The season is over. I haven't touched a swimsuit, bike or shoes for almost two weeks now. The urge to do something again is slowly starting to come. Although the weather is not very inviting yet...

Still, I'm not giving in just yet. The 2024 season has been long, full of highlights and learning moments. My main goal this season was Challenge Almere and I still get goosebumps when I think about how everything came together on that day. I showed that I have (again) made a huge step.

Right after Challenge Almere there was a wildcard for T100 Las Vegas. Fantastic!

It gave me a lot of motivation. Racing against the ladies that I have been following online for years and who inspire me enormously. The result in Las Vegas was good. Not perfect, certainly not bad.

After Las Vegas, a training camp in Mallorca was immediately on the program. Again away from home but in nice conditions to prepare for the World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand. The idea was already to start IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain and earn money here for the trip to New Zealand.

My financial situation is certainly not stable enough yet to be able to make and pay for such a long journey.

In Mallorca I got an invitation for the T100 Grand Final in Dubai. Another huge opportunity. The plan quickly arose to fly to Dubai, stay here to train for another week and then travel to Bahrain and from there to New Zealand. The first part I would do alone for the first time ever, in New Zealand my friend would join me.

The hot conditions in Dubai were extreme and the bike course with many twists, turns and little rhythm is not something that suits me as an athlete. A fifteenth place, a long way from the real top, but I was there.

The week after Dubai I got some minor aches during training. Not surprising was the conclusion of coach Yvonne and me, it has been a long season.

Arriving in Bahrain, there was quite a bit of panic the day before the race and in the hours before. To be honest, I had already lost contact with myself here. Still, I swam well and on the bike I was able to close the gap to the head of the race in the first thirty kilometers. This gave me so much confidence. Finally I found a bike and position with which I can convert my power into speed and this pays off in a race. I got off the bike really well and was ready for a fast half marathon.

The running part is something where I have seen the most progress in the past months. Unfortunately, it went wrong at the first step. A lot of pain. Don't give up, don't think about it and continue. At that time it was still about a lot of money and I didn't want to end my first solo race with a DNF. Whether this was ultimately the right decision... I did finish with a lot of pain.

The day after the race I travelled to Taupo and here again days with a lot of uncertainty followed. I got sick the first day in Taupo and I was in a lot of pain. Where I had imagined that my friend and I would do nice things and celebrate the season with the icing on the cake the World Championship, the reality was that I felt incredibly tired and uncertain whether or not I could start.

There are so many hours of training involved, money, sacrifices from me but also from those around me, expectations from myself but also from outside.

Finally, on Saturday, December 14, I was on the other side of the world at the start of my first World Championship and I finished.

You are really capable of much more than you think. Was it really fun? Not really. I hope I can look at it with pride in a while, for now it doesn't feel that way.

I am incredibly grateful for the people close to me. Without them I could not have done this. On social media you often see the beautiful moments, they also see the uncertainty, the tears and the challenges. I have received so many sweet messages lately. It feels vulnerable to put this on paper.

The coming period is all about recovery and rebuilding. Together with a coach who will help me work on a firmer foundation in myself. I am convinced that this will take me a step further.

I want to thank you all so much for following my adventures this past year.

I wish you a sporty, healthy and above all happy 2025.