the next step into the unknown

Magnificence, spectabilities, dear audience, ladies and gentleman, folks, followers and foolowers, thank you for your attention. Folks, difficult to write about, for there are hardly words: good morning, good afternoon and good night.

God closed his two eyes in my single case, forgave me, showed his grace and mercy and top-surgeon had a good day. The head of the surgeons said last year the operations after, like people need to lay in bed for 4-6 weeks up to 2-3 months, me not so, but stood in the door to shake his hand, as of me being the "actual model case" of that top-clinic.  

Is talking big again, I know. But facts. But while others sit in wheel-chair, I am supposed to sit in, need crutches or have pain, I am one of the few, who can do almost all again, even allowed to sit on racing bike 12m after again.

Yesterday morning on my terrace - an omen in the sky...- Jesus he knows me, and he knows I am right (Phil Collins). 

What to do with it now "new" life? Some said I have to make something out of it like others said of God showed his mercy to me. That is the one thing, to have had extraordinary luck. In consulting and diagnosis, clinic and surgeons. The other part is mental strength and unbending intent. And the fact of having an athlete's muscles and bones and the spirit to believe. Once again, it is hard to describe, but God's grace is the only way to make it true, short and tighten. And yes, gotten a fair chance, according to load, guilt or karma, according and adjusted to the circumstances (mode of time). But: just a cubic-centimetre of. Donated by the divine - to call it like this. The magic happens outside of your comfort-zone, it make it sound more conventional. Thus now? Or what! It is: the chance to have a chance, only. To find way and meet the right people, that is grace. So what? God closed his both eyes.  

What to do with it? Help people, lecture, become an official trainer or a preacher e.g.? Well, I am the person I am, Michael "Juan" Lorenz. Or just Hans. Woe betide me: I will never talk big again. I fully promise. And become a "heroe del silencio"....

Meanwhile, 17years on tri, I am 50 years of age. And ironman-distance is much, much effort to be prepared for, financially not so, because no one needs to invest huge amounts of money only to show off. Whom to prove? There are finishers of 226k in wheel chair, already. So I really needed to be fast to get honoured like all the other athlets, too. But I never was, really fast, and I won't be. Surgeon gave okay for short- and middle distance for competition. Thus I will start like 19 years ago when I started with training for triathlon and see, reasonably, and not so by mere will, where it goes, and start short-distance next year again like in 2008 the first time I did compete swim bike run, 2:32 h min, the same place, too, lake of Rothsee closely to best old race Challenge Roth. With a racing-bike, like seventeen years ago, extension mounted for aero, only, not problem to be in, in aero, meanwhile, too.

Back on tracing bike, a simple one.

Thus, the technical discipline in affairs of swim bike run came in again. By the my means of a simple bike: no aero-geeks. no drinking-system, but disc-brakes and extensions made out of carbon in use for all that years now, mounted on a aluminum frame.  No need to be fast, no need. So may be I just have a nice day at German Mastery next year like in former times of triathlon was the rule to do so at race-day. 

A long ride 4:45 h min in the saddle 111k..

Yesterday no pain at all after 111,00k in 4:48 min that is 23,2 km/h average with 53,4 hm/h max downhill by 765 mtrs of elevation. A heart ratio of 129 bpm average is okay, with 170 bpm uphill at maximum (for males: 220 - age (50)  = max. heart ratio).  You can see the trace in the colours of heart ratio, look closely, the three climbs are where to it is red. Do compare in the diagram. 

A perfect day in Germany, Bavarian blue-white sky in the late of summer. 

Well, this reminds me to David, whom I met in Orlando, Florida, in 1996. He was a smuggler and invited us guys to his house, when we went from FL to NY by car for a road trip (holidays). We met him on Key Largo on a boat for scuba diving as of the lobsters. So on our way up we paid him a visit. Bob, his former bodyguard, swang by and forgot both six-pack and car keys in his pick-up. So he needed to "rob" his own car for. Was a good and kind time. A few days later David said of Jesus changed his life. 

Cheers,

Mike

Run Forrest, run through the forrest (21,4km)

Hello again to running long and slow in the forrest,

not yet fast, but still, and painlessly done. After that four surgeonrys and training it seems like effort and my own way approved by top-docters is a success! 

A short recapitulation. First I was allowed to swim, second to sit on a mountainbike, and to run, but I waited for 3rd discipline till July to start. Thus I restarted training the 3rd discipline as of vibs must be very well dosed and have to be risen continiously and "piece by piece" in time of impact and exposures in amplitude in order to recover. So I walked first months, swam, cycled as a focus the next months, and then I ran only short distances up to 6,5k in July but very, very slowly.

This August a meso-period has to be done again: 8,9 and, this week, 10+ hours of training all the three disciplines with focus onto running, with a long run the 3rd week on Friday. The 1st week I ran 5x10k (MON TUE WED FRI & SAT) the 2nd week 4x15k (MON TUE WED & SAT), thus 60 than 50k in comparison to week 1. This week the 3rd MON was 10k and TUE 15k, WED THU = off, FRI, thus today, 21,1+k. 

21,4k / 02:08:41 h min sec / alt: 250m / hr av. 144 bpm (165 max) / pace: 6 min, exactly.

Parallelily first excursions had been done with racing-bicycle. Its fun, but no dampers in and impact from ground is direct. More over saddle's position is higher then on mountainbike and sure, tyres smaller. So I just tried very short distances, to cylce on racing-bike again, slowly, and very carefully to test the feeling. Its all fine, but season is over, so no need to leave the pace from like doctors said "slowly and continiously + piece by piece". Only true indicator is the bodily feeling. A lot to do, in single disciplines, but not only, this in the combination of the three like AB, BC, AC or CA (that isnt California just joking) that have effects mutually on each and a  one mutual of 1st rank order that is in swim bike run nonstop, thus ABC. But can be BCA, BAC, ACB, CAB & CBA too, three instead two factors, e.g. bike swim run (BAC) and bike home again from a lake and preperation for competition next year in early August. A lot to do. Not easy, too.

We will see how it goes! Ty USA for so many hits, 145 e.g. yesterday. My pb (personal best) along the half-marathon is 40 min faster, exactly (minus five seconds ...;-) ) .

Cheers,

Mike

hiking 120k the Paul Pfinzing Path Part I

Finally weather was cloudy, rather cold for summer with 16°C, a little rainy, but idea and the plan stood. What to do? Go! However, we got exhausted the first day and had to quit after having marched 65k plus backpack. Along the "Franconia Jungle" path, called Paul Pfinzing path, way and a route, the cartographer from the region aministered by aristocrats of the region eastwards of Nuremberg is dedicated to, so he did, scale territory, hills, landscaps, towns, castles, relief, valleys, fields and thus the how to of the how, how to connect best having created maps and images by his own hands' drawings. Andreas and me followed his marks, traces and profil.

Good friend leading after two hard climbs along Fraconian hill-top's trees.

Here a map shows the full trail a circle around the castle of Reichenschwand "The jungle path, with start from a famous castle" called Paul-Pfinzing-Weg in German, that way was named a local high-school his name, too. 

Castle in Reichenschwand, very famous, hosted by aristocrates academy and hotel affiliated.

Actually we wanted to make it all 120k three days, with a backpack of 6000g each, to look what Israeli Army Soldiers have to do in their training, that is the same, 120k to go within three days nonstop. My peek was 115k within two days, all out maximum, but without any loads two years ago, after the police got me, because of alcohol I got penalty, had to leave the car and was allowed to go, yes, having had some few cash in my pocket left. However, it was too late for taking a train, as I missed the last one at 1:700 o'clock, and a taxi I did not want to take this area for few kilometres only as of few cash. Thus I started walking, and continued, developed a challenge out of it to walk home from fishing at a river closely to the higher Bavarian mountains, made 115k nonstop within 17 hours plus 4hrs rest in the night, that time. Meanwhile all the penality points put onto my driving licence is deleted, fine was high, sure, and has to, however, hahaha, how funny, I do no afford a car myself anymore. How comes? Life-style is the answer in abstract new ecological paradigm (NEP) verus anthropocentrism. In words of content: Americans say of losers only go by bus, while Mexicans say of winners go by bus. Likewise in America they don't pee in the pool, but in Mexico, well, they dont swim in those. How comes? Do not use our toilet, we do not pee in your pool either? 

Anyway, without training, two days to push through is okay, and us, Andreas and me could have reached 100k with loadings... - but what for, especially when weather turned into hard rain.

The only support the first 45k - a filling-station in a villiage in between the  two climbs.

What this all has to do with triathlon? We are. Both. Triathletes. For a life time. Being on the courses for 20+ years. It might come a time to compete again, but truly, time of peek-perfomances seems to be over, and cultural aspects of triathlon-life, born onto Hawaii, that includes travelling, too, nature and history, likewise, as of friendly habits, rules and rites of local populations do enrich life instead of a full focus onto that well-known mantra: SWIM BIKE RUN EAT SLEEP REPEAT. There might come a time, probably next year, to put fitness on the test again in military championate for me, as a mascotte or motivater in pink racing-dress wearing straw-head. Or as a true triathlet with an annual budget of 1000 instead of 10000 bucks.

Triathlon crux is mixture of both easiness and hardship but the same time. It is hang-loose with discipline. It is the most hardest way of easy living. It is said to be a privilegue. It is a ticket to impeccability, a walk along the abyss in life, because no one would do freely and must be tricked to do so? Marketing does. Trick you. The spirit is spoiled, profit invaded that field. And there is no one left to tell the codex. Not even me. The next generation must find it out their own way and if, it must come by itself. It is like the lineage is broken the thrid generation of triathletes after (1. 1979-1985 question mark; 2. star 1985-2005; 3. cash cow 2005 to 2020; 4. poor dog, 2020 - ...) . 

What is a "poor dog" among developers and insiders? A magnet for the crowds like gladiators put in a stadion. Thus, inventors became silent and also on here, it is just a descripiton onto the surface. No explanation! See? Plainly spoken one might say of the magic happens outside of one's comfort-zone. But how, just one hint split into three - can magic happen, when a) everyone is in-group, otherwise we are not all equal, right, even by the usage of electric bicycles, and b) performance is in front of 300000 spectators, like this year in Franconia with Sam Laidlow did win the CHALLANGE 226k in Roth? It is hard to see of everyone is and extrem-sportsman as of that thinking by being just a part of to be, denying reality and effort, as a helper, a referee or a spectator e.g., and in order to use both transfer and contrast for the purpose of polarisation - for a sharp, falcon bird's eye analysis it is reliable, valid and thus rational and reasonable means, a logical tool and therefore objective by comparison - alike going onto mountain peek by cable car wearing outdoor clothes of label and therefore is the same like hiking, thus if so, nowadays, well: anyone can do 226k e.g. with making big breaks in between the run-split, or by the usage of eBicycles, and air-bumpers in the wet-suit having created an own "race" without competitors, having finsiehd an Ironman. Right? If so, I am a 1200+ times IRONMAN 226k and claim that WORLD RECORD from Jonas Deichman, a 120 226k-Finisher... moreover, as he never had had any competitors. Just joking folks. ... JJ

Thus, c), where does the last stage of reasonable sport, that is TRIATHLON 226k going, before it turns into extremsport, move to? Ultra-trail and gravel-bike stage races are new and latest trends. Like speed climbing is. Sure, Faris Al-Sultan, an IRONMAN among the few, he ran uphill and rocky in Abu Dhabi, like XTERRA World Championate and world tour is a true insider tip. Formats, Materials, human borders are exhausted and explored, as of Deichmann did likewise did Messner, the famous mountaineer and Alpinist, but on flat terrain, in development and performance. Once again: where does it go? 

No one knows! No one there to tell? No one. Probably Moses was the first and only, who found insight the mountain of Sinai, when God revealed the ten commandments to him. 

Well, we two, we have an appointment with "Pfinzing", Part II, after we ended up the railway station in Hartmannshof 1,5 d after.

1300k along three rivers in Germany and Czechi

The Bavarian Triathlete Michael Lorenz can recommend a varied bike package: Along the Saale to its mouth to the Elbe further upstream via Dresden to Theresienstadt, from there the Eurovelo 6 cycle path to the source.

Saaleradweg: hot and mountainous

Already the journey and thus the start stage was the sticking point. Would everything go well? Lorenz ’bike weighed 40 kg on a truck scale in Creussen- without water and food supplies. Freeded Lorenz after 115 km and 1600 meters of altitude at 1051m over on the Schneeberg. From there, there were three heat stages along the Saale, via the courtyard through Thuringia to Saxony-Anhalt to the mouth of the Elbe. On the fifth stage day, the runner treated himself to a day break and a large pizza in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Naumburg, especially since heat and gradients, on the Rennsteig, for example. The athlete visited the nature reserves upper and lower Saale. Reservoirs ("Thuringian Meer") and relief are reminiscent of Norway, the "Romantic Street" in front of Bernburg provides a foretaste of Martin Luther's workshops. Despite low water, most of the ferries took place and the first section was successful with the crossing of the Elbe.

The Laufer Michael Lorenz at his starting stage after 100 day kilometers on Lake Fichtel. 15 kilometers are still missing except for the Schneeberg. Photo: private.

Elberadweg: windy and flat

Not only Wittenberg is on the way on the Elbe to Dresden, but also Torgau after Dessau (Aunt Ju, Grandius). Here on April 23, 1945, spy teams from the US and Red Army met and closed peace by hand. It was learned from the locals that many members of the NSDAP were detained in penalty camps by the sovjets. Some traces are still missing from some, according to the local people. Four stages followed well over 100 daily kilometers. Dresden would have been nice, the second sub-goal, said Lorenz, but sports and cultural trips are not really compatible. The entry into the Czech Republic was nice, since the almost perfectly signposted cycle paths are not fully busy, but hardly driven on. A detailed map and a "Naviapp" is not necessary in the Czech Republic, the signage leads into the picturesque elbow cities of Decin and Tercien. Heat and headwind, on the other hand, provided plenty of challenges.

Along the Eger on the Eurovelo 6

Here in Theresienstadt the concentration camp memorial was paid for a short visit. However, the studied psychology (Univ.) Met their conductor on site on their also on site. There was talk of Sarajevo, the historical background and the consequences to today, about trauma of Holocaust survivors, survivors and relatives. Rational explanations? Due. After three beers, however, it ended in a deep sun and the two pushed their bikes home, since the 0.0 per mill border applies in the Czech Republic. Otherwise there is also a risk of driving license withdrawal for cyclists! The next morning it continued a bit along the idyllic Eger, but the course of the route changes to the mountainous as on the Saale, as the bike paths run along the mountainous area and not always along the river. Also in the Czechi, nature and buildings for the persistence and hardships. On the last day, Michael Lorenz drove from Kaadan via Karlsbad to Marktdretwitz. From there the athlete took the train back to Lauf.

Beautiful view at the Eger on the end of the final stage shortly before Karlsbad. Photo: private

What's next for the triathlete? After eight successful participation as individual starters in Frankfurt and Nice and a sub9h finish in the season in Roth. Lorenz was at surgery four times in the last late summer within three weeks, had "huge happiness" in good time and also got into the best hands. That was cirtical, but who cares? One has to help outo onself by oneself, only? The man received encouragement from the organizer of the Ostseeman (OM). The triathletes in Glücksburg wrote the sportsman and converted its starting place to next year. Three years ago, he helped a competitor to win and thus to the German championship title with the professionals.

To be in nature along the "three-fluid pathway", to switch off over 1400 kilometers by bike, "backpack" and tent, the mills as well as the suction of everyday life, old town festival, church consecration, RothseeTriathlon and the DATEV Challenge in Roth, in particular, there are no damage, but is liberating for the soul and inspiration ... at the same time the wallet.

mil

back in aero

Today time came to do really sport again, first time for summer 2024, since 31st of July 2024 to 10th of June 2025, like no endurance sports for 320 days. Haha, hard! But still, from the level of fitness possible to do today 2-3 hours with a heart beat at 174 at the maximum, uphill. And also from the perspective and process of regneration of substance in the right shoulder, spine and muscles around the torso to do so: back in aero, moreover.  but for mental health like I need to come back! Doctors said it is not possible to ride on racing-bike before 12m. Thus, looks all okay after 8m.

Never give up! Uphill to TV tower on mtb. photo IPhoneDEluca

So actually the German navy is right, I could have been competed this year in August. Thanks again to OstseeMan for delay from 2025 226k competition to 226. Lets analyse why. Well, 1k in the water my time is 19:47 sec last week, that is 20 min x 3,86 lets say 1:20 h min. T1 is 5 min okay, then we are at 1:25 hrs min. Lets check the bike data of today.

Not a 45k loop, but 58k, I needed 02:40:00 h min sec at 410m elevation by heart rate of 144 average.

And okay then lets keep it simple. 22,0 km/h at average makes along 180,2 k makes 8hrs altogether. Right? As of slicks and 23mm instead of 28mm, 8bar in the tyres and not so 3,5 like today, and as of a little less elevation. Okay? Okay then, lets keep 8 hrs for the bike split and 1:30 hrs for the swim-split, that makes 09:30 hrs arrival for T2. The cut is 10:00 hrs. So I would have time 6 hours for marathon a fast pace walking that is 7 km/h. My time along 10k recently on single trail was 59:47 min sec in the forrest along 9,46k. Lets say 10k 1 hour flat on asphalt. Corrected due to lenght -  x4,66, that is the factor to calculate form 10k to 42k, lets say multiplied with 5, okay? right....- thus I would need 5 hours for marathon to run. This makes a time 226k at Glücksburg sub15 hrs possible. Not to bad for someone said to sit in wheel-chair - along 226k swim bike run nonstop. 

For sure health is more important than speed 100%, but German military was right 100%, too. And that combination radiates a typically situation of Trimichi. So I have had to complain to get my one and only sausage extra. But hey, time to beat is 12:19 h min 226k from 2022. So let's wait till 2026, please. And let me try to be sub12h! 

Keep you posted. 

 

2 miles - test = done (boker tov!)

Shabbath Shalom, 

Michael Lorenz, *74, ran 8 rounds and 18 metres, exactly 2 miles, today, at 4:55 min/k. To be contiuned. To be improved...

meassurement by sigma: 00:15:44,73. Last lap = 400 +18 metrs 418mtrs: 00:01:57,0.

five rivers bicycle track 288k - 5d with cargo loader

Packed on Sunday, I started on Monday for 5 days in the very early sping's heat. With up to 29°C on Wednesday, 1st of May was hot, too, got a sunburn the last day on Friday als I cycled in shorts, only, and did not care about all those ebikers dressed up like professional cyclists as a racers ready to win the Tour de France in any situation against any competiotor, esp, it was full of ebikers at on Thursday, at crossings and brigdes pathways that e-traffic reminded me to Piccadilly Circus in London, in a hurry to be and see Trafalger Squere, Nelson's Column, Tower Brigde and Buckingham Palace, the is here in transfer five rivers trail the Channel Rhine-Maine-Danube, the monestaries, castles and mountains and moreover beergardens, like Kloster Weltenburg (not in the pictures Hall of Liberty / Befreiungshalle, too). Thus, imagine crowds of drunked ebikers... - on 1st of May as of strong beers this time of the year first serverd, and me in shorts only, but sober-minded as a one and only contrast. Rather easy to make the crowds on wheels believe I came from very far. Like from Varna e.g..

Thus, with a pace of 15 km/h in average over all five days I sat 4 hrs daily in the saddle, made 60k a day, but sure having had to build up tent and cooker, and looking for safe place over night outdoors as of wild pigs, forresters, hunters and the police, thus I asked the locals, like you can see on 2nd picture I was allowed officially by Germany aristocracy to camp in front of the Castle the is said to be the origin of the Nibelung (ring of the Nibelung). 

A cargo ship in the Danube closely to Ratisbourgh. Camping spot found at a bench closely to the river, German aristocracy permitted.

 

F-16 fighter jet type new falcon above me on the brigde, right the moment of selfie mage with Ewen Maddon, D.C. (interior), we both hold back from bombing with all four sidewinders 2x2 left and right wing (Diehl Defence/USAF Europe), next time I voluntarily jump off before.

Rainbow-warrior dancing on tour and while physical exercise and training.

So it was a great trip and I feel like no pain in my back. Before, while and after. So this is really good and a basis for to build up on until I can sit on racing bike again for longer. Sure, saddle on mountainbike is lower and handlebars higher. But: cargo loader was up to 30 kilogramm, with Spaghetti and canned food, beer and water in, and for sure, two fleece pullovers as of nights had been cold. A simple cooker helps inside a propper good tent. But be careful.

Here the link to tour with map: Fünf Flüsse – ein Genuss - Fünf-Flüsse-Radweg in Bayern . All in all as a gravelbiker, bikebacker and hiker I can recommend mountainbike with cargo loader. It saves time in packing and unpacking, reduces worries as of huger loads possible. The mind is easier, less focussed by slow pace, no dedciation to task needed as of 60k a day is easy to do, thus enough time to twaddle with motorbikers, ebikers, cyclists, hikers, tourits, pilgrims, hosts, fishermen, rescue-units, policemen, the military as well, just common people, old, medium and young, poor and rich and go for silence to enjoy being in one of the plenty of the beergardens, for beer, of course. But not on 1st of May. sure.

Franconian dune way - 2d 85k with tent

Having been out with 10 kilogramms for 40 and 45 kilometres it feels like it is stable no pain. In legs and feet as of that endurance adventure being on my feet for eight and nine hours. This here is the link to the trail: Fränkischer Dünenweg - Tourismusverband Franken

And these are some pictures from here, Franconia (Germany) in its romantical valleys. The first picture shows my lightweight tent, 1,7 kilos, with light from inside by Lupine Lightning Systems, some villages' lights ahead.

With a little fantasy one might think of Utah. Military good hipp-belt I transported beer, and phone, wallet and compass, lights, power-bench and map. Besides a sleeping-back I used Therma-Rest-Uberlite, 280g, the most light underlaying. Its comfortable and not noisy what is often said, and does isolate coldness from the ground very propperly. Therefore my Sea-To-Summit III is cheap trash expensively sold, too. Luckily a second thick fleece pullover from Quechua was with me. Night was cold closely to minus, but days 22° - 25°C plus. In April. 

Soon, some more 30 to 40 years it all looks like in Utah? Like 2000000 years ago, when Earth was a mere desert as of carbodioxites. We will all die. There is no surviver. The question is of death does change in its meaning, when we all have to go by our all own flaws and we do know that. 

So we will know how it goes? Me, not so. Those after me. But see what comes next. A 100+ k hike within three days? As for competition I could do, but really, it takes time, happy having gotten donated a new life.

like nothing ever happened

Dear readers,

today first run training-unit, 5x800m, for 8 1/5 monthes, since 30th of July 2024. Pace 6:40 / k. A long road to Gluecksburg. Posing, porn and triathlon - not yet. But volleyball 400m - track before and after. Brave, hard work to do! 

Yoga, gymnastik, even volleyball all good for triathlon, beach volley is popular in Tel Aviv, Israel. In Germany, here at the area of Nuremberg, beach volleyball is very popular, me with students in the picture.

Like those pioneers did, who founded and started to build TLV-Yafo in the mere desert 116yrs ago, at 11th of April 1909.  Not Hawaii, not surfin', but sun, white sand and the spirit of hang loose around and multisport.

Many regards, esp. to readers from the holy country that is Israel.

Shabbat Shalom.

the impossible ahead

Dear readers,

welcome back on here. Ty for you and attention. That is from the time of the founders in our sport, valid for World Champions like Faris Al-Sultan, Normann Stadtler, valid for all, motivation at its purest! 

Who am I??? I am a champion! (click picture for greatest speech ever)

Last week surgeons let me out, free, and like before I am on my own, but allowed to do any training until it hurts. We are finished, doctors said. And now the what about fellow man. First they said it is important to go out (December), to leave domicil, then aristocracy argued I can start and do win paralympics (January). Second, I trained with ex-PROs concerning swimming and was seen as a competitor and then, rival even, again (February) and now, it is like always, thus thrid, I am an IRONMAN and endurance athlete. But with new focus: just finish 226k instead of being fast at 226k.

Well, it is not easy to fight wheel-chair. I went out walking short distances, with little weights, like brining little trash of glas to recycling spot. Then I carried more heavy bags at home from supermarket and did exercises with weights at home. Push-up and sit-up followed. My belly became slim again after all the antibiotics. Weight drainded. Muscles got connected again, right arm and back. Then I went out for hiking, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 Kilometers. Then I went hiking with heavy back-back, 5, 10, 15 kilometers. Meanwhile swim-training is like before, three times a week, and cardio I can do by moutainbike 5, 10, 25 kilometers, too, with cargo-loader, e.g. I cycled next craftsman-market in order to buy a new deckchair and back with it 25 kilometers.

What is next?

Keeping slow pace, and continuity: world does reveal its marvels (here: fire salamander in the woods).

Next is to do start run-training. I already did a first unit, 1 kilometer barefeet on the tracks of high-school, very slow, not at any pain. Next is continuing gymnastics, stabilisation and working with weights cubic centimetre for cubic centimetre. Forward. Next are back-backing tours, uphill by feet, in the valley by mountainbike with cargo-loader. Next is to fight back to racing position on bike millimetre for millimetre. Next is good food, but beers also. Good old times in triathlon like doing the best at your personal challenge, but do not do self optimize like in business - or becoming a mere machine in our sports, like Jan Frodeno said recently about the youngers in our sports - but what my generation of triathletes knew from the founders and ancetors of our sports: hang loose.

My challenge is to compete 226k OstseeMan Glücksburg in August 2026. And rightly so. We will see, I have go for half-distance, but now, last week, doctors let me go, without any advices.

sometimes reality is stranger than fiction - fishing thrumps triathlon

Dear readers and dear Sirs, hello to from here to all over the globe,

actually showing off is hooked to triathlon. Thus, when there is no triathlon, there is no showing-off? At least on this blog.

Surgeons saved my shoulder by two operations, and my spine by another two operations. The likelihood to die and the likelihood to sit in a wheel-chair - those who know me know my jokes as of wheel-chair hooked to age - put together is 70%. 30% survive without wheel-chair, but need 1-2 years to recover. Well, after those four operations within 21d I had to take antibiotics for full six weeks until the day before my 50th birthday. 

After 2-3 monthes I can walk 20k and swim 1,5k in between. Biking is still forbidden, but it is said I can do cycling again. 

So 14th of NOV was the first day without, but another two weeks of mere hell had been ahead in order to wait if the bacteria outbreaks again. Did not. Thank God and all his angels. Recapitulation of the frame: I got feaver the day the triathlon competitions (f and m) in Paris took place late in July/1st of August along olympic distance. By the way: the German team - with Laura Lindemann in the fourth "leg" and her world famous, fast and furious sprint to the very end -won the mixed relay competiton in Paris and got the golden medal 5th of August. 

Thus, 4 month after triathlon in the Frech Capital I was said to be healthy again, yes. I am. And now? Damages? The bacteria ate substance in the shoulder, spine's disc substance, too. Moreover, even German top doctors did not know where it stem from at first, and how it came in and where it came from. I do not know either? At least, I do not care anymore.

And I disbelieve in conspiracy. 

Kind regards to ISRAMAN. Lets see who is guilty? No need. If something like this happens, death, accident or in my situation bacterial infection, and no one and nothing is found to be reasonable, then, of course, it was the Mossad. ;)

Now there is a true new challenge. 

Because OSTSEEMAN Triathlon wrote me the day before my birthday, 13th of NOV the day I took my last antibiotics at 1:400 (Berlin time ) and asked me if I would like to postpone my start in Glücksburg. I would like to, I replied by e-mail also. To start in 2026 226k, but not so in 2025. It is not impossible the next year, but I really need time in order to get fit and fitter again. And especially after that infection and hospital, well, after four month of inactivity in swim, bike, run - it needs time to prepare for triathlon. Ty OM for that option by the way. 

Well, presently we have peace in Germany. But in Israel, not so. One day I come to Israel. And if so, for middle-distance. As of the profile, sure. Eilat isn't Glücksburg, neither Eilat has flat race courses (3300 metres of elevation the bike split full distance) nor Glücksburg (1100 metres of elevation the bike course only), while Eilat is a downhill race the first 13km the last discipline while Glücksburg is a uphill and downhill race (+ and - 400 metres of elevation).

The most hard triathlon isn't Nice (2550 mtrs the bike split up and down) - I did in 2019 at 44° C thus I know what I am talking about and thus a famous General called the desert-fox if alive would be proud of me - and it isn't Hawaii, no! It is ISRAMAN in Eilat. 

Like always, we will see how it goes. I guess OM is possible within 16 hrs in the masters class, not so IM. With straw hat. And with pink race suit, of course. ;)

Let's better go fishing.