Sunday, June 21, 2009

On Your Mark…Get Set…Go…

Here is the scene at the start of the Haimhausen Triathlon, just outside of Munich. More than 300 athletes jumped into the competition – with a 375M swim, 19.1 KM cycling, and 4.6 KM running – in what’s called a sprint triathlon. The swim was at Unterschleissheimer See, then the cycling travelled through Mooswiesen and past Ottershausen, and completing with a run in Schlosspark and a finish at Bavarian International School sports field. Of course, being Germany, one key difference is that you no longer have worries on the transitions. When you switch from swimming to biking, you just strip on the course and change into your next outfit. But then again, one of the other benefits of being in Germany, there’s a beer garden at the end of the race. Ah…Bavaria.

2 comments:

Chance said...

Hi Troy, Google suggested your blog for me and since I spent 6 months there (working for the now defunct Qimonda) it's nice to see some commentary about Munich sites that I recognize but didn't necessarily know much about.

As a triathlete, I'm surprised that people actually change clothes for sprint tris. Here in the US, we wear fast drying stuff that works for the swim, bike, and run. For the halfs and fulls, I think people do change (especially for the fulls) but like you mention, they are doing it behind curtains.

Stefan Jansson said...

It's a tough sport. I met and photographed a woman who competes in triathlon last year. You have to be impressed by these athletes.