Then finally a blog-item on my new website.  It is not finished yet but I try to work on it as much as I can. Koen has made some things Sione-user-friendly so I am able to add some things myself now.

What else have I been doing in the last few weeks? Besides work and training, I am also busy with the organization of the first women’s triathlon in the Netherlands. If you click on the link on the right side you will get to the website (unfortunately only in Dutch this year). On Saturday May 2^nd we (the organization team: Karlijn Moll, Kitty van Bloois, Gonny Rosendaal, Marcia Jansen and myself) gave a clinic on location. The ladies could bike and run on the course, ask questions and practice the transition.

I have also been active in some races. In April I did 2 duatlons of the France Grand Prix for my French team Charleville Ardennes. In between I trained there for a week in the French Ardennes. Thanks for your hospitality Morlet Family and Laurence and Nicolas! After that I ran a 10 km in Heukelum. Although a small village, two Kenian women also found the 10 km. Were they after the good tasting Heukelumse Krakelingen (specific cookies) or was it the prime on the course record?  They definitely put it on sharp now. The first 10 meters I could follow them and after that they were gone. With some tired legs I still managed to finish under the 40 minutes and came in third.

Subsequently the half of Lisbon was on the program: my first triathlon since about a year. However, I did not feel really fit the last 2 weeks and had my blood checked before going. The last days before the race I rested well and thought I was just tired of training maybe and felt pretty good again. Swimming went okay but on the bike I could not get going. I also had breathing difficulties and though what next? As long as I was moving I decided to aim for the finish. It would be a long day. I finished but it was my slowest half triathlon ever. Not something to feel really happy about. Besides the bad result I had a great stay in Lisbon. I want to thank Helder, Xana and Ines for their great hospitality and also Sergio for his help when there. Back at home it appeared that my blood levels were not okay. I am getting old.

Last Thursday I biked to my parents. Luckily I was not bothered by the injury. It is a long trip and construction works made it even longer. I thought to know how to get around them. Yeah right. The trip was extended through this and I would get home with 198 kilometers. Well what do you do then? You ride into the town from the other side, so you get a 200.

On Sunday May 10^th I participated in the UT Teamtriathlon in Enschede. In the morning you have to do a mini distance and in the afternoon a sprint with the team (4 team members 3 have to cross the finish line). My team members were Monica Gorska, Sandra Hobbel, Rina Zijgers and I, all members of the triathlon club Hellas from Utrecht. Therefore our name Hellas Ladies. In the morning I got 7th not too bad for a long distance triathlete with no speed. And overall we came in 3^rd with the team. It was nice to see so many fellow triathletes again. Besides that we had beautiful weahter. Unfortunagely my injury also wanted to join and so I could not run full power and had some troubles afterwards.

Coming weekend I will go to Luxembourg for the Jean Nelissen Classic: a tourist cycle tour with different distances. We will stay another day for some training.