Well triathlon friends, when you enter a competition for the first time in three years, is that of course and a good reason to climb into the pen again at the end of a wonderful day. I wish you a lot of reading pleasure and I hope that all finishers can find themselves in the story!

I want to enjoy a match again and why am I for it 1/3 distance had registered in Leiderdorp, I don't know exactly either. “So Joost… are you going to do a third?”, Walter opens the conversation somewhat teasingly and at the same time with surprise when my bike is in the parc ferme for a few seconds. “Moguh Walter, well… I am not completely behind it myself.” Now I hardly compete in recent years and you didn't see me go beyond the Olympic distance at all.

I honestly admit to him that I have my doubts about the final run. Since I started training more 'seriously' again, I have a lot of pain in my calves. Left my Hokas in the closet three weeks ago and things are getting a little better since I'm back in my old trusted shoes, but still not fantastic. "I don't feel like injuries and that's why I let myself be transferred to the Olympic distance", says Walter. He completed that distance in a very neat 02:23:40. At the same distance, Nico Verkade misses the podium by a hair. He takes with a time of 02:18:25 fourth place.

Back to my match. While I had been looking forward to the race for months, the fun quickly disappeared in recent weeks with the weather forecast deteriorating and reading the participant information carefully. 07.00 Report pm. A day full of rain and low temperatures lay ahead. I'm not his morning person and with the kids still in holiday mode, getting out of bed alone was a tough assignment. At the same time, they were probably also secretly a bit nervous.

Before the start, a quick trip to the toilet. Well...just quick. Our Leiden friends from the organization had counted for the entire field of participants 2 dixie's arranged. And with all those triathletes who want to poop before the start, so i stood 20 minutes until I was also at my starting weight. 1 minute to eight I run off the toilet, wet suite on, water in!

I've been going through my game plan with myself over the past few days. Start swimming slowly and don't waste too much energy. Now that I'm in the water way too late, I close neatly at the back. The starting ribbon goes up and the field kicks away. Beginnersfout! Not only do I want to swim quietly, but a large part of the field in front of me doesn't really swim through either. I end up in violence and after a few minutes decide to turn on to end up in freer water. It's only halfway through the second lap that I feel like I'm getting into my rhythm. Next time go to the toilet earlier, do a warm-up and lie in front between the faster swimmers. In the end I come out of the water as the 38th without too much effort.

On the bike it takes a while before I get my rhythm, but after that it runs fine. The fact that I mounted a recumbent handlebar on my road bike for the first time in three years on Thursday is of course not very smart. That many people overtake me while cycling, I don't find such a problem. That was calculated in advance. I hoped above 30 on average to complete the bicycle part and that was more than successful. Once home, I am gently reminded by our chairman that he is in 37 average round. Respect! Martin finishes as the fastest TVB'er on the 1/3 distance in a time of 03:13:23 and the ease with which he does so, suspect that the form is coming for his World Cup participation in Almere in a month. In the end, the weather gods were not against us. Although the headwind is sometimes strong and we have to deal with a heavy downpour halfway through the cycling part, this was many times less bad than the predicted continuous rain.

Furthermore, cycling in Leiderdorp is quite boring. A small run-up and then five rounds of 12 kilometer, a few bridges and a turning point at the beginning and end of the course. The advantage of this course is that you often meet other TVB'ers. You also don't have to pay too much attention while cycling, because the course is completely traffic-free and therefore only has two right-angle bends. While cycling, the first encouragements also come from a number of TVB people who have taken the trouble to come to Leiderdorp. According to the organization, that is actually not allowed, but 'spectator ban' or not our blue friends will of course not be stopped just like that.

For dessert we can still 15 kilometer walk. I take it easy during the switch. Work in another gel and feel happy during the first meters that my calves seem to keep calm. Not long after I started my first run I am overtaken by Jeroen Went. He beats with his end time of 03:19:00 not just me, but also wins the brotherly struggle with Hugo who with 03:51:23 brings his sports day to a nice end a little later.

My first kilometers are going well and I'm very happy that I completed them all 5.15 per kilometer loop. After the first running round I grab a cup of water as planned and walk 250 meter. I feel like I can carry on without walking, but I don't want to put too much strain on my calves. Around me people are trying to encourage me to start running again. Not necessary. This is actually the first moment I have time to enjoy. Everything is going according to plan and I feel like a real triathlete for the first time in years.

After my walking break I pick up running again. Halfway through the second lap I am overtaken by Kirstin. “Connect”, calls De Kees. He has also ignored all Covid measures of the organization and is part of the growing group of TVB'ers who are spread over the course during the running part.. My plan was not to let it drive me crazy. ok Kees, I'm going to turn it on. I'll close the gap to Kirstin in seconds. My heart rate is skyrocketing, I feel the acidification all over my body. Not smart. Kirstin is too fast for me. I stop my resistance and drop back to my own pace. Finally Kirsten ends up in 03:42:43.

My second run of 5 kilometers are also going well and despite (or thanks) walk the short distance, Will I be able to maintain the same pace of the first lap?. In the meantime I can see on the other side of the course that Pascal has a much faster pace. It is therefore not surprising that he with 03:24:16 almost half an hour before me ends. Henrie has a lot more trouble with the running part at that moment. In the end he is the smartest of our club, because with an end time of 04:07:14 he is the only one who can enjoy this wonderful sports day for more than four hours. If I look closely, Is there another TVb'er in his neighborhood. Jannette is a little harder to recognize, because she doesn't wear club clothes. But it's really her! Jannette is the only lady from the TVB who participates in the Olympic distance and finishes it in 03:02:52.

Just before entering the last five kilometers Martin shouts triumphantly at me “You're going to make it man!" He is right, but it's not easy anymore. I can't keep up the pace of the first ten kilometers. I have forgotten the chance of pain in my calves and the fact that I know I'm going to finish gives me a super good feeling. Once again I encourage Manon. She's just a little behind me and the set-up of the running lap allows me to encourage her twice every lap. That's the beauty of the TVB family. I had seen her name come up in the app, but never met. Who wouldn't know better and hear us cheering each other on during the game, I doubtless thought we had been training together for years. Manon finishes within four hours in 03:58:21.

The last two kilometers are the hardest, but with the finish in sight, the smile is back on my face. Na 03:49:58 the adventure is over. I'm exhausted, pleased, tired and craving fruit. After recovering for a while I walk back to the parc ferme. Just before that, Geesje shoots over the running course. She participates in the sprint distance just like Miranda and John. It started at the end of the morning. I would prefer to encourage them, but the organization insists that the parc ferme will be empty and actually I am really broken. While I'm getting my things together I hear that Miranda is crossing the line in 01:23:33 and later I read on the results list that John after 01:34:22 has completed his sprint distance. Not much later after John stops the clock for Geesje 01:42:01.

While leaving the parc ferme, the real downpours start. I don't have the energy to run to my car and walk in the pouring rain towards the parking lot. Halfway through I stop for a moment with Geert (I did not forget you). Geert passed me in the first cycling kilometers and finished in a beautiful time of 03:31:46. Geert's sports adventure is not over yet. While people are hiding en masse and running to their cars, Geert cycles home with Martin. Weird people those Almere goers (Geert is training for the half). I'm afraid they came home completely soaked.

When I get in the car a few minutes later, I'll call Femke and the kids and my buddy Bas quickly. They had both already bombarded me with apps, after they followed everything via the TVB website and supporters app. I'm super happy! All objectives achieved and once again participated in a real competition!

Kudos to all the supporters who have passionately encouraged us again despite the weather forecast and the 'ban' on spectators. It makes your sports day so much more fun!

And finally…..while I can hardly get off the couch normally in the afternoon because of the muscle pain, I secretly check the ntb calendar. I think I've caught the virus again. Fortunately, this virus does give you energy

1/3 triathlon (1300 zwemmen / 63,5 fietsen / 15 walk)
Martin Kerkvliet 03:13:23
Jeroen Went 03:19:00
Pascal Bloemheuvel 03:24:16
Geert van Dijk 03:31:46
Kirsten Williams 03:42:43
Joost Kling 03:49:58
Hugo Went 03:51:23
Manon Zuurmond 03:58:21
Henrie de Bruin 04:07:14

Olympic distance
Nico Verkade 02:18:25
Walter van Leeuwen 02:23:40
Jannette Schumacher 03:02:52

Sprint
Miranda Ruigrok 01:23:33
John Munch Gregor 01:34:22
Geesje Schrama 01:42:01

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