This is not only a running event with 3 500 participants challanging themselves over 6 - 11 or 21 km but also sightseeing, hill running and atmosphere. Folkert Behrends of FB-OPTIMIZER competed the half marathon and after 8 km had to learn that Blankenese is not only stunningly beautiful but also has stairs: long ones, steep ones, short ones... The course goes up and down permanently and can be called "very challanging". BUT the environment compensates for everything.
The finishing times are accordingly slow. Folkert Behrends entered the finish as over all fourth and is still touched by the atmosphere in the finish zone.
Thanks to the organization and the sponsors (Generali) for making such remarkable events happen.
7. Blankeneser GENERALI Heldenlauf am 30. August 2009
FB-Optimizer will be represented at the 7. Blankeneser GENERALI Heldenlauf 30. August 2009 by Folkert Behrends. So keep your eyes open for the 2009 spanish long distance triathlon champion.
Workshops in preparation:
"From walking to jogging (Level I)"
"From jogging to running (Level II)"
"From running to long distance running (Level III)"
IRONMAN LANZAROTE
Ironman Lanzarote 2009 has just passed and all FB-Optimizer members did well and are already signed up for next year's Ironman....!
On the foto: Eloy, Max, Foli, Bienvenido (missing are Mike and Paul)...
Thanks to TRISPORT Supplements and De Soto Europe
Between the Champs
Meeting Luc van Lierde and Richard Hobson at the pool is really putting yourself between the champions....
Richard Hobson being former professional Triathlete in the 90’s with top rankings (World Team Champion; British Champion; top Ironman Finisher) is spending time on the island with a training camp he is offering in his function as a triathon coach (left on picture).
Luc van Lierde being the fastest Ironman ever (7:50:27 h in Roth 1997) as well as double World Champion on the Ironman distance winning 1996 (setting course record still consistent) and 1999 on Big Island Hawaii. 2008 he had to retire the Hawaii Ironman dew to technical problems on the bike. He is now preparing for the next season….
Feel inspired by such athletes…!
Folkert Behrends
FB-Optimizer Running Camp at Club La Santa
FB-Optimizer is offering a "Swim and Running Camp 2008" at Club La Santa from 17. - 20.11.2008 to hit the 10,5km; half- and full marathon of Arrecife on 28.11.2008. This camp will include the "10km Classic" at La Santa. Prices are outn and you can sign up from the 29.09.2008 onwards. There are only 11 places available, so don't be late as some reservations have already been made. The trainingcamp is Spanish, English and German spoken. Get your info package on the CONTACT page or enter left side in the "CHECK THIS OUT".
C.U. there....
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE FOTO
Why no news…?
There has not been any new news on our website since more than six weeks. The reason is that Folkert Behrends had a server accident whilst training for the IRONMAN 2008 on Lanzarote. He was run down by a car when sitting on his bike. The car came from the back and struck him with aprox. 100 km/h. It is a miracle that Foli survived with only internal injuries. Rushed to hospital he was diagnosed three broke vertebras, broken leg, broken ribs and different bruises of the impact. After four weeks of hospital he is now at home starting rehab.
The sad thing about this accident is that Foli was run down on the widest road on Lanzarote on a straight stretch where one can see for at least 2 km to the front. Additionally he was riding in the emergency lane (right side of the white line). The driver has since the accident not informed himself about the state of Foli nor did he inform his insurance about nearly killing a cyclist.
FB-Optimizer is going to use this incidence to start a campaign. We would like the Island Government to set up signs indicating there are cyclists on the road. It is not more than the well known sign being a triangle with a cyclist marked in the middle. Lanzarote does not even have one singe one of these but has about 50 000 cyclists / triathletes over every year. What Lanzarote has is two signs indicating “cows” crossing the road. We have never seen a cow here ever…!
More to come on this campaign….
Stay safe and keep going: it is good to be alive!!!
Interview with Kenneth Gasque
Interview with Kenneth Gasque, Race Director IRONMAN Lanzarote..................................
.
Folkert Behrends: Kenneth, congratulations to a fully booked IRONMAN
2008! Where do you see the reasons for the race being full
this early of the year?
Kenneth Gasque: We are definitely one of the most challenging and fairest
races of the IRONMAN family. We offer all athletes the
same conditions as everybody starts the race together: age
groupers as pros. The bike course is so demanding that
drafting is limited to a minimum plus we have race marshals
controlling the fairness of the race. The marathon along the
Avenida in Puerto del Carmen is very thrilling as there are
thousands of spectators.
A further reason is that the other Ironman races in Europe
are booked out and IRONMAN Lanzarote offers the
alternative; even more now that the Government has
invested in the infrastructure. 90% of the roads have been
done new. Now no athlete has to worry about his material
anymore and we (the organisation) do not have to fear
accidents because of the road quality.
Folkert Behrends: Registration has been closed (12.01.08) and you have 1316
competitors signed up. Last year there were 1040 athletes
competing. Looking at the history of the IRONMAN
Lanzarote, the number of competitor has increased every
year. What does that mean for the organisation?
Kenneth Gasque: Having so many athletes wanting to compete in our race is
fantastic!
We will have to change the transition zone. We need more
space so we will move the finish line further up the Avenida.
The swim start is critical but we had good experience with
the solution last year. I want to continue with the swim start
off the beach and not in the water. But this means that all
the swimmers are heading towards the first buoy and turn
90° after only 250m. Last year we made a 45° turn. It worked
very well.
The logistic does not change very much; it even has
advantages when the race is booked out: we already now
know how many e.g. T-shirts we will need or how many
energy bars etc.
Folkert Behrends: Have you reached the capacity limit?
Kenneth Gasque: In my opinion we can take maximum 1500 competitors. This
limit is set mainly by the swim start and wanting to stick to
the idea of everybody starting at the same time.
Folkert Behrends: Which words would you choose to describe the
IRONMAN Lanzarote to someone who does not know
much about triathlon:
Kenneth Gasque: Island, sun, wind, warm, long day, challenge, experience,
pleasure…
Folkert Behrends: Which were your biggest highlights in the history of
IRONMAN Lanzarote?
Kenneth Gasque: I cannot say I have a biggest highlight because all races
had their own highlights. A highlight is to see the athletes
finish the IRONMAN. The emotions are so different. You
often see finishers cross the finish line and suddenly all
the tension falls off them. They stop running and only then
notice how exhausted they are. But all show the same pride
of having finished the race.
Folkert Behrends: Your biggest nightmares or worst experiences?
Kenneth Gasque: One nightmare is accidents of athletes. The bike leg is on
public roads with car traffic. That is always a danger. The
down hills are steep and fast for the bikers. In the
mountains (Miador del Rio and Miador del Harria) we have
closed the roads down for traffic in one or two directions.
We do so for the safety of the athletes. Fortunately we
have not had serious injuries over the last years.
Two years ago we had a true nightmare at five o clock in
the morning before race start. A drunken car driver entered
the transition zone with his car smashing down fences and
driving in between the bikes. He drove up the transition
zone at least 200m and was then stopped by the security
guards and the police. My first concern was the bikes of
the competitors and how to replace the bikes if there were
some damaged. Luckily no bikes were affected. Imagine an
athlete coming into the transition zone which is guarded
and his bike has been wrecked by a drunken car driver…
As I said: every year has it’s highlights and nightmares.
Folkert Behrends: Do you feel well prepared for this year’s edition of
IRONMAN Lanzarote?
Kenneth Gasque: There is never a guarantee but we feel well prepared.
Folkert Behrends: Thank you Kenneth and good luck and success…
Kenneth Gasque: Thank you…
They have a very strong team for the season 2009: Tridente Tinajo. Racing today were: (left to right) Juan Carlos Benasco Guillen; Omar Delgado Cabrera and Miguel Angel Duque Torbillo. We are proud to be resposible for the future training.
More than satisfied: Folkert Behrends after the race: no cold thanks to DeSoto clothes and very strong thanks to Trisport Supplements
![Folkert Behrends with the seminar \"Training & Recovering\"](/evenimente/imagini/tn/68_img.jpg "Folkert Behrends with the seminar \\"Training & Recovering\\"")
Jorge of the "Policia Local" meeting for a quick analisis....![Cesar our \"speedy Gonzalez\"](/evenimente/imagini/tn/70_img.jpg "Cesar our \\"speedy Gonzalez\\"")
Alternative for a change: Aqua jogging... by the way: P.B. Marathon 2:17 !!!
All Cool Dudes.....!!!
Folkert Behrends ran the 21,1km at the Arrecife Marathon Festival in 1:17:06 and came 6th overall. Not bad for "Coach Carter".....!
