29 June 2025, Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany.
One year and a bit more from Lanzarote IM, it was time for another tick in the box. This year the choice was on Frankfurt. A direct flight from Bilbao and not too tough course, as far as an Ironman can be defined “not too tough” 
Friday 28 June. Pre-race briefing day.
Registration done. Legs up and resting.
Time for pre-race briefing meeting. But what better than sneak into the Pro Athletes’ briefing meeting??! Luckily, security at the entrance was not able to spot the difference between an age groper and a Pro 
A dedicated cafè with sky-view was reserved for the bests on the planet. Of course, I had to behave not to be spotted as intruder: no free food or drinks for me and my friend. Just looking, and a couple of pictures. But the best came after the end of the briefing (to which of course I did not attend), when all athletes were asked to stand in line, “sign their names off, and collect the 12-meter-draft-illegal-zone sensors to be placed under the saddle”. Which I immediately corrected by saying: “NO! First you sign off your name, then you collect the 12-meter-draft-illegal-zone sensor, and THEN you take a selfie with me!” Believe it or not, I had selfies with ALL of THEM!!! 
Sunday 29 June. Race day
Age group race start: 6:30. To be able to sleep longer and avoid an early wake-up call to catch the bus to the swimming zone, we decided to stay in another hotel near the airport, about 4km from the lake. We were aware of road closure, but NOT that Ubers had to cross those areas to fetch us… By the time we realised that it was impossible to get a car on time, worried and stressed, we started walking fast towards the lake.
FORTUNATELY, we met a guy on a scooter 
, to whom I asked about roads closure. And then I added if he could take us, by scooter, as close as possible to the lake! As he turned to be a race-safer, we jumped on the scooter – yes, 3 on the scooter!! – and we rode, passing other athletes hurring to the lake! All looking at us like “hey, that’s not fair!” 
Swim – No wetsuit!
Water temperature was 24,7C. No wetsuit allowed. Neither compression calfs or anything below elbows and knees.
My swim was OK. 2 laps with Australian exit. In the first lap, I had my space and swam at a decent no-wetsuit pace (2:02/100m). The second lap was harder, due to the pack of swimmers in the water.. Overall average for the 3,8km 2:13/100m and 1h24′. Happy!
Bike: 180km and 1.300m elevation
Bike went well. Beside the fact that I felt like I did not have power in my legs to spin properly.. So I kept a “defense and survive” strategy. 13km to the 2x “circuit” of 83km. Rolling, with some steep but short ascends. Unforunately, temperature started to go above 30C and I started to feel it. So, once more “defense and survive” mode.
Still, excellent nutirtion and hydration (with salt tablets to avoid what characterised my previous 3 IM competitions: cramps!)
I finished the 180km bike course in 5h45′, with a decent 30,7 km/h average.
And the best part was to be overtaken by the Pros!!! At their second lap, when I was still at my first, of course!
Run. 4x 10km laps
It was hot. But, surprisingly, legs were good! The strategy here was to keep a light pace of 5:30/km as far as possible. And I managed to do so for half of the run. And I am so happy of it!
Stomach was getting upset, which reduced my nutrition intake, and legs were extremely sore, especially my right one. But, again, up to km 22, I just focused!
Afterwards, my brain switched from the 5:30/km pace strategy to the f*** FINISHER t-shirt strategy! Well, I was already very close.. So be it! I started to alternate walking to jogging, especially on the 2x uphills leading to bridges, until the end! And once again, “Michele (again pronounced Michelle 
), congratulations, you are an IRONMAN!!!!” Marathon clock stopped at 4h36′, not bad for me!
And overall clock stopeed at 12h02′. I can say my second PB (being the first 10 years ago, i.e. when I was 10 years younger!).
And now the big question: what’s next in 2026?
Nice… Roth… possibly not a break!
Special thanks to my friend and coach Kiko Gomez for his patience in accompanying me (mentally as well) to this great achievement!
And congratulations to my IronMan friend Eduard Dalla
for your great performance and thanks for the great company and weekend together!!