Challenge Copenhagen Race report

Last Sunday I Raced Challenge Copenhagen and I have to tell you guys about it, because this was an amazing experience.

Photo: ©Jørgen Ebbesen / www.jorgenebbesen.com

For me this was, in many ways a new start. It was actually my first long distance race in almost two years and it was my first long distance race under the wings of my coach Susanne Buckenlei from Professional Endurance Team.

The build up was a little different than what I normally have been used to, mainly given that a couple of years ago I fitted my training in to a very busy daily life with studies and work. Now there have been more focus on the sport and it would also be cool to see if this fact was shown in the result in the end of the day.

During my studies I lived five years in Copenhagen – and I grew up just a mile north of the end of the bike course – and a race on home turf is always special.

The Race started well. I was fighting in the main pack for the first 4-500m but then had to let them go. I caught the feet of another guy who also had to let go of the main pack and I just stayed on his feet for the rest of the swim. I felt strong, the water had 17,4 degrees but I was not freezing at all. I came out in 51:29 min. A new personal best for me.

Onto the bike, three guys that exited the water one minute after me, came along. I rode with them for about 25k. The idea was to ride as stable watts as possible and rather to ride alittle slower than I could but therefore to have a good run. This was maybe a mistake to let these guys go, because with my couple of 60 kilos I could have used a little motivation on the way back in headwind. I rode by myself – and the next time i saw other athletes was at about the 150km mark when I took over a little group that looked like they had been pushing to hard at some point. It was a lonley ride, but a good one and I had a lot of time to enjoy how well my Exorcet was rolling. Sometimes it is quite cool not having to look at some guys ass in front of you for half a day, and instead being able to enjoy the places were you get to ride your bike.

Photo: ©Jørgen Ebbesen / www.jorgenebbesen.com

Back in the city the real hunting began. I was at 22^th place and there was quite some work to be done if I wanted to make a top 10 result, witch was the goal of the day.

I ran out feeling comfortable and knowing that my chances for a fast run split was better than some the guys who had pushed hard on the bike. It was a 4 loop couse and after the first one I started to pick up the guys one at a time. I was running well an with 10 km left I was in 9^th position. Stephen Bayliss was only about a minute ahead but my legs started slowly to let me know that it had been a long day and I could not close the gap. I ran a 2:48 min. marathon and crossed the line in 8:36 min. Have a look at the results here.

Photo: ©Flemming Gernyx

It was a really amazing race. It was just like one big party in the streets of Copenhagen. Organisers and police estimated more than 100.000 people cheering on the run course alone so you could imagne what a push that was.

Photo: ©Flemming Gernyx

Here a couple of days later I am still having problems with getting down on stairs but at the same time looking forward to Challenge Henley in 4 weeks.

Thank you so much for your support.

Take care