Perfect conditions

Ladenburg was a great race. Luckily the rain didn't show up and it wasn't so hot like in 2005. Heiko and me jumped off the boat and started in the last row to avoid the trouble at the front. During the 1.8 km I lost sight of him and I left the Neckar after approx. 27 min, on position 300 of 350 starters. It took some time to get out of the neoprene, it is a bit too small for me, I guess.

The bike part was fantastic, I had a lot of fun overtaking around 100 competitors on the way up the two hills. When I arrived back in Ladenburg for last disciplin, the running, I was already on apporx. position 200. I found my rhythm pretty fast, it was a lot better than some weeks ago in Maxdorf, so I could speed up a little and overtake some more 50 people.

At the end I finished in 2:43 h, 5 minutes slower than in 2005. But I am totally happy with the result, regarding the small amount of training compared to that year.

The Ladenburg triathlon festival

Time has come again. Next weekend the Ladenburg olympic triathlon will again be hold near Mannheim. Having to skip it last year, I will compete again this year. Swimming in the Neckar, cycling a some mountains in the Odenwald forest and running a nice loop within the Ladenburg park, this is a really nice small triatlon.

And the starter crowd will again be magnificent, e.g. Ironman world champion Norman Stadler and Ironman European champion Timo Bracht will again fight a duel.

Tropical Mannheim

Puuh, after weeks of cold and rainy weather the summer finally hit. But this time a bit too much, if you ask me. 36°C we had yesterday in Mannheim.

So I had to reduce my planned triathlon training, it was simply too hot. I didn't do much more than a 13 km run and walk and a small bike tour in the Odenwald. That was enough to reach my current limit, puuh!

Holiday in Mannheim

My parents have been in Mannheim for a good week, visiting the city and surroundings. We have been to castle Auerbach and did a bike trip along the river Neckar to Bad Wimpfen, a very nice old city on top of a rock overlooking the Neckar valley. A very nice scenery.


The castle Auerbach


Me and my recumbent bike


Bad Wimpfen


Me and my parents on top of a city tower


Good old cobblestone


A friendly tree in Bad Wimpfen

Tuesday was the annual Firmencup (Company Cup) running event on the Hockenheim race circuit. 4.8 km on the former Formula1 race track with 5-11,000 runners.

It was raining, so we have been just 5 people of our company this time. But anyway, all finished successfully.

I was a little bit faster than last year with my 17:20 min. Not bad regarding my current training, I think.

Below a picture of me just some meters before finishing.

Ameland - a treasure in the Northern Sea

After a long club evening in Utrecht on Friday, Basti, Eli, Sebi, Judy and me went to Ameland. On Saturday we explored the small Frisian island in the Northern Sea by tandem bike, enjoyed sleeping on the beach and trying out the newly won kite (at Thursday's regular table in the pub). Before closing the day in a small pannenkoeken restaurant, we went swimming in the Sea.

At night the big rain started. Wet - but happy - we reached the ferry on Sunday morning.

Some visual impressions:


Ameland - the Frisian island in the Northern Sea


Eli and Basti on a tandem bike


On our way along the beach


Fun with the Dutch bikes




Me, Judy, Eli and Basti at the beach






The cold sea competition :)