Race Details

Date: June 5th 2022 - Location: Hamburg - Germany - Finish Time: 13 hours 48 minutes 36 seconds - BIB: 466

Swim: accomplished in 1 h 26 m
The one-loop 3.8 km (2.4 mile) ROKA swim course offers a first glimpse of this stunning race in Hamburg, which many consider Germany's "Gate to the World". The course leads from the Jungfernstieg jetty through the Binnenalster and the Außenalster lakes.  -  (check the detailed pdf map)

Swimming Portion:
I felt prepared for swimming, I had covered the total distance in training many times and the temperature of the competition lake was warmer than where I usually train.. but I had not foreseen the "bumps and knocks" during the competition. This year the athletes were more than double compared to the year before and near the bridges it was really a struggle. I will have received thirty (at least) strong blows all on the right leg that led me to stiffen and therefore unexpectedly I got very aggressive cramps for 5/6 times that forced me to stop for a moment and change my style. In the end I was definitely tired with a gap of 2 minutes compared to the previous year, but relieved at least I had completed the first portion of the race.

Bike: accomplished in 6 h 07 m
The 180km Ventum bike course consists of 2 loops which lead from Ballindamm along some of the best sights such as the Reeperbahn, the fish market and the Landungsbrücken out into the idyllic Vier- und Marschlande.  -  (check the detailed pdf map)

Cycling Portion;
In the portion of the bike I went quite well, an average of 29.58 km/h which with the bike I had is almost a feat.
I was happy because I had improved the time of the previous year by 8 minutes. The route was beautiful, initially we were in the center of Hamburg and then went out for about fifty km, there were two laps of 90 km each.
The best part was the one outside the city, where you could push long straights and have fun.
Despite the poor performance bike, I really overtook a lot of people, covering 180.2 km in 6h07m09s.
maybe one day I'll take a serious bike, who knows?

Run: accomplished in 5 h 35 m
The four-loop 42.2 km (26.2 mile) HOKA One One run course was made for fast run times as it takes athletes through the heart of the city of Hamburg and along the world famous Alster Lake. Athletes will pass the finish line at the Rathausmarkt a total of three times for extra motivation.  -  (check the detailed pdf map)

Running Portion:
during the marathon I encountered some unexpected problems. I was feeling ok, but I was very thirsty after the bike portion. I drank some water at the filling stations, but the water was really cold, I'd say too cold and this added to the constant wind that I took on my stomach during the journey along the lake caused me a stomach congestion. During the middle of the marathon I was without strength and struggling to breathe, so I had to walk for 10 km to avoid failing to complete the race. I started running normally again in the last 2 km.
I was angry to have walked for so long because I was not able to beat my previous year time but I was very happy to have managed to finish my second full IronMan !!!
Beautiful experience and magical adventure! Indeed a challenge with yourself.