?? I did it !!! ??

?? With some pride I would like to inform that I finished my first 1/4 triathlon last Sunday. Having gone to hell and back (twice!), it still feels amazing having crossed the finish.

? Turning 40 in September of this year, not having done any serious sports activities during the last 20 years (and smoking for most of that time...), working long days where fast food was the only option left after coming home and coming out of the whole COVID lockdown situation with almost an additional 20 kg under my belt, I decided that I needed to change my lifestyle and take back control of my mental and physical wellbeing.

?? After a lot of talking and debating, I decided to register for a 1/4 triathlon with 2 of my colleagues end of last year. A former youth swimming champion and a marathon runner. Oh dear…

After not having been selected to partake in the same race as them ??, I anyway chose to still pursue this at the time seemingly unachievable goal on my own.

?? Since November last year I embarked on my journey with a rigorous training schedule. I still vividly remember suffering to finish my first 5K running training in +35 minutes in freezing temperatures and the week of recovery time that followed. Regardless of the suffering during those first weeks, I immediately started feeling more alive. The training schedule brought back structure into my life. Saying that I enjoyed every second of it would be a big fat lie, but in hindsight, these small investments of time and effort in myself allowed me to cope with day to day challenges better.

?? During the process, I got set back twice due to self-inflicted injuries. Changing my lifestyle and the relentless training session resulted into a muscle injury the day before Christmas, which took 3 weeks to heal and another 2 weeks of low intensity training. Having also picked up on another favorite hobby of mine, being wakeboarding, the same thing happened to me in the midst of my preparation for my first attempt (see below).

?? Having prepped myself to participate in the 1/4 triathlon of Brugge end of June, I was so stoked to finally enter the stage and perform. After having broken my PB on the 1K open water swimming, I sadly had to abandon the race due to a flat tire after 5K into the race. Having made the split decision of leaving my ‘emergency kit’ at home when I was loading my bike into the car, I was so disappointed that I was not going to be able to show to my supporters the fruits of my labor and give my all.

?? After having digested this setback during my holidays, I got a bit lost as the structure the trainings had brought to my day to day life was gone. Still feeling the urge of completing my first one, I started scouring around for a next challenge. That’s when I decided to register for the Flanders Fields 1/4 triathlon in Ypres, a region we refer to as “Land of the Hills”. Since it was on the 10th of September, I assumed that the weather would be ideal and I would not have to worry about the heat, something I always have difficulties of dealing with. Oh dear…

?? The race last Sunday was most eventful, not to say the least.

Having had the opportunity to go to the beach (sweater at the ready off course) three times in the last 20 years on my birthday mid-September, Belgium has been suffering an unprecedented and never before recorded heat wave in September with temperatures over 30°C. With an insatiable d(r)ive I jumped into the city canals for the 1K swim and met my targeted pace.

Sadly (the attentive readers might already guess what comes next), I was again faced with equipment failure. Not 1 but 2 flat tires. After having gone mental the second time, I took a deep breath and started to knock on doors to find somebody who wanted to borrow me his/her bicycle pump. Not wanting to give up for my biggest supporters who were waiting for me at the finish in blistering 36°C temperatures, I kept my eyes on the prize, regathered my motivation and jumped back on the bike to finish the challenging 40K race. Not taking into account the approx. 30 mins lost with the tire changes, I arrived just outside of the time I had targeted. Ignorant of the fact that the running trail was at least as hilly and challenging as the cycling trail. It even had stairs. Oh dear...

? After all the setbacks and related loss of motivation in desert-like conditions, I was able to finish my first 1/4 triathlon in 3 hours and 21 minutes. Not taking into account the lost 30 minutes, I arrived close to my pre-race target of 2 hours 45 minutes.

Finishing together with my biggest supporters was an awesome feeling !!! ??

?? Why this lengthy text ? Because I needed to vent and tell you that I have learned a lot on my journey. Finishing this tough race has proven once again to me that an at the beginning seemingly unattainable goal can be achieved. Anything is possible ! All you need is a good dose of ambition, vigor and persistence, learn from your mistakes, set personal realistic intermediary goals, savor and celebrate when you achieve them and be willing to make the required investment and effort.

“The journey is the reward!”

?? Leaves me with giving a big THANK YOU to :

My biggest supporters

• My family for supporting me and bearing with me throughout my rigorous training schedule.
• Romina Ozorio and Jens De Prins for fostering the spirit of friendly competition and keeping me motivated to continue (you guys are my new heroes… but next year I’m coming for you ??).
• The good citizens of Ypres who suffered the heat to douse and cool us with their garden hoses. Much appreciated !!!