Race Coverage

Painfully Amazing....

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 23:10

By Manuela Knispel

Zofingen Long Course Duathlon World Championships Race Report - Zofingen kept all his promises of being the toughest duathlon in the word. It was by far the most painful and amazing race I have ever done. Here comes a little bit of a long post how it has been for me...It is a 10km run, a 150km bike and a 30km run that does sound hard but put that in the Swiss mountains and it becomes a whole new dimension. Honestly, I forgot all about the first run, the 700ft of up and downhill on mostly mountain trail went smooth and comfortable (in 41min but it's actually a 9.2km). The bike ride are three loops of 50km, three major hills in the beautiful Swiss countryside. I enjoyed the bike ride a lot. Going up the infamous Bodenberg feels a bit like the Tour de France where people are cheering on both sides of the rode. I passed people up the hill and were passed going down. The most important goal for the bike ride was to execute my nutrition plan. I tried to eat and drink as much as I could. After 5hours:10min I was happy that I didn't get a flat or crash my bike and could finally run. Actually I was so excited that I passed the bike-in and went on a fourth loop but soon realized my mistake and had to go back.

The run (it's about 2,500 ft of elevation for the 18mi) starts with a big big uphill. I felt good after the bike determined that I could run the hill. It...

worked for about 2miles! A cramp hit me so hard and unexpected that I was not able to move at all, not one step. I was crushed, I wanted to cry. So this is what they all talk about of the struggle in Zofingen.... Under great pain I tried to do some baby steps, then I could walk again and soon I was running again. But from that time finishing the race became a big big struggle. As soon as there was a slight uphill or when I wanted to run faster than a 9min per mile, my legs said no more. Somehow I made it to the first turning point at km 7.5. The announcer said I was second in my AG (wow) but I saw the German girl about only 1-2min behind me. I told myself that so many people were cheering for me and wanted to make them proud (and for sure wanted to beat the German). But there is a fine line between success and failure in Zofingen and my only goal was to finish. So I kept walking up the hills and running down the hills. I walked every water station (every 2.5km) and enjoyed my coke. The second run consists of two loops. They let you run down to the finish line but you have to turn and go up this monster hill again. When I came to the arena the first woman just finished. It was great to see her and hard for me to go out again. I ran 1km up the hill but than walked (I didn't want to do the same mistake as in the first loop). I kept the cramping under control by walking a ton. But so did everybody else, even the winners. Running on mountain trails and uneven grass doesn't help your trashed legs and cramping is a common problem in Zofingen. With only 3miles to go I was surprised that the German girl was still behind me, given my slow pace. It seemed everybody has to deal with the same struggles. The last 3miles are pretty much all downhill. Until this point I was fine running downhill but in the last 1.5km my legs were cramping more and more. Under occasionally screaming I was running to the finish line. Coming into the arena and this time being able to cross the finish line was amazing. I took the American flag from our team manager and crossed the finish line happy and smiling in 8:39. My sister was at the finish line telling me that I was 11th and second in my AG! I couldn't believe it. I was the first American woman, I beat one elite athlete and four others (out of 12) could not finish the last run. Finishing this race is a victory in itself, no matter the time and no matter how good of an athlete you are. While in other races you might be able to jog or walk to the finish line, the Swiss mountains are unforgiving. I'm glad that the Gods of Zofingen had mercy with me! The cheers and camaraderie between the athletes is amazing. Most of the 190km I did race with a girl from the Netherlands. We encouraged each other but sadly she wasn't able to finish. It is a tough race where many dreams can be crushed.
Thanks for all the cheers, my friends! And big thanks to my coach Mike Buenting for preparing me physically and mentally for this big challenge.