Blog: Project Superman – Ironman Switzerland

I don’t remember who described the bike course in Zürich as ‘easy’ but I know that it was a fool. With only 200-height-meters less than Nice, this is by any standard a demanding bike course. The first 30 K’s of the 2-lap course are fast and flat, after that it’s rolling hills (still fairly fast), steep climbs and dangerous descents.

But even after T2, those aspiring an Ironman title in Zürich have their work cut out for them on a run course that is tougher than it looks.

Immediately after the bike-to-run transition, those already lactate acid-saturated leg are almost cut from underneath you by a 300-meter-long bridge climb that you’ll have to shuffle over four times before heading towards the finish line on a twisting-and-turning and tunnel-spiked run lap.

Add the gridlock at the second swim lap and I’d say chances of posting a new PB here are slim to anorexic. Unless, of course, you are racing with the pros or your Personal Best – for some reason – does not at all reflect your current ability. But what is it than, that makes Ironman Zürich a must-do race?

Well, all of the above. Because these elements make it a really tough race that will look very prestigious on your Ironman Curriculum. And of course, there is the scale of this event. The immense expo, the side events, the 1500 people/per session race briefing, the Iron man shop the size of a soccer field. A day at IM Zürich feels like a day in the Tour de France. It is huge. And of course, there are the tens of thousands of spectators.

On Heartbreak Hill, a short paw breaker at the end of the bike lap you feel like your riding Alpe d’Huez with the pros with a crowd of thousands over just a few hundred meters splitting in front of you like the Red Sea. Generally, I prefer smaller and cozier, myself, with slightly less people and slightly more space. But – and even more if you are living in Europe – your Ironman track record just isn’t complete without racing here at least once.

As for the ‘professional kicks’ that I wanted to experience and tell everyone about, here’s another one that I can cross off my list: ‘The Press Conference’. Flanked by Karin Thürig, Stefan Riessen, Matthias Hecht from Team Commerzbank and three-time winner Ronnie Schildknecht, I sat at the athlete’s table in front of the international press. A humbling experience, but also an unforgettable one. IM Zürich’s Communication Manager, Jennifer Elbling, took the time to present Project Superman to the reporters and the pro athletes and asked the pros if they thought it would be possible for a 45 year-old age grouper to move from average age group results to a (sub-)top time within the course of one season.

Stefan Riesen – being véry kind – said that he thought it would be very, very difficult, but not entirely impossible, depending an my talent, how I trained before and my present and previous levels of fitness. Ronnie Schildknecht was realistic and honest in his assessment. According to him, improving your personal best by half an hour would already be an incredible…regardless of the end result. He basically came to the same conclusion as Mark Allen, back in January: given the necessary talent, commitment dedication, resources and guidance, it just mìght be possible…over at least a three or four-year period.

Nevertheless, I was on cloud nine. Being listened to by reporters and top athletes alike, I felt like I was Bob the Builder, invited by mistake to a press conference of superheroes and sitting in between Batman, Superman, The Incredible Hulk and Supergirl. I got to talk about TRIWWW, what they do and how they make a world of difference for physically challenged children.

So this press conference is one moment that I will cherish for the rest of my days. I also mentioned during the press conference that the airline lost my bike and that I was hoping to get it back before the race. After the press chat, Matthias Hecht and Team Commerzbank’s press agent, Ulrike, came up to me. “Hi, Peter”, Matthias said, “We need to do something about that lost bike of yours …”

They offered to try and get me a Plasma from Team Commerzbank, and Matthias 8th and 13th at Kona on 2008 and 2009, respectively, even offered me a set of his own wheels.

I was high as a kite. I eventually got my own bike back, a few hours before the bike check-in. As I was looking for my spot in the bike park, I felt a tap on the shoulder. It was Stefan Riesen: “Hey Peter. Glad to see you got your bike back. And the best of luck tomorrow”.

Can you imagine that?

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Read more about :Ironman, Matthias-Hecht, Peter-Lissens, Project-Superman, Stefan Riesen, Switzerland