Switzerland Training and Experiance

[Stefan]

Hello Donna,
We have talked in the train form Lausanne to Fribourg last Saturday.

In professional sport it's a long way to go to be successful.
To perform Triathlon or Ironman is even one of the toughest challenge.
Normaly the kids learn to swim, to bike or maybe to run but not all together in one day.
And you are doing this for the last ten years?
In my country we would say "Chapeau".
Not everybody has that much discipline and steadyness.

By the way Karin Thürig will not compete on this years Ironman in Hawaii.
It's more a target for 2009.

I wish you all the best for Hawaii and I hope the steeps hills at Leysin are still producing good legs.
Stefan

[Donna]

Hi Stefan,

Nice to see you on the forum, and thanks for helping me lug my bike box on the train in Lausanne. Always nice to have some help! And thanks for changing my money for the coke machine too!

Arrived back in San Diego last night, and missing the hills of Leysin already. You have a beautiful country, and it's no wonder Switzerland produces some great athletes.

Thanks for your encouragement, and "chapeau" to you.

Donna

[Stefan]

Hello Donna,
The Olympic Triathlon is now history.

In womens race Nicola has perfomed well and can be satisfied.
6th fasted triathlet is very good.
Another young Swiss athlete Monika Ryf it's a promise for the future and finished 7th.
What I have seen on TV it's all about, who is stonger on the running track.

In men's race our swiss athletes had not enough power to be in front.
Reto was after swimming behind also running was very tough.
Our Swiss favorit Sven Riederer was really suffering.
For as swiss guy it was too hot to run fast.

But congratulation for canadas Simon Whitfield! After Gold medal in Sydney now Silver! 

O.K. I have and maybe will never perfome a triathlon so I can only say .... good perfomance from everybody in the race and they can say now "I have finished triathlon at olympic games in Peking".

Enjoy your time in California. In 2001 I have spent nearly a month in Escondido. Nice, easy live in south california. But I personally prefer places who are not so hot during summer time. I'm more the 20 degree (68 Fahrenheit) human type => North California is o.k., Nova Scotia (only summer till end of september) or Switzerland (sometimes only inside a house.... )

I hope your training will lead you to a good perfomance in Hawaii.

Greetings form the perfect training ground 
Stefan

[Donna]

Hi Stefan,

That's a pretty accurate description of the Olympic triathlon races. And yes, Simon had a great race - very exciting to watch!

The weather has been great since I've been back, but it's a trade off for the hills of Switzerland and of course my favorite Swiss bread! I took some with me, but unfortunately it only lasted the train ride.

Thanks again for your help on the train. I hope you continue to follow triathlon. And never say "never" - there's a triathlete inside everyone waiting to come out.

[Stefan]

Hello Donna,
I'm looking forward to this triathlon who is coming out...... this is really something to think about.

This weekend amateur triathlete here had a really heavy task to do
look at http://www.inferno.ch/ and check especially the race profile.

Natascha has perfomed a good test at short Uster triathlon. Newspaper reports she is confident to be fit for Hawaii.
Looking forward to see you and her one hour swimming, five hours on the bike and three hours running.
I expect, you have also a special preparation for the Ironman with some milestones sheduled.

This is really not a big story that I helped you on the train. Once we had to take the bus instead of the train and some amercan traveller could not understand why there was no train. Fortunately I and some others could understand what they talked about. So after a few explanation they could find their Hotel. It's is far more difficult with the japanes or chinese tourist. They always be shocked when somebody try to explain something. They always think first I would sell something. But after they figured out that I'm only helping, they cann't stop to say "Thank You". I mean for us here it's important to have tourist, guests and traveller. 
I have really enjoy to talk with you. Furthermore now I can add something to your forum. I should really use my english more. I mean listen to your perfect english it's not the same to talk the whole day with some hungarian or czech guys here.
That's all for the moment let's be courageous