Long overdue but finally here: my triathlon plans for 2023!
A year ago I broke my collar bone in a complicated matter, which resulted in surgery and a long recovery without being able to work or train. The first half of 2022 was physically tricky and mentally depressing. With the help of a good physiotherapist and a lot of dedication: I’m back! I’ve been working a lot from November 2022 until May 2023, and now I’m going to take a long break from work to focus on my passion: triathlon! For the next couple of months, I’ll be doing many hours of swim, bike, and run training every day and every week in order to prepare the best for the upcoming Ironman races.
Race Schedule
In 2023 I’m planning to compete in 3 races: Ironman 70.3 Duisberg, Ironman 70.3 Zell am See, and Ironman Cascais!
The first race is Ironman 70.3 Duisburg in Germany on 6 August 2023, a month later the Ironman 70.3 Zell am See in Austria on 3 September 2023, and the last race will be the full-distance Ironman Cascais in Portugal on 15 October 2023.
This means that I have about 2.5 months to prepare for the first race. I hoped to have a few weeks more to train but this must still be doable. So why these races?
Ironman 70.3 Duisburg
The reason I chose IM 70.3 Duisburg is the timing and location. My main focus is IM 70.3 Zell am See and IM Cascais, and IM 70.3 Duisburg is 4 weeks before Zell am See. Perfect to start the triathlon season and enough time to rest and be ready for the next race.
Duisburg is pretty close to the border of the Netherlands and therefore also easy to drive in a few hours. The bike course is flat so no need to train in the mountains. I want to perform but it isn’t my main focus this season.
Ironman 70.3 Duisburg race report
Ironman 70.3 Zell am See
The middle-distance triathlon race in Zell am See, Austria, is my main focus this year. In 2017 this was my first real triathlon race (except for a short tryout Olympic distance in Zeewolde, NL. At the time I was happy with my result in 2017 but this year I expect to be faster and rank higher. It’s 6 years later (and I’m 6 years older) but I’ve made a huge progress in the last few years.
My finisher details of 2017: AG rank 68, total time 5:20:53 (swim 0:39:50 / bike 2:39:47 / run 1:51:52).
Ironman 70.3 Zell am See race report
Ironman Cascais
After the injury last year, I’ve tried and failed to perform in 2022. This year I’ll be back stronger and faster!
A full-distance Ironman (swim 3.8 km / bike 180 km / run 42.2 km) shouldn’t be underestimated. Last year, the long swim went well but I suffered on the bike and run. The heat and a mountain to climb twice (2-loops bike course). The long false-flat road on the run. A hard place and a hard race!
Veel succes weer dit seizoen!