Yep, that’s me traipsing through the finish line at the Quelle Challenge in Roth, Germany a few days before the actual race. Note the lack of cheering fans and the obvious fact that I’m wearing jeans.

As planned, I completed only the swim and bike on race day then stopped in T2. My own unofficial aqua bike race with me as the only participant.

I had mixed feelings about doing an event that I knew that I was not going to finish. On the one hand, I was already in Germany and had spent the time and money to make the trip. On the other hand, I was racing in the pro category with a low race number based on my original forecast for a fast race. I had a difficult time explaining to other athletes that I was going to do only some of the race and that I really wasn’t in race shape: “Everyone says that,” was the typical response, as they shrugged off my attempts to explain my situation.”

“No, really, I’m just doing the swim and the bike. Don’t expect a fast time from me on race day.”

On race day, I had a decent swim (57 minutes) then shivered through a cold, wet 112-mile bike ride. After finishing the bike leg, I wandered over to the finish line and saw the top men and women finishers. Two women broke Paul Newby-Fraser’s Ironman-Distance world record at Roth that day: Yvonne Van Vlerken in 8:45:48 and Ericka Csomor in 8:47:05. I saw them both make history. Very impressive!

Live life boldly and richly,

David Glover

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David B. Glover
Professional Triathlete, Coach and Race Director
Author of Full Time and Sub-Nine
Personal Web: www.davidglover.net
Business Web: www.enduranceworks.net

© 2008 David B. Glover