02.02 – Still scarce six months …

…. Until the absolute highlight of the season, the Ironman Zurich over 3.8km swim, 180km cycling and 42,2km running.

It’s been quiet, so far no winter competitions, which was probably mainly because my body fought physically and I mentally still the side-effects of the operations from late autumn 2015. The valley of tears was deep, but insatiable optimism, the urge to never give up and thanks to the stoic patience of my partner; I’m assuming that it will be good again in 2016. So an episode we had not even 10 months ago and a (not even) fantastic athletic year 🙂

Parallel, I started mid-November a new job with which I was assigned from the beginning with a high level of responsibility and autonomy. I definitely do not regret the step to change, the tasks are great, the work environment even better, but again a new change in my life, which I had to overcome.

Slowly piece arises in the health and professional variables, and it is time to tackle the last 6 months until the first long distance race. Although the training went on, I worked (visible) on my power, flexibility and stability, it was still not that level I am used to at this time and had expected of me. “It’s all about perception”, a good manager of mine always said, well and it is this expectation I had to cut back. Not easy!

At yesterday’s performance diagnostics on the bike I was then pleasantly surprised. Compared to last year, where I was in a very different training condition and haven’t had an illness episode behind me, the values were marginally lower, but still at very high levels. To be able to work on now 🙂

Next week I will even unpack the race-shoes again at Munich’s winter-run series over 20km. The first milestone will then take place on April 10th at the Obermain Marathon over 42.2km and 700 high meters!

All in all, I am very, very, happy. Apart from a metabolic disorder, I am per se healthy, live in a war-free country, have access to all the food I love, running hot water and must not be afraid of terrible viruses. That sounds pathetic? No, it’s just the insanely beautiful truth!

So long
Anja