Age grouper Frank Reimann from Germany closed out his 2007 Ironman World Championships in Kona with a 2:57:10 marathon and a total time of 9:07:40. He checked in with us.


ST: Frank, what have you done this year to get ready for Kona?

Frank: Nothing special. This year was the first time that I trained for Hawaii while having a full time job. So I tried to train with more quality; that means I did faster and more intensive running and biking sessions. After Frankfurt I took a small training break and after that I increased my training and did some races including a middle-distance race in Waren-Mueritz. The last 8 weeks leading to Kona I started again with longer bike rides and longer runs to get in the right shape. Because of the bad weather conditions in Germany this year I could not train on my bike as much as I wanted to do.


ST: You had the fastest age group run split in Kona this year. Did that surprise you?

Frank: A little bit. I had a fast run in Frankfurt and I knew that I should be able to do that in Kona too. For Kona it was my goal to run under 3 hours. That this would be enough for the fastest age group time was a nice surprise. My marathon split also opened up a gate to get "Zoot" as a new sponsor for this season.

ST: What do you do to recover from an Ironman race?

Frank: First I relax without any sport and take time for some activities with my wife. Then I try to do some other sport activities like climbing, rowing or roller skiing. For me it is very important to take my mind off triathlon thoughts after an Ironman. This allows me to be more motivated for the new training parts.


ST: Can you tell us about your athletic background?

Frank: When I was 10 years old I was a member of a bike club and I competed in some races. Later I started with some easy run and swim training for my own. At that time I did my first triathlon. Then I stopped with my endurance training and began playing American football for 3 years. In 1997 I came back to the triathlon and started again to compete in races. My first Ironman was in 2002 in Frankfurt.


ST: What is your fastest stand-alone marathon time and where did you run it?

Frank: It is a 2:38h. I run it in Dresden in 2006 on a windy course with bridges and cobbled streets. I think I can run faster if I concentrated on single marathon training.

ST: What does a typical training week look like for you?

Frank: A typical training week has 16 to 20 hours of training. I prefer two resting days between a 2- day and a 3- day training block. During the week I try to achieve a long run and an interval run, one or two shorter bike rides and of course some swimming sessions. On the weekends I do two long bike rides combined with some runs.


ST: What are you doing in terms of activities in the off-season?

Frank: Visiting friends, tuning my bike. I like watching DVDs. I also love to advance my piano skills.


ST: Can you tell us what you have on schedule for the 2008 season?

Frank: This year I want to race some duathlons and triathlons in my home area. The big race will be the Ironman Frankfurt, if I get a slot as a pro. If not, I will try to race in Klagenfurt or Zurich and if it is possible of course Hawaii.


ST: What is your favorite race event anywhere and why?

Frank: I love the familiar events like the Half Ironman in Waren. Frankfurt is also a special event for me because it was my first Ironman and it has an amazing run course. Plus of course Hawaii, there is nothing better than running down Alii. The heat, the wind and the whole atmosphere there is so special. You can’t compare it with any other race.

ST: Is there anything you consider favorite food?

Frank: I like pasta and Asian food


ST: Do you have any preferences in terms of music?

Frank: The music of Muse, Beatsteaks and The Killers is very powerful. I like this kind of music. But I also love the classic music of Brahms or Bach and some electronic tunes too.


ST: Do you have any special tips for other age group athletes?

Frank: Take time to rest. And use your little free time for effective training sessions. Try to mix up your training with speed sessions. And use your training breaks for doing alternative sport activities for a better recovery. And never forget it is more important to have strong legs than to have the newest bike or helmet.


ST: Where do you think you'll be in 5 years?

Frank: I hope that I am able to practice my sport as much as today. Maybe there are some children that accompany me to Kona.


ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?

Frank: I don't think so ;-).