– I was really proud. For the first time, I felt good enough
Triathlete Martine Hoaas from Alta took the step up in the professional class before the 2019 season. She moved to Denmark to optimize her chances of asserting herself in the top company, and it started very well.
Won in Silkeborg
Unfortunately, a well-known worldwide pandemic put an end to what was to be a content-rich 2020 season, and the restrictions also led to far fewer competitions than planned this year.
But there were some bright spots. And they value her highly.
– I have participated in some competitions in the last six months. Among other things, I won a triathlon competition in Silkeborg. This was just a quarter distance, but it was still fun to run away with the victory, says Alta girl Martine Hoaas on the phone from Denmark.
– The biggest experience I had in Herning a little over a month ago. This was an Ironman half distance where the level was sky high. I finished in fifth place and that is perhaps the best thing I have ever done in the pro class. I was really proud. For the first time, I felt good enough. I am approaching the level required to succeed as a professional, and it feels incredibly good, comments Hoaas.
Difficult time
Although Hoaas has trained well during the corona pandemic, it has not been easy. Denmark has also had high infection rates, and the sanitary napkin order lasted quite a long time. It is only recently that we have opened up completely also in our neighboring country in the south.
– I think the restrictions here have been quite like in Norway, but of course it is somewhat different. I live in Aalborg, which is a pretty big city. And here, for example, there has been a bandage order for a long time. It has not been easy to do top sports, but conditions have slowly but surely improved, says Hoaas.
Brutal start to the season
She and her cohabitant travel to Poland in August to take part in an Ironman competition. Also this was a half distance (1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling and 21 km running). It did not go so well.
– Due to the pandemic, it will be a season start. We decided to travel to Poland to complete our first proper Ironman competition in well over a year, and unfortunately it was not a great success. It’s actually one of the wildest things I’ve been through, laughs Hoaas.
– We lived five kilometers outside the city, where the competition was held, and when we entered the center it was impossible to find a place to park. We arrived almost too sent to the briefing, and had to arrange a new start number several times. The bikes were checked in at half past nine in the evening, and then we had to get up in the middle of the night to reach the start. There was no time to relax. So just getting to the finish line felt like a small victory. It was a brutal start to the season, she says.
Experiences fine development
In addition to the aforementioned competitions, she has participated in some smaller, local races to keep up. Hoaas has the opportunity to participate in some major competitions, but chose to say no.
– It is expensive to travel around and participate in the biggest competitions, so you have to make some choice. We would have liked to have competed even more this year, but for financial reasons we chose to end the season with fifth place in Herning. That’s fine by now, because it’s a nice way to round off. I feel that the development has been good and it is progressing in all disciplines, she comments.
Hunting World Cup place
The goal is still to go from participating in half-distance competitions to Ironman team-distance races. And there is nothing to say about the ambitions. The dream is to participate in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
– I have trained well for a long time, and not least to be injury free for two years. It has had a lot to say for the progression. It takes time to build up the body to withstand team distance running. The only full distance competition I have completed is Norseman, and that was in 2016. Then I was injured afterwards and spent a long time coming. So it is important to be patient. If the training goes as planned, I will run the Ironman team for next year to start chasing to qualify for the World Cup in Hawaii. I want to be able to participate in several full races in 2022, including the Ironman in Copenhagen in August next year, concludes the direct-open 30-year-old from Nordlysbyen.