On the evening of July 10th, you could hardly see anything but smiling faces, as, once again, the Memmert team had just experienced a fantastic triathlon day. Three new team members and enthusiastic fans were welcomed into the Memmert family.
- Hanno Dietrich brings gold to the Memmert review of the Challenge
Hanno Dietrich, master painter from Schwabach, Memmert business partner, and swimmer in the third relay team, had only one minor criticism at the review of the Memmert Challenge: “Unfortunately, the Memmert team shirt doesn't come in size XL!” he joked. Moved by the team spirit throughout the whole day and fascinated by the friendly contact with people who had been strangers to him before, he presented each Memmert athlete with a souvenir heart that he had gilded himself.
- Memmert guests from all over the world expectantly wait for the swimming start shortly after dawn
The story of rookie Andrea Weiss's first time in the Memmert Challenge tradition was also received with peals of laughter. A top class swimmer as a teenager, she came to the discipline with the best qualifications, and hoped for a time of 1 ½ hours for the 3.8 kilometres of the canal.
But first, Andrea, who is normally so reliable, arrived too late for the start of the swimming. The organisers showed some consideration and allowed her to start in the next group. All this early morning commotion promptly took its toll: she temporarily forgot her crawl technique, changing between breaststroke and backstroke, and at 1400 metres, she was ready to give up until she finally got over her nerves. Well, almost. Concentrating entirely on her movement, she then missed the turn buoy, thus swimming an estimated 100 metres more than her opponents. It's hard to imagine what her time would have been if she hadn't been so nervous. But with a time of exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes, she was ultimately the best swimmer of the three Memmert relays. Next year, you will be an old hand, Andrea, and then, with a bit of training, you will break the 1-hour barrier!
- All three marathon runners of the Memmert relay teams
With this top time, she sent Ronald Mühe, Memmert relay cyclist for the sixth time already, on his way along the 180 kilometre course. As many others, he considered the temperatures much too high, especially in the second lap of cycling. “I was close to getting heatstroke“, he explains, “and between kilometre 120 and 150, I felt really burnt out. The only thing that helps then is continuous external and internal refreshment.” And a bit of distraction, don't you think, Ronald? Everyone has their own methods to keep motivated, and Ronald enjoyed the great atmosphere and charming sight of the well-trained bodies of the female top athletes. Even if he wasn't too pleased with his time of 6 hours and 10 minutes, he was still the best cyclist of the Memmert relay teams as he handed over to marathon runner Carsten Angermeyer.
With the “run of his life”, the ardent runner settled the internal team competition for Memmert Team 1. “You monster”, marathon rookie Michelle Saim from Team 3 called to him when they met on the course. Maintaining his pace, Carsten crossed the finishing line in 3 hours and 47 minutes – which of course was also the best time of the day of all three Memmert relay runners. We warmly congratulate Team 1. 11 hours, 16 minutes and 52 seconds is a fantastic result!
- Christiane Riefler-Karpa was in a really good mood during her favourite discipline
- Almost there. The boss at the end of her marathon run.
Managing director Christiane Riefler-Karpa did not decide that she would represent Memmert as a solo starter in Roth before the middle of May, and so her preparation time was correspondingly short. But she knows that the right attitude can help you along when under great physical strain. “If you turn up for swimming in the morning and start to think about the huge course before you, you may as well give up right away”, she says, grinning. She keeps her motivation up by thinking positively, is pleased about the small conversations she has with other athletes, meeting familiar faces along the way, about the thrill of speed in her favourite discipline, cycling, and about the great support of the spectators. “Show the boys how it’s done!”, people had shouted to her and other female participants, and of course they didn't need to be told twice.
The marathon run along the canal, through thunder, lightning and heavy rain, which might have scared off the chicken-hearted among us, was a big adventure for her. “Really cool”, was Christiane's comment and the rest of us, who had sought refuge in the tent during the thunderstorm, can only take our hats off to her. The best moment of the day, after exactly 13 hours and 13 minutes, was finally reaching the finishing line with her three daughters. The guests of the Memmert company, who had travelled from Hamburg, Croatia, Spain, Jordan and even China to experience the Challenge live, were full of enthusiasm about how a woman who has to face so many challenges in her family and her work every day, can additionally successfully complete the Challenge triathlon, and applauded her euphorically over the finishing line.
- Memmert visitors and employees on a sportive outing to cheer on the Memmert triathletes
In the end, Memmert Team 2 couldn't blame the dog for the fact that their declared target of finishing in under 12 hours was missed by a mere 17 minutes. Peter Englisch once again swam his leg in the morning in a very relaxed manner, “with his mind”. “If you concentrate entirely on the race, it only hurts afterwards”, he laughs. Despite having a cold beforehand, he didn't want to let the team down and turned up for the Challenge, which then went surprisingly well. At the end, he was even able to put on a burst of speed and finished with a new personal best of 1 hour and 17 minutes to send Norbert Richter off on his bike.
Just like Ronald Mühe, he struggled with the environmental conditions. “At kilometre 120, I had a little lapse due to the heat. I had slight cramps and could only manage the hills at the end out of the saddle”, Norbert explains. The Australian didgeridoo players on the Beer Mile and the atmosphere on the Solar mountain were some of the most impressive moments for him on his two cycling laps. “Some 30 kilometres before the finishing line, I heard my favourite music being played at one of the hot spots, and that spurred me on to give everything I had.” Even though he couldn't beat his time from the previous year, he is still pleased with his Challenge day. “The most important thing is to finish in good health”, he thinks, “and I also wanted Harald to have his fun as well”.
- Hand-slapping before the race
Harald that is Harald von Blumenthal, who almost always has fun. This year, he took in the inspiring atmosphere of the Challenge in his swimming start early in the morning, kept in touch with the progress of the Memmert relays in the race, and was winding down as he saw the two winners and new world record holders running into the stadium in the early afternoon. For outsiders, it is difficult to imagine how you can manage to keep the tension up until 16:30 and then run a marathon, as, at this point in time, a normal person is already exhausted just from watching.
- The fantastic atmosphere makes Roth the best triathlon in the world
But Peter Englisch hits the nail on the head: “Harry is a beast. He switches on his engine and off he goes.” At kilometre 21, Harald, with 2 hours and 20 minutes, was in good time and meeting Carsten and Christiane on the course motivated him further. As did the information from his team mates that at least 2nd place could still be achieved in the internal Memmert team classification. Michelle Saim from team 3 was just ahead, and so his ambition got the better of him once more. He calmly kept up his speed, came up on the inside in Haimpfarrich and overtook Michelle. The rest of the course was accomplished with the help of a Coke and after 4 hours and 20 minutes, Harald was able to run into the stadium with his team.
- Matthias Grosser on the bike …
- ... and during the marathon run
By this time, Matthias Grosser had long since taken a shower. He had, also feeling somewhat off-colour, started his second solo race over the long distance, but had given a brilliant performance in the canal and over the cycling course. Without thinking about his average speed, he simply let things run and started the marathon after a cycling time of 4 hours and 47 minutes. Memmert fans excitedly followed the live times. If he carried on at this rate, a top-50 finish and a time under 9 hours might be possible.
Matthias had been close to New Zealand’s Belinda Harper for a long time, who finished in 9 hours and 6 minutes as the fourth fastest woman. “From kilometre 10 on the running course, I was out of it”, Matthias sums up. “It was very hot, and in the market square in Roth, I even stopped under the fountain for a few seconds to cool down.” With 9 hours, 16 minutes and 52 seconds, Matthias set a new personal best and came in 98th place. That was great, Matthias! We're proud of you!
- Relaxing and waiting for the others
Memmert relay 3 started with Hanno Dietrich as the swimmer. It was the 5th time he had taken part in a relay team in Roth, so he knew the conditions of the canal very well. Despite a difficult race on Sunday, the sport fanatic, who has tried out almost any sport possible in his life, from tennis, sailing, to trick cycling, is not giving up his aim of finishing in one hour and 10 minutes. “I got cramps about 1100 metres before the finishing line, and had to go to the shore briefly”, Hanno explained after the race. “Thereafter, I could no longer swim aggressively, just coast along. But at least I have something to go for next year now”, he adds, grinning.
- The cycler of Memmert relay team 3 on his way
- Memmert relay team 3 happily on their way to the finish line
Ralf Achtnicht, as is his character, set off calmly and relaxed for the first time on the cycling course. In previous years, he had started as a relay swimmer a number of times, but his passion was always for cycling. The hobby cycling enthusiast crossed the finishing line in 6 hours and 13 minutes, as he had predicted a time between 6 hours and 6 hours 30. On the way, he had met with Ronald Mühe from team 1 a few times, overtaking each other now and then, and they were able to exchange a few encouraging words. Ralf was especially impressed by the refreshment station of the German Federal Defence Forces in Eckersmühlen. “Those guys and girls are doing a great job”, he commented. The hot spots and the many cheers of encouragement along the way, which could even be heard on the second lap, also gave him additional motivation, since as a swimmer, you are basically on your own with yourself and your thoughts.
Team 3 finished with Michelle Saim, who had never before in his life completed a marathon. His minimum target, just to finish, was achieved, but he had never imagined the run over 42 kilometres to be that difficult. “Only when it really hurts, does it start being really enjoyable”, Matthias Grosser had told him before the start, to encourage him on his way. Michelle has not quite fully arrived in the world of endurance sport yet, because during the race, he several times wished he was sitting on his couch back home. However, his determination not to let his team down took him across the finishing line after 5 hours and 2 minutes. We pay you a special compliment, Michelle, that you held on to the very end! By the way, Hanno Dietrich still has aching muscles, for he had to keep up with your sprint to the finishing line.
- Kindly souls from the Memmert crew helping along the course
Unfortunately, the third Memmert solo starter, Mario Giurdanella, had to give up on the marathon circuit due to strong pain in the groin. We very much hope that you haven't suffered any serious injury, and we wish you a speedy recovery, Mario!
As every year thousands of volunteers kept food and drinks coming for the athletes, helped the swimmers out of the water or provided the laundry bags. Many Memmert employees were also helping along the course. In return we offer a great big "Thanks“ to all of them!
- The Memmert relay teams at the finish with their medals
- Christiane Riefler-Karpa: how happy a smile can be after 13 strenuous hours.
The final highlight of the day was the gigantic fireworks display above the finishing line in Roth. Together, Memmert athletes, guests and fans toasted this wonderful event and great performances of the athletes with a glass of champagne and looked forward to meeting again next year.
