Martina Pomper, winner of the virtual alpine triathlon at SC Schliersee, reveals in an interview whether there will be a new edition.
Schliersee - The virtual alpine triathlon of SC Schliersee in July was a novelty. For the entire month, the participants could complete the route alone and submit their times via an app. Martina Pomper, second chairwoman of the ski club, helped organize the competition and became the district champion herself. In our conversation, she reveals how the novelty felt - and whether there will be a new edition next year.
The virtual alpine triathlon was new territory for organizers and athletes. Are you satisfied with the first edition?
Yes totally. We had over 100 participants who completed the triathlon completely. The youngest participant was twelve years old, the oldest 75. We received a lot of positive feedback and the award ceremony in the Markus Wasmeier open-air museum was also very nice. We were very pleased that so many young ski club members were there. In addition, some of them dared to try a triathlon for the first time and I think we were able to get them excited about the sport. However, it was more work than expected.
Where did the effort come from?
The app didn't work one hundred percent. That's why I received some times by email and had to enter them myself.
You participated yourself. Did it feel strange doing the triathlon this way?
Yes, yes. The motivation was a little lacking. While swimming I thought to myself: I actually don't feel like it. The motivation came when cycling, but it was gone when running.
Is there no direct competition from other runners?
I wasn't all alone. We did the triathlon with three people. We weren't always together on the route, but we were at the finish. And at the end we also had a beer together. But in real competition you struggle more.
That will also be up to the audience. They're the salt in the soup, aren't they?
Total. For example, there was no nervousness at all. I've already participated x times, but I was always a bit nervous. Not this time. It was also strange at the Spitzingsattel and at the finish, where there are usually a lot of spectators. At Spitzing you are usually breaded after the strenuous bike ride. This time I took a little break upstairs and was more rested than usual. Nevertheless, I was running a minute slower than usual. I blame it on the fact that there were no spectators and no other participants with whom you can compete directly . I'm just a competitive guy.
Will the virtual alpine triathlon take place again - perhaps parallel to the "real" triathlon?
There are no concrete plans yet, but we are already thinking about it. For many, this is the only way to take part in a triathlon. Our youngest participant this year, twelve-year-old Charlotte Dettmann from SC Schliersee, shouldn't have started a normal triathlon at all. Others who have done their first triathlon may not want to jump into the water with 500 other participants. Our idea was well received, there may be imitators. At the award ceremony, we were often asked by other clubs whether they could copy the concept. We think about combining mountain running and mountain biking in autumn or cross-country skiing and touring skiing in winter. It could also be that next year virtual and real triathlons will take place in parallel.