It was my brother Wiebe who brought me into contact with endurance sport again. Again, because I spent a large part of my primary school time and the start of high school on an athletics track in Amersfoort, which of AV Triathlon, by the way. Even then I had to talk about the 'longer numbers': the thousand meters on the track and the winter cross-country runs. The more technical parts were spent less on me. Anyway, as it goes then: later the bar call drowned out the running shoes.
That changed in 2011, when I ran my first half marathon, on the instructions of Wiebe, who had been busy with walking and cycling for some time. An agony, but one that was worth repeating. I took over his old racing bike and a new addiction was born. Slowly my times crept on the half marathon towards the hour and a half and even below. The triathlon pulled, only that swimming did not really succeed. Until four years ago I decided to make serious work of it. I became a member of the triathlon club De Dolfijn in Amsterdam and after a crash training course I started my first race. Again: addictive.
After three seasons in the second, first and premier league triathlon, I decided to go for the long distance. I combine the many training hours with a full-time job at the public broadcaster. What happened in Frankfurt exceeded all expectations. After nine hours and eleven minutes the redeeming words sounded: "Tjebbe Venema, you are an Ironman." I was fourth in my agegroup, eighth agegrouper overall. But above all, I had pushed a line, surprised myself. And that, whatever the level you end up in this sport, is exactly what makes the triathlon so beautiful: it gives you the opportunity to push boundaries, to surprise yourself.
That is exactly what I hope to do again next season, with the help and support of AthleteSportsWorld. Ironman Cork in Ireland is on the schedule and in the run-up thereto Ironman70.3 in Mallorca. I look forward!
Results
2016
- 3rd place triathlon Stiens (sprint)
- 2nd place ITU Triathlon Championships Rotterdam (OD)
- Promotion with De Dolfijn to the Eredivisie Triathlon
2017
- 1st place Triathlon Amsterdam Nieuw-West (OD)
- 1st place agegroup 30-34 Challenge Peguera Mallorca (half distance)
2018
- 4th place agegroup 30-34 Ironman 70.3 Kraighau
- 4th place agegroup 30-34 Ironman European Championship Frankfurt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjebbevenema