IAAF
Race Walking Challenge
in Rio Maior, Portugal
Erik stayed
in Germany until the
12th of April. He flew
directly to Portugal
to compete in the IAAF
Challenge Race in Rio
Maior on the 14th. Stephan
and I flew down from
Norway on the same day.
On the plane to Lisbon
I got some problems
with my back and I was
worried for the race.
Training went ok though,
I was just stiff until
my muscles got warm.
On Friday I got a massage
from Joao the massage
therapist at the training
center in Rio Maior.
He did a good job, my
back was better but
still not 100%. Therefore
I went to see Susana
Feitor's physiotherapist
in the evening. Her
name is also Susana,
and she fixed the blockations
I had in my back. She
did a good job, too.
I felt much better after
that. The next morning
I did my normal Easy
Warm Up and some stretching
and I felt that I would
be fine for the race
later in the afternoon.
I really looked forward
to do the race. First
of all because I could
match a really strong
field and because I
had never raced in Rio
Maior before. The race
started a bit like I
expected. Nobody really
wanted to push the pace.
Melanie Seeger took
the lead in the beginning
but the laps where more
than 9 minutes on the
2k course. The leading
group was with Melanie
Seeger (GER), Rita Turava
(BLR), Claudia Stef
(ROM), the hometown
favorite Susana Feitor
(POR) and myself. Not
far behind at the 5k
mark, Sabine Zimmer
(GER), Elisa Rigaudo
(ITA), Maria Vasco (ESP)
and Jane Saville (AUS).
At about 8k Rita Turava
made her move and got
a 23 second lead until
the 10k mark, in front
of Melanie Seeger, Susana
Feitor and myself. The
10k split for us was
44.58. I felt good although
my back gave me some
problems with my technique
and stride. This day
was definetely not 100%.
But I came to Rio Maior
to do a good race and
to fight. So I decided
to make my move and
pushed the pace down
to 8.38/2k. At the 15k
mark I was 31 seconds
behind Rita Turava,
but 23 seconds ahead
of Melanie Seeger who
was on bronze position.
And I still felt good.
From now on I just controlled
my pace and heartrate.
I knew today there was
no chance to beat Rita
Turava and I was happy
to be able to finish
this race in second
place. My time of 1.28.53
was quite good considering
the backproblems I had
that day.
The day
became even better when
I saw that my brother
Erik became third in
1.20.56 and also made
it on the podium. This
is the first time we
both made it on the
podium at the same challenge
race. Ivano Brugnetti
(ITA) won the race in
1.20.21 and Luke Adams
(AUS) finished six seconds
ahead of Erik in 1.20.50.
Top-6
RESULTS Rio Maior, Portugal
Men 20km
1. Ivano Brugnetti
ITA 1:20:21
2. Luke Adams
AUS 1:20:50
3. Erik Tysse
NOR 1:20:56
4. Andre Höhne
GER 1:21:04
5. Benjamin Sanchez
ESP 1:21:21
6. Rafal Augustyn
POL 1:22:49
Nr.
1, 2 & 3 Men
and Nr. 2 &
3 Women are all
Alkasport
Women 20km
1. Ryta Turava
BLR 1:28:01
2. Kjersti Plätzer
NOR 1:28:53
3. Melanie Sieger
GER 1:29:32
4. Sabine Zimmer
GER 1:30:12
5. Elisa Rigaudo
ITA 1:30:42
6. Jane Saville
AUS 1:30:53
