ANNIKA AHLBLOM
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Triathletes Name: Annika Ahlblom Age Group: 30-34 Country: Switzerland/Sweden Favourite Distance: Half IM Time in Sport: 1 years Hours per week: 10-25 depending on week
Best Results: 3rd and 4th in Age group
Additional Information: I only learned to swim in early 2011 so mastering an open water swim midst the chaos of a triathlon swim has been a bit of a challenge. My training was also slowed down a little due to an injured neck and a broken elbow + wrist fracture this spring, but I never lost my focus and after successfully having completed my first season with 3 incredibly fun and exciting races I can’t wait for next years challenges!
How did you get started in Triathlon? I was inspired by friends and a strong curiosity to see how far it’s possible to push the limits.
TRAINING AND RACING TIPS
Favourite Training Session: Hill training, both for cycling and running . They are both very demanding but give you excellent feedback on how you are progressing. And I love how it strengthens your mind just as much as your body
Favourite part of a triathlon: In a race it would be the transition from the swim to the
bike. Getting on the bike and doing what I’m best at fills me with a sense of freedom and puts a big smile on my face. In triathlon as a whole it’s simply being part of such a dynamic and wonderful community. Everyone involved in this sport has a great story to tell and is a great inspiration!
What would you like to improve? I need to work on my swimming. Not only technique but also spending a lot more time in the water to make it feel more “at home”. I’ll have to try to practice as much as I can in as many different kinds of water (i.e. lakes, rivers, ocean) as possible to build up my confidence.
Tips to stay motivated: ? Set goals. Remember to keep them challenging yet realistic and never let them out of sight. Always train with a purpose and once race day comes, relax and try to have as much fun as you possibly can. This is what you’ve been training for and if you’ve done your best up until this point you should just be able to enjoy it and see the race as the reward for all those long training hours! Measuring progress in training motivates me and every little improvement brings me satisfaction because it means that I’m always one step closer to reaching my goals. I also like dedicating my efforts and the energy I put into them to someone or something special. It makes me push just a little further and keeps all the “can’t do this-feelings” away.
How important is confidence? It’s crucial. It doesn’t matter what other people think or say, if you don’t believe in yourself and your abilities then your head will give up at the first given opportunity and your body will instantly follow. If this happens you have already lost. On the opposite, a strong confidence and a focused mind will keep your legs moving far beyond the point where they would normally have given up. It’s amazing what a well-trained mind can do for your performance.
Time saving tips:Keep it simple and focus on quality training rather than quantity. Remember to keep it fun as well. Join a club or train with friends if this helps keep the motivation up. Even hiring a personal coach might work for you. Things that you look forward too will automatically be easier to plan and incorporate in your daily life than a list of draining “must-do’s” If you have kids try to plan activities you can do together and if you simply have a very busy schedule, be honest with yourself when planning your training hours. Don’t plan for more than you can handle as this will undoubtedly only lead to more stress and lack of motivation. Prioritise your time and activities and treat your sessions as personal quality time and the good results that follow as a gift to yourself
Tips for improving:Always train with a purpose. Each session needs to be done for a specific reason. Focus on this reason and do the best you can. It’s not the amount of time spent training that decides your progress it’s how you use time you have available. Make sure you have good running shoes, preferably at least 2 different pairs. Work on technique and confidence and surround yourself with people that support and inspire you.
Racing Tips:Practice transitions, it will save you a lot of stress and time on race day. Always check your equipment at home to make sure everything is ready to go and to avoid unpleasant surprises on race morning. Arrive well before the race start to get your things set up and organised without stress. Make sure that you have a nutrition plan that works for you and last but not least (especially if racing longer distances) pace yourself from the start and HAVE FUN!
Future Goals: I haven’t finished setting my goals for 2012 yet, but my focus is on a couple of middle distance races. And the aim is to combine a specific training plan with everything I’ve learned so far to improve my weaknesses and make next year the best and personally most boundary breaking sports season ever!
Why should women participate in Triathlon? Because it’s fun, challenging and simply fantastic! Finishing a race gives you an enormous energy and confidence boost and far too many women out there have no idea how far they can go and what they are physically capable of doing. This is such a great sport as it strengthens both body and mind and gives you access to so much motivation, great new friendships and adventures that there is just no good reason not to give it a try!!
Other comments: You don’t have to be slave to a hard-core training regime to have fun and make it out there on the race course. All you need is a little dedication and a will to take on something new and exciting. All the pros and age-groupers out there are equally amazing and the competition at the end of the day is between you and yourself. The people out there on the course are just like you and the shared love for this crazy activity is what makes it so special! To all of you women out there who are already racing or thinking of giving it a go: don’t let anything stop you, you can do it!!
