik heb er zin in!</div>
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En weg. Veel volk de eerste kilometer langs de weg, precies den tour :-). Rustig beginnen Koen, het is nog ver en de eerstse 10km zijn zwaar. Goed boven gekomen op de eerste beklimming, dat ging vlot, beetje snel misschien... </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2fC-CF1RmQ/Ufd60WOAORI/AAAAAAAAAR0/1VKyXZ1cF5g/s1600/P7080053_440x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2fC-CF1RmQ/Ufd60WOAORI/AAAAAAAAAR0/1VKyXZ1cF5g/s1600/P7080053_440x320.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nQbvcEHpZI/Ufd6xl7PDKI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Pu_vLT9hSIQ/s1600/P7070034_440x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nQbvcEHpZI/Ufd6xl7PDKI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Pu_vLT9hSIQ/s1600/P7070034_440x320.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a>Na de afdaling, de weg terug naar Embrun, wind tegen, ai. Het wordt zwaar, ook lastig om nu te eten, toch maar wat binnenspelen. Net voor Embrun staat de Vake, die is ver te voet gekomen. De rest zal dan ook wel wat verder staan, ja, Caroline staat op het rondpunt en wat verder staat Kris, helemaal naar hier gekomen om te supporteren. Tof dat die er allemaal zijn. Even kijken wat het gemiddelde is na 40km, hmm 28km/h, beetje snel vertrokken, als we dat maar niet cash betalen straks. Best maar wat rustigeraan doen... Wat eten. Onderweg D’Jule nog tegengekomen. Zijn planning voor de laatste weken heeft me goed klaargestoomd. </div>
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Na enkele relatief vlakke kilometers komen we terug op de grote baan naar Briançon, de aanloop naar de Izoard kan beginnen. Snel nog wat eten, ai, krijg het niet goed binnen, slecht teken. De benen zijn wel ok, dus niet te veel zorgen maken, gewoon trappen. </div>
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De eerste kilometers van De Izoard zijn niet te steil, toch maar niet forceren, gevaarlijk om hier de benen op<br />
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te blazen. Veel volk komt mij voorbij, laten doen, we zien straks wel. We draaien af van de grote baan aan la Chalp, op naar de steilere stukken, veel van die gasten die mij voorbij kwamen in de vallei, hebben het moeilijk nu. Maar toch maar niet te zot doen tot voor Brunissard in het bos. De zon begint wel serieus te schijnen, behoorlijk warm... daar hou ik niet echt van... </div>
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Ondertussen aangekomen in Brunissard, we zijn nu in het steilste gedeelte van de col, even checken hoe het met de benen staat, ai, een kramp als ik op de trappers ga staan, niet genoeg gedronken? Shit, die warmte dat is echt niks voor mij, zelfs niet na twee jaar in het zuiden van Frankrijk gewoond te hebben. Dan maar op kleinste verzet naar boven peddelen. Thorgal, nog iemand van de club die komt supporteren, volgt me met de wagen en moedigt me aan in elke bocht. Nog even doorbijten en we zijn aan La Casse Déserte, een prachtige omgeving, dat wel. Bijna boven.</div>
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Eindelijk boven, toch proberen wat te eten, zenuwachtig bedoening. Eten gaat niet al te best... dat belooft niet veel goeds. </div>
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Bon, dan maar aan de afdaling beginnen. Opletten in de eerste kilometers, die bochtjes zijn gevaarlijk, normaal rijden er geen wagens, toch maar voorzichtig zijn. Na die eerste kilometers is de weg breed en goed, gaat snel, jammer dat er een paar in de weg rijden, anders was mijn snelheidsrecord er wel aangegaan, 75km/h, altijd leuk zo afdalen. Beneden in Briançon beginnen we aan de weg terug naar Embrun. De wind is<br />
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gekeerd, opnieuw wind tegen, het gaat nog lastig worden, zeker met de beklimming van Pallon (1.5km maar wel 15%) en Chalvet, 5km lang, ook geen lachtertje, zeker gezien het in de laatste 10km zit. Het gaat behoorlijk, maar wel opletten, want er komen krampen opzetten, op souplesse naar boven rijden dus. Hier komt Pallon, lap, net voor we beginnen, ketting eraf. Plezant. Pfff, lastige beklimming als ge geen kramp in de benen wilt krijgen. Al goed dat ze niet te lang is. Beetje bekomen boven, die marathon gaat zwaar worden... Nog een afdaling en dan richting Embrun. Vast voedsel krijg ik niet meer binnen, dan maar gelletjes. De benen kunnen wat bekomen voor we aan Chalvet beginnen. Pfff, die is nog even lastig als tijdens de verkenning. Het is serieus warm aan het worden, benieuwd of we nog zullen kunnen lopen.<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">BIKE : 08:06:48</b></div>
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<b>Oef, fiets geparkeerd! Nu alleen nog een marathonneke...</b></div>
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Oef, we zijn er, 188km in 8h, niet schitterend, maar wel ok gezien de wind en de krampen. Ik neem mijn tijd </div>
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om me om te kleden en... here we go. Hmm valt best mee. Eerste toertje rond het meer in de schaduw gaat redelijk, maar dan... in volle zon, de tweede bevoorrading na 3km krijg ik een klop. Maag draait om en ik zie sterretjes. Proberen te eten en te drinken, Koen. Moet ik zo 42km lopen???? Kom, we zullen er maar aan beginnen, al wandelend, dan kunnen we misschien wat recuperen, en dan zien we wel verder. Al dat volk dat mij voorbij komt gelopen, niet zo best voor de moral. De beklimming naar Embrun is ook niet echt de plaats om te beginnen lopen. Wachten tot we boven zijn... Door de winkelstraat zullen we toch maar lopen, pfff, ’t is warm. Eindelijk nog een bevoorrading, het gaat echt niet, helemaal leeg... bon, flesje water en cola en we wandelen verder, seffes een afdaling, dan lopen we wel weer. Lopen, dat is wat veel gezegd, als ik probeer te versnellen schieten er krampen in mijn benen... 6km voorbij, bijna een uur aan het “lopen”... Dat wordt een lange tocht, als ik nog maar op tijd binnen kom...Oef, eindelijk een bevoorrading in de schaduw, even zitten. De benen tintelen, ik zie de krampjes overal springen op mijn benen, nog nooit meegemaakt. En nog maar 10km “ver” Dit wordt niks... Bon, een spons ertegen en weg... Nog wat lopen... Zou ik niet beter opgeven? Pffff, wat/waar is het misgegaan, te weinig gedronken? Te snel vertrokken? Niet goed gegeten vanmorgen?, zelfs op training heb ik nooit zoiets meegemaakt en ik heb toch een paar serieuse toeren gedaan van meer dan 7uur....Fuck, ik kan het niet...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp9MSql8vgw/Ufd64E2cL2I/AAAAAAAAATQ/0Hjf9B1qRjE/s1600/SANY0048_440x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp9MSql8vgw/Ufd64E2cL2I/AAAAAAAAATQ/0Hjf9B1qRjE/s1600/SANY0048_440x320.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gdCulmNs2Go/Ufd637SW1vI/AAAAAAAAATA/ZH_y95WBgok/s1600/P8180039_320x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gdCulmNs2Go/Ufd637SW1vI/AAAAAAAAATA/ZH_y95WBgok/s1600/P8180039_320x440.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a>ALLEZ KOEN! ALLEZ KOEN! Carolientje? Mijn supporters! Caroline, Moeke, Vake, Kris, D’Jule, maar vooral, Matti! Matti, met hem in mijn armen zou ik over de finishlijn lopen. Dat kan ik toch niet laten vallen. D’Jule, die mij zo geholpen heeft en in mij gelooft. En Moeke, Vake en Kris, zo ver gekomen om mij aan te moedigen. En Carolientje, die mij al die weekends heeft laten fietsen. Al die tijd dat ik heb getraind, dat was toch ni voor niks!!! Fuck it, we gaan door, ne goeien tijd zit er ni in, maar ik geef ni op! Nog een paar kilometer bergop en dan afdaling tot aan het meer, dan zit de eerste ronde erop, we zien dan wel van daar... En de zon die gaat de volgende ronde ook beginnen ondergaan, dus dan is het niet zo warm meer. Maar ondertussen nog wel, pfff. Hop hop. Aan het meer zie ik mijn supporters weer, ik ben meer gefocust, ik doe een babbeltje met Caroline en D’Jule. Nog een toertje rond het meer en we beginnen aan de laatste ronde.Als ik nu maar geen klop krijg na 30km zoals in Berlijn. Niet aan denken, gewoon lopen! Eerste halve marathon in 3h30, pfff, ni al te best...<br />
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Terug aan die eerste bevoorrading waar ik in het begin sterrekes zag: nu de zon weg is, is het hier wel aangenamer. Hop en we lopen weer. Zelfs die beklimming naar Embrun kunnen we al lopend (behalve de bocht, iets te steil, beter nog wat de benen sparen). Hmm, die tweede toer is in ieder geval plezanter dan de eerste. Elke bevoorrading stoppen, benen afkoelen (dat helpt echt tegen de krampen) en drinken. De moral is top (jammer dat de benen niet meer zo top zijn). Ik haal veel volk in, nogal wat deelnemers worden weggereden met de ambulance. En veel die langs de kant staan, blij dat ik in het begin rustigaan heb gedaan. Ni voor te lachen zo een Embrunman. Best zelf toch ook niet te zot <br />
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doen, het is nog ver, maar het gaat “super”. Sommige kilometers loop ik zelfs in minder dan 6min (dat is sneller dan 10km/h, hetgeen ni slecht is voor een marathon in een Embrunman). Ze zouden die wedstrijden beter ’s avonds laten beginnen, dat zou beter zijn voor mij, dan is het tenminste niet zo warm. Wat een verschil! Ik begin er zelfs bijna terug plezier in te krijgen (of verzin ik dat er nu bij omdat het al een week geleden is ondertussen...). </div>
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<b>De laatste kilometers</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDuEvA7gnJ0/UfeAlFEhEoI/AAAAAAAAAV4/8DGAqgopqSs/s1600/arr04_440x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDuEvA7gnJ0/UfeAlFEhEoI/AAAAAAAAAV4/8DGAqgopqSs/s1600/arr04_440x320.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a>Terug aan het meer, nog een vrouw die passeert in de andere richting, die moet nog aan haar laatste ronde beginnen, courage! Blij dat ik er bijna vanaf ben en laatst zal ik niet zijn. Vake staat mij op te wachten aan het meer, nog 1 toertje van 3km en we zijn er! Ik ga er geraken!!! En al lopend. Ik haal nog een tiental deelnemers in, nog veel volk langs de kant in de laatste kilometer. Vake staat er ook tussen, die is ook blij dat ik er bijna ben precies. De <br />
laatste honderd meter, waar is Matti? Ja, moeke heeft hem. Ze geeft hem aan mij. Die laatste 100m zijn hemel na de hel, Matti is blij mij te zien en lacht. OEF! I made it!!!!<br />
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<b>EMBRUNMAN FINISHER</b></div>
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Ik ben er! De tweede helft in 2h25, een uur beter dan de eerste ronde, dat is toch ook iets om blij mee te zijn. Maar dan, de vermoeidheid. Leeg en ziek. Ik kan zelfs geen water meer binnenkrijgen, dat Duveltje zal voor morgen zijn. Nog nooit zo diep moeten gaan... Zelfs al wat teleurgesteld... ben ik bij de laatsten? Hoeveel man is er achter mij. Na het fiesten was ik 250ste ofzo, 200 man mij voorbij gelopen? Dus 450ste ofzo? Bwa, wat maakt het uit, ik ben er. </div>
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Volgende dag op de radio: 290 opgevers... dat is een derde, jawadde, toch al trots dat ik er ben geraakt. Benieuwd naar mijn plaats in het algemeen klassement: 336ste toch nog 200 achter mij. Toch niet zo slecht voor mijn eerste volledige triathlon. Ik heb karakter getoond en daar ben ik trots op! Ik ben een Embrunman! YES!<br />
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Maar ik had het niet kunnen doen zonder de aanmoedigingen van mijn supporters, zonder hen had ik zeker opgegeven. BEDANKT, Moeke, Vake en Kris, dat jullie er bij waren. En Natuurlijk Matti en mijn vrouwtje, bedankt dat ik deze onvergetelijke dag mocht beleven en dat je mij de tijd hebt gelaten om er voor te trainen.</div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702063117290912373.post-57754551643819496552013-07-29T13:57:00.001-07:002013-07-29T14:16:02.968-07:00Nisraman 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Toen ik begin 2013 op zoek was
naar wat wedstrijden ter voorbereiding op de <a href="http://vimeo.com/53252350">Natureman</a> in oktober, viel mijn
oog op de Nisraman. 1km zwemmen, 42km fietsen, 16km Mountainbiken en 10km trail
run. Dit allemaal om en rond Nisramont, pittig zal het dus wel zijn. Ik had
daar vorig jaar de trail du barrage meegedaan en dat was niet van de poes...
geen meter vlak en amper wat asfalt. Het fietsen en mountainbiken zal ook wel
leuk zijn (lees, zwaar en uitputtend). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Perfect om te zien hoe het met de
conditie staat, 2 maand voor het echte doel van 2013. Zaterdag was het dan
zover. Niet volledig gerust in eigen kunnen, mede dankzij lange inactiviteit in
april en mei en bijgevolg gebrek aan basis en daarbij ook nog een slechte nacht
(Matti, de oudste, had midden in de nacht last van groeipijnen en het duurde
nogal lang voordat die terug in slaap viel), vertrok ik om 6h (vraag me niet
hoe laat ik ben opgestaan...) zonder veel ambitie naar de hel voor een
"epic battle", zoals te lezen stond op de facebook pagina van
sport-events, organisatie van het event. Finishen met een goed gevoel, daar zou
ik al tevreden mee zijn. Na 2h rijden, me afvragend wat ik in hemelsnaam ging
doen en waarom ik niet in mijn bed lig, kwam ik aan in Nirsramont, waar het
zachtjes regende. Blijkbaar had het wel heel de nacht behoorlijk geregend. Ik
begon me al wat zorgen te maken om mijn bandenkeuze voor mijn mountainbike.
Maar ik liet het maar bij wat er op lag, wisselen zou toch alleen maar stress
meebrengen, zeker zonder ze te kunnen testen. Dus, aanmelden, fietsen
prepareren en klaar zetten. Meteen valt de gemoedelijke sfeer op. Geen
zenuwachtig gedoe van aanschuiven voor een plekje of controle van helm. Gewoon
schoenen en mtb wegzetten, koersfiets pakken en naar de barrage bollen met de
koersfiets. Ondertussen was het opgehouden met regenen, het leek een mooie dag
te gaan worden. Ook aan T1 geen sprake van stress, gewoon fiets wegzetten en
naar de zwemstart. Ik herkende het parcours van de trail, dat leek hetzelfde
als van de trail du barrage, er staat ons dus nog wat te wachten op het eind
:P. </span></div>
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<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9380209829_d4d5ca85c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9380209829_d4d5ca85c8.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></span></a><span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Aan het vertrek ook alles relax, nog een praatje met Wouter Vander Mast,
die had er ook zin in precies. Verder nog een 120-tal andere mafkezen die klaar
stonden voor het vertrek. Toch plezanter zo een vertrek, geen gedoe van achter
het koord, gewoon Wim van sport-events die aftelt, 1, 2, 3 start. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Zwemmen
zonder wetsuit ging me precies behoorlijk goed af. Ik stond op de tweede rij om
te vertrekken en begon direkt volk in te halen tot mijn grote verbazing.
Waarschijnlijk die extra vetlaag die me beter doet drijven, die zal me later
waarschijnlijk minder van pas komen als het bergop gaat :P. Toch maar
rustig aan doen, want het gaat nog zwaar worden. Halverwege begon het wat
moeilijker te worden om je weg te vinden, we zwommen dicht langs de kant, dus
ik dacht dat het de schaduw van de bomen waren die het donkerder maakten. Toen
zag ik echter druppels in het water vallen, meer en dikker bij elke hap naar
lucht. Plots hoorde ik ook donder en zag ik bliksem flitsen. Hmm, is dat wel
slim om te zwemmen tijdens een onweer? Toch maar een tandje bijsteken (of hoe
zeggen ze dat als ge zwemt) en zo rap mogelijk uit het water. </span><br />
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<span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ka-PDZhR7w/UfbSLK1jGkI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8by8SdNss00/s1600/bordma10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Hup, ja, dat zit
er op. Het was nu echt wel hard aan het regenen. Leuk. Helm op, schoenen
aan, bril op... oops, met bril op zie ik niets... Toch maar op houden, want
spatten water op mijn lenzen is ook ni echt een optie. We kregen al meteen een
mooie helling als voorsmaakje, die ik gelukkig nog herinnerde van de stage in
april. Het was een lange, dus kalmaan. Het water gutste ondertussen naar
beneden langs de weg, boven knalde de donder en bliksem. Dat bedoelen ze dus
met “epic” :P. Ik zag nu helemaal niks meer met mijn bril en ging bijna
onderuit in een put in de weg. Toch maar afzetten die bril en terug opzetten
voor de afdaling. Op het gemak reed ik naar boven, de drie man die mij voorbij
kwamen zagen er allemaal iets afgetrainder uit dan ik, niets van aantrekken, ik
wist dat het ook een mentale strijd zou worden aangezien er mij veel volk
voorbij zou steken. Ik beeldde me als hulp maar in dat ik waarschijnlijk nog
voor een podium plaats aan het rijden was in de categorie ‘vaders van 3 3-tot-6jarigen’.
Na de eerste beklimming was het afwachten wat de muur van Maboge zou geven, ik
had er al over gehoord, maar wist niet wat te verwachten. </span></div>
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<span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">De afdaling tot aan
de voet had leuk kunnen zijn, als het niet nat was en er wat daglicht was. Het
parcours was niet verkeersvrij, dus was het opletten. Niet te zot gedaan om
toch heelhuids beneden te komen. De muur zelf was inderdaad echt wel een muur,
23% hoogste stijgingspercentage. </span><span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Een triple is geen zicht op een koersfiets,
maar ik was toch blij dat die er vandaag oplag... Boven op de top aangekomen
wist er iemand mij te vertellen dat ik 21<sup>ste</sup> was, hm, toch niet zo
slecht, dat betekent ook dat ik bij de eerste 15 uit het water was gekomen.
Toch iets om blij om te zijn. Aan de wisselzone aagekomen was het terug afdalen
naar de barrage voor de 2<sup>de</sup> ronde. Nu kwamen er toch veel me voorbij
rijden. Niet aantrekken, het is een training en het zwaarste moet nog komen... </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K31fz0E-b3E/UfbTJ_4plwI/AAAAAAAAAFE/d_nJodjJg6I/s1600/A86A6DB097C3471A26D8-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K31fz0E-b3E/UfbTJ_4plwI/AAAAAAAAAFE/d_nJodjJg6I/s1600/A86A6DB097C3471A26D8-800.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">De tweede ronde verliep hetzelfde als de eerste en ik voelde me behoorlijk goed
om aan het mountainbike stuk te beginnen. Weer de vraag, bril opzetten of niet.
Beginnen met een afdaling, dus best wel, hm, niks te zien met die bril, dan
maar af. Hop het bos in om verder af te dalen. Kwak, een klodder modder in mijn
oog, nu zie ik helemaal niks, dan toch maar bril opzetten en hopen dat mijn
engelbewaarder mee stuurt... Beneden aangekomen, de eerste keer de Ourthe door.
Positief punt, ik kan mijn bril proper maken 8-). Even kijken waar het pad is
aan de overkant, en terug beginnen klimmen. </span></div>
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<span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">KNAL, bliksem en donder vlak boven
onze hoofden. De weergoden supporteren mee. Iets te hard hoor ik achteraf, de
geluidsinstallatie en tijdsregistratie neergebliksemd aan de aankomst... Het
mountainbike parcours is tof, hoewel ik me er niet veel meer van herinner,
vooral door het feit dat ik niet veel zag door mijn aangedampte bril. Vooral in
die ene technische afdaling had een goed zicht wel van pas gekomen. Net niet
overkop gegaan... Maar toch iets waar ik op moet werken, die technische
stukken... Uiteindelijk de 16km goed (lees heelhuids en niet volledig
verkrampt) door geraakt. Anderen hadden minder chance, twee man voorbijgestoken
die lek waren gereden. Ik twijfelde nog om mijn reserveband af te geven, maar
5km voor het eind van de mtb proef, lijkt me toch wat risky. Als ze zelf
beslissen om geen reserve materiaal mee te nemen, is dat hun keuze, sus ik mijn
geweten. Jammer van het slechte weer, anders was dit echt wel een leuk MTB
ritje geweest. Swat, het zit er op, nu kan het leukste onderdeel beginnen: 10km
trail run. Volgens Yeray Luxem de zwaarste trail die hij ooit heeft gelopen.
Ofwel is die niet veel gewoon, ofwel hebben ze hier echt wel iets zot uit hun
mouw geschud. Ik hoop op het eerste, maar verwacht eerder het laatste, gezien
de Yeray zijn ervaring... De eerste kilometers gaan vooral bergaf en ik herken
het parcours van de trail du barrage. Inderdaad een zwaar parcours. Volgens de
briefing zit er halverwege een stuk zwemmen in, de Ourthe overstekken over
100m. Hm, zou dat een grap zijn? We zien wel... Het lopen gaat echt goed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ik
word niet ingehaald en op de technische stukken haal ik zelf wat volk in. Als
ik uitreken aan de eerste bevoorrading loop ik ongeveer 5min/km. Toch
behoorlijk rap, maar ook weer volgens de briefing zullen er niet veel onder het
uur lopen, er zal dus nog wel wat komen... Rond de 5<sup>de</sup> kilometer, ik
voelde me net goed, dan toch... pats, kramp in de hamstrings in volle
afdaling... daar gaat de mooie looptijd... en nu?... halfweg het parcours, in
het midden van het bos met kramp... net zoals tijdens de kwart in Brasschaat
duurde het een paar minuten om die kramp er uit te krijgen. In Brasschaat kon
ik rustig uitlopen, maar hier met dat klimmen en vooral afdalen, hoe gaat dat
in hemelsnaam lukken??? Bon, met de hand op de hamstrings dan toch maar verder
afdalen, proberen de kramp weg te drukken... En dan, komt er nu die oversteek
van de Ourthe? Ja dus... 2 opties, van de rots springen of naar beneden met het
trapje en dan het water in stappen. Het eerste lijkt het leukste, maar met
krampen in twee benen ondertussen, kom ik misschien niet meer boven. Dus, naar
benden waggelen, brilletje op (jaja, een zwembrilletje mee tijdens het lopen,
nog niet vaak moeten doen :P) en het water in, direkt diep en baf, kramp in
beide benen. Goed dat ik niet ben gesprongen. Hop, zwemmen dan maar. Ik
herinner mij mijn eerste triathlon in Meise, 10 jaar geleden: Eerst fietsen, dan
zwemmen en dan lopen. Wat was ik toen blij dat ik kon zwemmen met die
verkrampte benen. Hopend op hetzelfde gevoel, probeerde ik mijn beenspieren los
te zwemmen en dat bleek wonderwel te lukken. Hop, dat was dus halverwege het
parcours... nog 5km lopen (allee, dat dacht ik toen, dat ik zou kunnen lopen). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Het parcours volgde nog steeds dat van de trail du barrage. Ik dacht dat het
dus wel zou meevallen. Maar na een paar kilometer stonden er opeens drie pijlen
die van het pad af, recht omhoog wezen. De deelnemer achter mij dacht dat ik in
de bosjes ging plassen, niet dus. Het was wel degelijk het parcours. Hier was
geen spraken van stappen, laat staan lopen. Hier was het klimmen op handen en
voeten. Dat wordt leuk aan de hamstring dacht ik, maar het waren de aductoren
die even lieten voelen dat ze het ook allemaal wat te veel begonnen vinden...
Na enkele minuten klimmen was het duidelijk wat Yeray bedoelde met de zwaarste
trail. Veel lopen zat er niet meer. Zowel bergaf als bergop was het afzien,
klimmen, kruipen... Ondertussen kwam een van die twee man die lek waren gereden
tijdens het mtb me voorbij gelopen. Ik feliciteerde hem en hij vatte het mooi
samen. Hier kom je niet naartoe om op te geven. Gelijk had hij en ik probeerde
ook een tandje bij te steken. Het lopen ging terug, geen krampen meer, maar het
vat bleek leeg te zijn. Nog enkele zware klimmetjes (soms had ik het idee dat
de parcours bouwer zelf zijn weg kwijt was geraakt) en we kwamen terug op de
open vlakte aan de huizen in Nisramont. Ik zag tot mijn grootste verbazing dat
ik nog wat dichter was gekomen bij een aantal andere deelnemers, maar een
eindspurt zat er niet meer in. Oef, ik heb het gehaald en overleefd. De
T-shirts dragen niet voor niets het opschrift Nisraman Survivor. <span lang="NL" style="line-height: 115%;">Het is sinds
de Embrunman 2007 geleden dat ik nog eens zo trots ben geweest op een finisher
T-shirt. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="NL" style="line-height: 115%;">Eindbalans: 4h20 min. Geen idee van welke plaats dat opleverde, 15<sup>de</sup>
na het zwemmen, elk onderdeel een 15-tal man me voorbij? Dus rond de zestigste
plaats? Op 120 deelnemers valt dat nog mee, in de eerste kolom, zoals ze in de
voetbal zeggen</span><span lang="NL" style="line-height: 115%;">. Achteraf gezien 46<sup>ste</sup>, toch iets om blij om te zijn. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="NL" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Een uur
achter Yeray, de winnaar... straf toch hoe die gast dat kan... Maar toch op het
podium in mijn categorie “vader van 3 3-tot-6 jarigen” schat ik :-D. Nu, twee
dagen later, voelen de benen niet al te stijf aan, ik zit dus goed op schema
voor de Natureman in oktober. Nog wat extra opbouwen voor het lopen. Het zwemmen
en fietsen goed onderhouden en dat komt wel in orde – als we geen blessures
krijgen. Perfect trainingswedstrijdje was het. Echt een dag om niet rap te
vergeten. Het weer (onweer tijdens het fietsen – stralende zon aan de
aankomst), het parcours (al was het lopen er soms wat over, iets wat ik de
organisator achteraf zelf ook hoorde zeggen – hij zou het volgend jaar iets
anders maken), de sfeer (voor, tijdens en na de wedstrijd) en de organisatie
maakten het een fantastische ervaring die ik elke triatleet, die eens wat
anders wil dan de normale rechttoe rechtaan wedstrijden, zou aanbevelen. Ik
noteer hem alvast volgend jaar opnieuw in mijn agenda. Nu op naar de Natureman
:-D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Koenvdmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307642172093962877noreply@blogger.com0