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Victory in Hamburg: She is now an Ironman

2021-09-08T10:51:04.169Z


Germering / Hamburg - Tanja Spielberger threw her arms up. It was the last effort that the 30-year-old athlete of the Tri-Team Fürstenfeldbruck was still able to do while crossing the finish line of the Hamburg Ironman after 9:48:00 hours. When she wanted to get up from a bench a few minutes after crossing the finish line, it was only possible with the support of the family members who had traveled with her.


Germering / Hamburg - Tanja Spielberger threw her arms up.

It was the last effort that the 30-year-old athlete of the Tri-Team Fürstenfeldbruck was still able to do while crossing the finish line of the Hamburg Ironman after 9:48:00 hours.

When she wanted to get up from a bench a few minutes after crossing the finish line, it was only possible with the support of the family members who had traveled with her.

The last reserves were used up.

But the ordeal was worth it: Tanja Spielberger was the fastest woman over 30, fastest amateur and still ninth if you also include the professionals.

"I was glad that it was over," said the Germeringen endurance specialist after the race, which consists of 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running. The 30-year-old experienced an emotional roller coaster ride over the last twelve kilometers. On the one hand, she had found out at kilometer 20 that she was leading the field of amateurs and her age group with ease. On the other hand, from kilometer 30 at the latest, her body was sending unmistakable signals that it was slowly becoming good. "I thought every minute: now it's bang and the thigh is closed," says Tanja Spielberger. From then on she only moved from one supply station to the next.

For a long time, the 30-year-old had no idea how fast she was going.

With her family and carers, she had previously agreed that the intermediate result would not be reported to her until 20 km.

"Until then, I have to do my race." In between, a spectator had called out to her that she was leading the age group.

But she hadn't really believed him.

Tanja Spielberger was all the more reassured when she finally found out about the interim results.

"If necessary, I'll walk the last few kilometers," she said to herself.

With over 30 minutes ahead of the second woman over 30, maybe that would have been enough.

But the 30-year-old didn't go, she kept walking, bit through.

“The announcement actually motivated me,” she says.

"I only really enjoyed the last 200 meters."

And at the latest when she heard the course announcer calling the finish line “You are an Ironman” it was clear: the long preparation for the competition was worth it. The 30-year-old had been training for the Ironman in Hamburg since February. It was originally scheduled for June, but then had to be moved to August. No problem for Tanja Spielberger. "My trainers designed the training plan so that we can still react eight weeks before the Ironman."

Actually, the Germeringer would have wanted to start in Hamburg last year.

But the event was canceled due to Corona.

Tanja Spielberger decided spontaneously to take part in the “Race around Austria” - a 560 kilometer bike race through the Austrian Alps.

“The hardest thing I've ever done,” she said after the 22-hour torture over 6500 meters in altitude, which she completed second.

This toughness helped her in Hamburg, as did the weather.

While many athletes complained about the rain, the girl from Germeringer felt very comfortable in wet and moderate temperatures.

“That's perfect for me,” says the 30-year-old.

"I can't handle the heat at all."

However, that should change by next year. Because with her success in Hamburg, Tanja Spielberger has achieved another personal goal: qualification for the legendary Ironman in Hawaii. "I was flirting with the Hawaii slot even before the start," says the 30-year-old. The joy that it worked straight away was still huge. There, the Germeringer women will expect different temperatures and conditions than in the cool north of Germany.

But it seems unlikely that Tanja Spielberger will let this slow her down. Even after the competition in Hamburg, she did not allow herself a long break. Only six days later (“when I was able to move normally again in everyday life”) she and her women's team started again in the short-distance triathlon league - and promptly came first again.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-09-08

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