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From Katja:
Dear friends and sponsors,
First I would like to thank you again for your continued support of my athletic career. I am glad to be able to tell you that my first big race this season went very well. I was able to win the Half Challenge in Barcelona, Spain, a race that was covered by international press, as well as Spanish TV. Challenge races are catching up to Ironman standards very fast here in Europe. The organizers (former Ironman Europe/Roth organizers) are doing a fabulous job. There where 2,100 participants from 35 different countries, and I was surprised by the number of spectators on the course.
There was strong competition at the Half Challenge in Barcelona Ivonne Van Vlerken (Ironman world record holder, 2nd Ironman Hawaii) and Wilflower Champion Virginia Berasategui. In third coming out of the water I was able to move into second within the first 30 miles. Virginia stayed with me, and I started the run just ahead of her. Pushing hard the first 2 miles I tried to put a gap between us. My legs where a little stiff, so I decided to focus on form and get my rhythm first. When she caught me at mile 3 I was able to stay with her and react to every push of the pace. After the turn around I started feeling stronger and forced the pace to decide the race early. Now it was on her to react and stay with me. It ended up a very hard run, with many attacks and a sprint to the finish up a steep incline. I was never able to run fast uphill very well. I train in the forest at home on many steep hills, but I was not able to follow her sprint up the hill with about 100y to go. So I finished 2nd, and was a little disappointed. I just did not feel like a winner. I did not know at that point, that she had ignored a drafting call for an 8min penalty. So she was disqualified and I was announced as the winner. Ivonne had a 4min gap after the swim. it stayed almost the same on the bike, but she was able to make up time on the run and finished about 90 sec after me.
I am very proud of my performance. It has been hard after my drop out in Hawaii 2007, the accident at the European Championships, where the car ran me over, and my mother’s passing over the winter.
I race differently today. I try to give my best and focus on a good performance. It isn't important what happens around me and it's as important where I end up. I just want to be at the finish line and know it was the best I could give on that day. Things are in a different perspective than they were a year ago. Racing is important, but it isn't everything. I started a Triathlon Academy, coach athletes, and give seminars. I also do athletic studies and help out at a running project in a youth prison. I have a fulfilling life besides racing. Maybe that's what let me go into the race more relaxed.
I am very happy with my results because it proves that I can still race at the highest level, even after 13 years as a pro athlete.
I am looking forward to many more years together with my fans and sponsors in the sport and with my Triathlon Academy.
Thank you very much,
Katja