Bart Ghering: First Ironman 70.3

On June 26, 2023, Bart achieved a remarkable feat by completing his first half triathlon, the Ironman 70.3 Westfriesland, starting and finishing in Hoorn. This triathlon consists of a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride, and a 21.1 km run. Bart is a true sports enthusiast, spending much of his time kite surfing and riding his race bike. Although running wasn't his favorite activity, finishing a half triathlon became a significant challenge. To optimize his preparation for the race, Bart received a personalized training schedule, taking into account his busy daily life.

He also did it for KiKa and collected a great sum of money for this charity!

During the training period, Bart displayed incredible discipline. Both his body and mind grew stronger, and occasionally, he needed to be held back to avoid the risk of overtraining and injuries.

In the interview below, you will read about Bart's experiences during the preparation and the race itself. Bart, well done! You have truly delivered a remarkable Dream Chasers 'performance'!

1. Can you tell us about yourself and what motivated you to participate in a half triathlon? I have always been someone who pushes boundaries, whether it's on the hockey field as a goalkeeper, on the water kite surfing, or riding my race bike. It has to be harder, higher, further. Hence, the thought of an Ironman has been on my mind for a while.
2. What specific goals did you have in mind when you began preparing for the half triathlon? As a goalkeeper, I am often labeled as lazy. Although I've never enjoyed running, I am certainly not lazy. Hence, my goal was to finish without walking, performing everything at an elevated intensity.
3. How did Sem assist you during the training process, and what were some essential aspects of the guidance? Sem helped me find balance between all the things I do in my life and training, ensuring I didn't overdo it, and had enough strength and energy left for other important matters.
4. What were some of the significant challenges you encountered during your preparation, and how did you deal with them? The biggest challenge for me was often wanting to do too much, always feeling like I could do more.
5. Did you receive any specific techniques, strategies, or advice that helped you during the half triathlon? Sem emphasized not going too hard with the strategy. The final stretch is when it truly gets tough. The cycling should feel easy. The initial part of the run too. That ultimately helped me a lot during the race.
6. How did it feel to finally complete the half triathlon? Can you tell us a bit about your experience during the race? Crossing the finish line felt incredible. It was a challenging day where many people fell unwell. Hence, I was particularly proud to have achieved my goals and even finished half an hour faster than planned. It's truly amazing what your body can do when you set your mind to it.
7. Which personal achievement during the half triathlon are you most proud of? I often thought about walking, and although my running speed wasn't always high, I managed to keep pushing through.
8. What would you like to say to others considering participating in a half triathlon or similar challenges? If in doubt, always do it. It is a unique experience where you get to know yourself in a completely different way.

Do you want to chase your triathlon dream, just like Bart did? Or do you have other dreams you'd like to pursue? Join the team of passionate dream chasers and discover how Dream Chasers Performance can assist you. You will be guided using the Hintsa Method, developed by top experts in performance optimization. This scientifically-backed approach offers a holistic perspective, focusing not only on physical performance but also on mental resilience, sleep quality, nutrition, and work-life balance.

Dare to dream. Dare to chase. Dare to perform.
Let's put your dreams into action!