TRIATHLON STEIN

I was a competitor in all 10 editions of the Long Distance (3 km S - 110 km C - 30 km R) of the Dutch Mountains Challenge Triathlon in Stein. The first edition in 2001 was my first long distance race ever. From 2003 till 2010 I was living in Stein along the bike-course. Especially since my first Dutch Championships-title in Stein 2004 this race is very special to me.

My own main sponsor SABIC is a sponsor of the event as well since 2006 and I became an ambassador of the organisation to promote this fantastic race. I only can recommend everyone who is looking for a nice half distance race with a challenging course to come the Stein and compete in this event usually held in the last weekend of June. There are short distance races for all ages too, so check out more details on the events website: www.triathlonstein.nl 

See above pictures of my victories in Stein: 2004, 2007, 2010 (Photos by Studio Janssen, Stein).

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TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST TRIATHLON

Competing in your first triathlon is a nice experience, but to finish happy and healthy is great too! To help you getting started, check out the following tips:

• Start training slowly and don't add to much km's a week in the beginning.

• Buy a good pair of running shoes, otherwise the injury-risk maybe hit you. Ask a specialist for advice on the best shoes for your body and running style.

• Important in swimming freestyle is practicing the right technique, rather than training distances.

• Prepare yourself (mentally as well) on swimming in cold water without clear visibility. Wear goggles and practice on orientation in open water if possible.

• Prepare your full race mentally, all three disciplines, but the transitions as well.

• Make use of an elastic strap to wear your race-number which have to be shown on your back during cycling, but on your front during running.

• If you start in a race with hot circumstances: take care of enough drinks during cycling and running and wear sunglasses and a (white) cap.

• Use a sportsdrink during competitions but during training as well: it gives you enough fluid, but energy and minerals as well (during sweating, you loose fluid and minerals).

• Try to run directly after a bike-training to get used to the strange feeling in your legs. Focus on your running technique.

• Don't start at too high pace in the race during swimming and first part of the biking but save energy to be able to continue at a nice pace in the second half of the race at well.

• Bring a lot of supporters!!!

• Enjoy every training and triathlon-race!!!

4000 EURO FOR THE LORNAH KIPLAGAT FOUNDATION WITH IM HAWAII 2008

Like last year, I also wanted to do a charity project this year, linked to competing in one of my main races. Due to my sport we do visit a lot of nice places, but in several places on this world, especially in Africa, a lot of people have to fight to survive. I do realize that I cannot change the world on my own, but least I can do is try to contribute small bits and pieces. My charity project of this year has become the Lornah Kiplagat Foundation and I have tried to ask for attention and support for this Foundation around my participation at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Next to attention, our goal was to gather a nice amount of money to support the LK Foundation. We succeeded by fundraising 4000 Euro for this charity goal!

What does the Lornah Kiplagat Foundation do?

Lornah Kiplagat herself barely needs any further introduction. But for those of you who don't know her, here is a short summary: Lornah is one of the best female athletes in the world on any distance between 5k and the marathon, regardless road, track or cross-country racing. She is a multiple world-champion, has run several world records and she has won big city-marathon races. Lornah is born in Kenia, but is a Dutch citizen since 2003 and she did compete on the 10k for Holland in the Beijing Olympics this summer.

Maybe her Foundation is less known, but they do a lot of good charity- and development work in Iten, Kenia, where also the training-centre is located which has been founded by Lornah in 1999. Since good education is not obvious in Kenia, especially not for girls, Lornahs idea about the LKF is to give them better opportunities in terms of education and developing theirselves. At this moment, the LKF can give schoolbooks, education and also HIV/AIDS lessons to Kenian girls and women in Iten. The big dream of the Foundation however is to establish a boardschool for 250 girls in Iten in coming years. I definitely would like to help the LKF in the realization of this dream!

Why did I choose for the Lornah Kiplagat Foundation?

As Lornah does, I also do believe that a lot of the big problems in African countries can be tackled by good education. In that way, development really starts. While women and men are equal, women also should have equal chances on development. This is something I want to contribute to and it appeals to me that Lornah does this as well. I really think its great that a top athlete like her (in a related endurance sport) shows her compassion to goals like this. Professional topsport is selfish enough in itself, but she shows it can be done in other ways as well. That is something that inspires me and therefore she has my full support in this charity project.

Thank you!

I want to thank all contributors to this charity project. Thanks to many spontaneous gifts from both individuals and companies we were able to reach our goal. Also a lot of thanks to the race organizations of the Holland Triathlon Almere and the Mergelland marathon Meerssen for giving me full support in giving attention to this project around my participation in their races. 

links: www.lornahkiplagatfoundation.nl  en  www.lornah.com

"DOING TRI - FIGHTING HIV": 4000 EUR !!!     -

In 2007 it was the 3rd year in a row that I did a part of my training in South-Africa. Our Dutch friends Joost and Anita Kessels were living in Potchefstroom for a few years, a town appr. 100 km from Johannesburg, and I stayed at their home for some weeks. Anita her job was working in the township of Potchefstroom on projects dealing with fighting HIV & AIDS, a big problem in South-Africa. We visited the township ourselves and these are experiences that have impact. That's why the Bambanani Youth Project got our support.

Joost en Anita are triathletes theirselves and they were, like me, competing in the Ironman South-Africa in March 2007 in Port-Elisabeth. With in total 10 athletes we had formed a team called: ‘Doing TRI, fighting HIV’ and we gathered money for an important project in the township Ikageng: The Bambanani Youth Project. Bambanani means ‘Standing strong together’ and deals with fighting HIV and AIDS. As a group of triathletes and friends, we felt the need to turn our individual triathlon achievements into this joint goal.

One of the most devastating results of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is the growing number of orphaned children. Because their parents have died of AIDS, these children usually grow up with family members or in the worst case in a child headed household. Because Bambanani feels that no child deserves to be caught up in social problems caused by HIV/AIDS, it opened a Children Centre for children who became orphans because of HIV/AIDS. This centre is called ‘Siyanqoba Children Centre’ because Siyanqoba means: ‘We are getting there’. 80 children varying from 2 to 16 years old, come to the centre daily where they are assisted with their homework, counselling, a meal and have the possibility to play. The goal of the children centre basically comes down to support and care for orphans so that they can lead a normal life. Siyanqoba Children Centre started in September 2006 in a church building with very little means. With our ‘Doing TRI, fighting HIV’ team, we have raised funds for this centre so that tables, chairs, books and toys could be bought for the children.

Pictures from Ikageng: the children of the Siyanqoba Children Centre with completely left on the picture Anita Kessels

All team-members were competing in the Iron Man triathlon in Port Elisabeth on the 18th of March 2007, meaning that we all swam 3.8 km, cycled 180 km and finished after running a marathon: 42.2 km. We all were sponsored per kilometer by a lot of people and since we were directly related to the project, the orphans in the township Ikageng in Potchefstroom did benefit from this initiative for 100% of your gift.

By supporting this project, I really hoped to do something for people on a place on earth where people are not automatically that prosperous as we are in Western-Europe. I want to thank all of you who were supporting us, this project and most important the children too!