Race Reacp - Ironman Thun 2025

After a strong first half of the season with two top-10 finishes and a win, I was especially motivated for my home race in Thun. However, preparation didn’t go as planned: a knee injury limited my running, and shortly before the race, I caught a stomach bug. Until the start, it was unclear whether I would even be able to race. But missing my home race was not an option! I knew that all the training hours since last year would pay off, even if the preparation had been far from ideal.

On Sunday morning, I stood at the start line surrounded by around 30 pro athletes and over 1,600 age-group athletes. The uncertainty of how my body would handle the stress was palpable.

🏊‍♂️ The swim started well: I swam the first half of the 3.8 km fast for my standards and stayed with the lead group for a long time. However, the athlete in front of me fell behind the group, and despite all efforts, I couldn’t close the gap. I had to swim the rest of the distance alone and exited the water in 13th place.

🚴‍♂️ On the bike, a small, well-coordinated group formed during the first 50 km. We kept a high pace, caught some athletes who had dropped from the lead pack and continued as a group of five. On the second lap, the aftereffects of the illness became noticeable: my legs felt empty and heavy. The work at the front was left to three athletes while two others recovered and then attacked. I had to expend a lot of energy to stay with the group. Still, I’m satisfied with a bike time of 4 h 30 min over 180 km and 2,200 m of climbing (Ø 40 km/h).

🏃 The first kilometers of the run felt good, but my legs were still sore. I knew the marathon would be tough. My mantra was clear: keep running, no walking breaks. At the start, my pace was solid and I could still dream of a top-10 finish. From km 33 it got increasingly hard, and by km 38 I felt every muscle. Yet the support from fans, family, and friends along the course helped me get through the tough kilometers. In the end, I was able to pick up the pace again and crossed the finish line in 13th place, the third-fastest Swiss, in 8 h 30 min 54 sec.

Despite the suboptimal preparation, I achieved another personal best – proof of how much I’ve progressed this season. The day after the race, every fiber of my body aches, but the joy and satisfaction of having conquered this challenge in front of friends and family makes it all worthwhile. After these efforts, I’m enjoying two weeks of rest, time for the things that don’t fit into the training routine, and giving my body the recovery it needs.