A That’s series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life.
Katrine Amtkjaer is a Danish triathlete based in the city who last month came 14th in her respective age group in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She tells us about what it takes to compete in one of the toughest challenges an athlete can pit themselves against.
1. I don’t have any unusual talent or spectacular physique. But I have a strong will
When you talk about triathlon there is a tendency to focus a lot on the results. Living in China and racing in Asia has given me quite a few wins and I’m happy and proud of most of them because they reflect how serious I am with my sport. I don’t think I have any unusual talent. I don’t think I have any spectacular physique. But I have a strong will when it comes to training and pushing myself beyond my present boundaries.
And that is what I’m most proud of. My biggest achievement is that I have changed my lifestyle and developed my skills. I now pack and assemble my bike in less than half an hour, I travel the world alone, I get up at 5 in the morning to get my training done to be able to train again in the evening, I plan my life according to what I love to do – 5 years ago what I do now would simply not have been possible and I’m proud of that!
Triathlon has not only changed my lifestyle – it has shaped me as a person. It has forced me out of my “comfort zone” over and over again and in the end it has become a very important ingredient in my identity.
2. It’s not far from the truth to talk about a full-time job when you prepare for an Ironman
My training varies quite a bit during the year. This season has been very long since I had my first race in March for Ironman South Africa. That meant training in Shanghai in the cold, dark and wet months.
Normally, I train every day. One day being my “recovery day” where I “only” have swimming and strength. Otherwise I have between one to three sessions a day lasting between one to six hours. Obviously, the amount of training differs according to what kind of race I’m aiming for. The full distance (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42 km run) requires quite a lot but different people train based on different philosophies. I rarely train more than 20 hours a week. In my case my trainer believes in “short and intense” combined with some endurance sessions.
I addition to the 20 hours of active training comes the transport, changing clothes, showering, eating and resting. I guess it’s not far from the truth to talk about a full-time job when you prepare for an Ironman. This year I will be doing two full Iroman events – each taking up around six to eight weeks to prepare. Besides from that I have done three Ironman 70.3 (half Ironman) and around 10 shorter distances.
3. At the moment Shanghai is exploding when it comes to triathlons
Shanghai Triathlon Club (where I am a member) has grown massively within the last few years – both among foreigners and among Chinese at all levels. The triathlon community provides training events, races and social events not to forget.
Also the amount of races being hosted around China has been growing rapidly in recent years. Who knows when China will be the host of an Ironman event. With the new owner of the Ironman brand being Chinese I’m sure it’s just a matter of (very little) time.
4. Being a weak swimmer is no excuse not to do triathlons
I was always a runner and I still believe that finishing a race with a strong run is my strength. However, the biking is really growing on me. My swimming is not even worth mentioning. It’s definitely the most challenging discipline to master if you didn’t grow up in a pool. On the bike you develop so quickly – almost from week to week whereas the swimming requires so much time in the water only to gain a few seconds on the next 1000-meter test. I think it is the swimming that prevents most people from getting into this sport but with the various options of taking part in coached swimming lessons with the tri-clubs in Shanghai that is no longer an excuse.
5. The hardest part of being a triathlete for me is me
I have high expectations to myself – how I train, how I eat, how I sleep, how I race, etc. In most periods I love this life. I love being in great shape. I love the endorphins rushing through my veins after a hard training session. I love getting to see the world when I travel around racing. And I love meeting all the great people of this world. BUT, triathlons around the clock of course cause some periods where you are simply worn out and sick of training and being disciplined. And those periods are hard because I beat myself hard when I’m not able to perform as I wish to do. I feel like this sport has had a negative effect on my ability to simply lean back and enjoy – whether it’s a glass of wine or a few days without training. I have become addicted to training and that can be stressful at times.
Follow Katrine Amtkjaer on website here Facebook here or searching 'Katrine Amtkjaer - triathlete in Asia' and on Instagram here or by searching 'Katrine_triathleteinasia'
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