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Ironman Arizona Race Report

As mentioned in my previous report, I felt 100% ready for the race. On Sunday, April 13 I have started in Ironman Arizona with much enthusiasm. In hindsight, I should have known better. Three days before leaving Belgium, I had to endure a fever attack while sleeping. The next morning I had gone to the hospital, where the doctors determined I had a bacterial infection on my longs. I had to take antibiotics for a few days and felt completely recovered when >>>>>>>>>

Ready for the race!

Hello,

I have been here in Arizona for over a week now. The race is getting very close. Today the ‘circus’ has really started. This morning I went for registration, together with Claude, my coach. Being the winner of last year, they gave me the #1 BIB number. Cool!

The past week, I have been training here a little bit every day, but compared to what I did in the previous weeks at home, this was only peanuts. As a result, I start to feel really relaxed and almost ready to go. All week the weather has been splendid over here. A little fresher now than earlier. The predictions for the week-end are fantastic though. From now on, it will become a little hotter every day en for Sunday the prediction is 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Really the weather that I like! Yesterday Mike Cox, a bike mechanic, who drives around to help, came by. He gave the final touch to my bike (Cervelo P3C).  My race wheels have been mounted and now my little machine looks very fast.

This morning, I got a very stressing surprise. I wanted to have a swim in Lake Tempe (where the race will begin) with my wetsuit. I started to undress, took my wetsuit and what did I see: stupid Mr. Beke took Sofie’s wetsuit to the US. I was lucky though: 10 minutes later, I already had the right wetsuit in my hands. The local distributor had a stand 10 meters away and was willing to lend me one for the race.

This race is the start of my 2008 season, a season that I am expecting a lot from!

Greetings from Ahwatukee.

Rutger

News at the beginning of the 2008 season

Hello everyone,

It has been too long a time, since I published something on my website. So, with the new season now starting for me too, it’s time that I tell you how I am doing currently. Everything goes quite well. I have been able to train all winter without injuries. That has given me a lot of confidence, especially with regard to my running. I already have two training camps behind me. In January, I spent two weeks in Lanzarote. Afterwards, I went to South-Africa (Potchefstroom) for 3 weeks with other athletes from the Belgian national team. (this is my sixth consecutive year that I go there)
Tomorrow, I am leaving for Arizona, where I will do my first Ironman of the year. This is a very important race for me, my first race after finishing 898^th in Hawaii last year. So, I have to prove something! Moreover, for the first time since my debut in Kona, I have to qualify for next year’s race in Hawaii. That gives more pressure, but I have been training a lot and hard, so I think I am ready for it.

With regard to my sponsoring, almost everything remained unchanged. I am still on the payroll of BLOSO. My main sponsor remains Arinso (actually after being acquired it will become Northgate-Arinso). Oil Service remains a co-sponsor and I also continue running with Nike. I still bike on my ‘little P3C Cervelo’ and my other material sponsors are Zipp, Profile Design, Giro, Fizik, Squeezy and Fuel Belt.

I promise that I will report on a more regular basis for the remainder of the season. (Writing this down is a way to oblige myself.)

Greetings,

Rutger

PS: I still owe you the most important news: Tille will get a little brother or sister soon! I am sooooooooo glaaaaad!

Attention: we are upgrading!

After 4 years in the previous configuration, we decided to refresh the looks of the website a little. On this page, you can see the first result of the upgrade. In the coming weeks, we will, slowly but surely, adapt all old webpages to this new 'look'. Until its all done, it is possible that , while surfing the website, you will end-up with a mixture of ald and new style pages. Sorry for that.
The webmaster
 

New Year
 

I wish everybody a splendid 2008! 2007 cannot be over quick enough for me! I am already in full preparation of the next season and I am longing for the next races.
Here is a little hint already: I will start in the Ironman Arizona on April 13 and afterwards, I will participate in Niederbronn-Les-Bains (France, Half Ironman distance) on may 25th. Furthermore, on August 3, I definitely have the Marc Herremans Classic on my program. I will do more races, but I do not definitely know which ones yet.

See you next year!!
Rutger